Monument Valley for Sunrise

Up at 4 am - that was no fun and we were half asleep when we got into the car and drove 30 minutes to Monument Valley were we met our Navaho Tour guide Marjory at 5 pm. It was still pitch black and we were with a group of Italians in the open 4 by 4. It was even a bit chilly.

It was an mazing tour although the Navajo guide was not super good. She seemed a bit bored and was just driving to the points and let us run around.
However, watching the sun coming up in such an epic and glorious landscape was incredible!
Once the sun was up we visited some more special places of this sacred sited - well actually the whole Monument Valley is a spiritual place for the Navahos and I can understand why.
I am glad that it still belongs to the Navaho Nation and has not become a National Park.

We had coffee afterwards at Gouldings Lodge as The View Hotel did not serve non residents ... why?
But Gouldings was so much nicer, we had breakfast there too and very much enjoyed the Museum.
They also accommodated all the movie stars from The old Western with John Wayne to the newer movies like Thelma and Louise - one of my favourites.
We then drove back to Mexican Hat although had to stop multiple times on the way as the views were so amazing!
One of the stops was of course the Forest Gump Hill (see in the extras).
There were stalls were Indians sold their jewellery too.
I felt inclined to stop at one place were no one  else was - we actually drove past it at first and I made Neil turn around.
There was one man with his artwork and he was sad as no one had stopped there for days. I had a chat with him.
Her had 3 turquoise necklaces and one was exactly what I was looking for. It was made by his daughter. I asked for the price and it was 60 Dollars - way less than others I had seen - and 60 Dollars was exactly what I had in cash - not a single cent more. So I bought this beautiful necklace and made his day.
His name is Kelvin - photo in the extras. 
Back in the Motel we had an afternoon snooze then drove to goose necks past the rock formation that gave the place its name: Mexican Hat.
The village Mexican Hat is actually not much more than our Motel and another Hotel which looked closed.
Handy for Monument Valley. The room was very simple - not even a fridge! But the most expensive nights we had all trip.
The Goose Necks were interesting - see extras.


We had dinner at motel and I tried Navajo fry bread - don't need it again ....

We fell to bed very tired ....

Enjoy the photos