More New Mexico and the Painted Desert

We are staying in Santa Fe and we toured old town and some amazing old churches. When we left we headed east on I-40 and stopped off at an authentic Indian village with no water,electricity,or sewer but it is inhabited.The residents are mostly elders of the tribe and the village is very clean. They call this place "Sky City" because it sits on top of a mesa.It was a great experience.
While we were in the area we toured "El Morro"monument.Then we hopped on I-40 and headed into Arizona.we stopped off at the "Petrified Forest" and the"Painted Desert.

Santa Fe's oldest church

Old Town Plaza

Another old church near the plaza

Jeni loved this church.Such history

Loretto Hacienda in old town. Great lunch

this is Sky City village off I-40 between Albuquerque and Socorro NM.

Baking ovens at Sky City

OK we got medallions from the balloon fest.for our walking sticks.you know as i said in an earlier blog post that our kids got them for us prior to our trip.Well we have been buying medallions along the way on our travels and we have almost covered them up completely.At $5 bucks a piece the sticks have about $200 dollars of medallions on them!

Here is the wise old Chief the tribe depends on for survival  out here in the wild desert southwest.He is the master of negotiations with the other tribes and his wisdom....Wait a minute.....that's not the chief......oh that's ME! sorry. well I digress

This was suggested for us to see by the locals

The monument is a big rock monolith surrounded by a canyon. a great hike with a lot of natural stairs.

you have got to be kidding I climbed those

what a view!

there are ruins on top where an  ancient Indian village lived centuries ago

now these steps are more my style

a shot of the canyon that surrounds the mesa

we loved it!

 

life is good

As we head to Arizona on the last leg of our summer trip we have seen the wonders of this country with our RV.This is the only way in my opinion to experience these United States.
OK.off the soapbox.We have had a great trip and we are gonna finish up in Arizona.We will head west on I-40 and stop off at the Petrified forest and the painted desert.Then to the Grand Canyon and we will sneak over to Laughton Nevada for a final adventure before pointing the ole RV west into California and home.But we have a week left so onward.