Christmas 2010

MOM AND DAD RUN AWAY!

Phil and I just returned from a very fun trip to Southern Utah and Colorado!

We had a wonderful time, enjoyed great scenery and fabulous food!

These two appeared to be on a date!

We ran into them outside the diner we were having breakfast at!

Monticello... One of the strangest little towns that I have ever encountered!

But home to a very beautiful temple!

This was one of the the first 'small temples' that President Hinckley had built!

Hovenweep: Believed to have been built in about 800 AD

We were amazed by the skill that was demonstrated in their building technique!

It is amazing that these buildings have survived for 1300 years!

This little critter crossed the path right in front of us

Apparently he is a Prairie Rattle Snake

And he did have the sound to go with him!

The scenery was amazing the entire trip!

We were surprised by the vibrant colors this late in October!

We met this guy along the trails of Mesa Verde

A very hairy Tarantula!

Do we look like Honeymooners?

Still in love after 28+ years of marriage!

Mesa Verde:

One of the most interesting places I have ever been!

It is estimated that during the 1200's

this was home to over 20,000 primitive people!

Entire villages built into the side of the cliffs!

In Mesa Verde, we ran into this herd of bucks

7 of the biggest guys I have ever seen!

And pretty tame too... Phil walked right up to them to snap these shots!

I think their IQ was higher than average

hiding out in the National Parks during the hunt!

This incredible village...

probably home to about 150 people

so meticulously built in the side of the cliffs.

I can only imagine the agility of these people

traveling to and from their homes each day!

The round dig outs were called 'Kiva's'

and were probably used as the 'living rooms' in their homes.

Each home appears to have it's own Kiva

the Kiva's probably had a roof,

and were entered through a hole, and down a ladder.

Any place in the cliffs with an opening

had the remains of these homes.

This photo shows a covered Kiva

with the ladder coming out of the hole.

We were able to go down the ladder and into this room.

We were able to go through this village

we now have steps and ladders to use to get to this location,

and it was still difficult!

This photo shows how the different levels of rocks were used to build on.

Fantastic colors!

Our Hotel in Durango!

General Palmer's

Lunch at a little cafe in Silverton

We rode the train from Durango to Silverton...

The scenery was spectacular!

Silverton sits at 11000 feet...

It makes Park City seem low!

Roman thought we were so lucky to ride the train...

that he wanted a picture of us on it!

This is called Black Canyon

It is the Grand Canyon of Colorado!

Phil HATES heights....

but was willing to get the photo shots!