This Native American Life

Its been an adventurous past couple of days here on our beloved journey across the US of A. We last left you at the Grand Canyon in Arizona. We made it to Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado the next day. A beautiful 'green desert table' in SW CO, that is home to the Anasazi Indians who have relations in the Hopi, Navajo, and other tribes that surround the area. It was a very interesting place that offered ranger guided tours to many of the main attractions for $3 bucks a head. Well worth it, as its close to nothing, unlike the campsites that are there, which are very poorly laid out and costly (almost $25 for one night, tax included)! More than the Grand Canyon even, but only due to the fact that it is run independently from the actual national park.

We made it to the Cliff Palace, the largest of the dwellings. It housed about a hundred people back in the 1200s with around 120 buildings in the cliff. A beautiful site, and very interesting how they made the city stone by stone. Each person was responsible for building their own house, carving each stone with stronger stone tools that were obtained by trade with other tribes and nations. They would mix water and mud to make the mortar, and occasionally would use their own urine (AWESome!)! The Anasazi had ceremonial pits called Kivas where many of the woman would give birth, and the recently passed would be laid upon them for their spirit to return to the third world. I found this part very interesting. Native Americans believed that this was the fourth world that they lived in. There is a small hole dug into the bottom of the kivas, apart from the fire pit, called a seepapu (see-pa-pu) which means, 'Place of Emergence.' It is believed that the ancestors arose from inner caves of the Earth (the third world), emerging onto the surface of the Earth (fourth world) through the seepapu. So it is natural to see why they would give birth down in these kivas, as well as lay their dead upon them so their spirit may return to the place of emergence.


Native American people are my favorite people to learn about. They were masters in the art of using their surroundings to establish a rich life style, not of material wealth of course.

If we had more time, it would have been great to explore the area more. All of the cliff dwellings around the area represented a whole community of people working together. Their main harvests were of corn, squash, and beans, the staples of many cultures who were to survive. They kept domestic dogs and turkeys that were their dependency for food and well being. Not just one group used the dwellings either, they past on from people to people, eventually being abandoned around 1300. There was a twenty year drought in the area that forced the pueblo peoples out to new areas so that they may survive.

So much vibrant history! I love it! Then again if I had it my way, I'd live in a shack in the woods and trade with people around the valley for survival. Who needs half of what we have today? Conveniences are nice, yes, but not necessities. I do love myself some technology, but if I could go back and live in the wild, wild west, I say "Hell yeah!" I'm sure my other half would willingly oblige, as long as I provide and she feels safe of course.

If you're ever in southwest Colorado, go check out Mesa Verde. It is an amazing place, and hopefully you won't encounter all the traffic we have been running into left and right. One of the biggest let downs being the fact that we specifically drove through four corners to leave our mark on four states at once. But alas, all we find is this:



We must venture on! The next night we spent at a 'shady' campground by Dillon, CO. It was an alright spot, but nobody was there! Nice in my opinion, but a little scary for the lady. I'll bring her around though. She's got that adventure spirit in her, I just have to build it up a little more! Spent a lot of time driving so we can keep the schedule somewhat on track.

Next stop : Nebraska
Miles traveled : 2800
Ankles Nicole's sprained : 2
Days Andrew's gone without a shower : 4
Love shown between the two of us : infinite x2