Road Trip day 5

Today we drove from Chama, NM to Cortez, CO.
We visited Mesa Verde National Park. It is the largest archaeological preserve in the United States. We visited some cliff dwellings. Some you can visit on your own and for others you have to make reservations and you'll take a tour with a Park Ranger who explains everything about life in these dwellings.

I have taken pictures in the dwellings from the walls and the kivas, but this is such a great place that I think you need to see it in a broader perspective. That's why I chose this picture. Unbelievable people were living here and unbelievable how well everything is preserved. It must have been awesome living here when you see the view from your house. To talk to your neighbors you probably had to yell through the valley.
I believe this picture shows the Cliff palace, which is open for tours with a Ranger. We only visited the Spruce Tree House and the Balcony House. Still I was impressed by everything I saw today.