Day 3: Mesa Verde National Park

It was time to start exploring the area.  It was only a short drive to the entrance of the Mesa Verde National Park but the visitior's center was a long, slow, curvy drive beyond that point.  The views were amazing and the roads narrow and slow going.  I wanted to explore the Cliff Palace but you had to have a ticket that required buying tickets in person.  So off we went . . . we bought our tickets and had about 2 hours to explore on our own before the ranger led tour.  We headed out to Spruce Tree House . . .

We loaded the car for the short drive to the tour starting point and we cold not help but notice all the dead trees . . .

We later learned that it was from major fires in the early 2000s; sad it still looks this way.  We met the park ranger who would lead the tour.  It sure was hot outside and very little shade to be found . . . it was a hike down and a hike up too but the tour was worth it.  Cliff Palace was pretty well preserved . . .

The only way to tour here was with a park ranger . . . I can only imagine it is due to the risk of people destroying the area.  You know there is always someone who is taking a rock or carving their name where it should not be.  The climb back up was interesting because you had to go up a series of three ladders like this but longer. . .

 Of course the young one had no problems!

I was very happy to get back into the car for some cold air!  We drove around the Mesa Top Loop while Colin completed his Junior Ranger book.  Junior Ranger badge #1 was earned today.  We had enough time to continue on to the Four Corners area . . .

I was under the impression it was just a plaque in the middle of nowhere but of course not!  It is a big tourist trap but since we drove there we paid the $3 each to enter and see the above.  It was impossible to get a decent photo in all four states with all the others hoovering around as you can see below. 

I mean a line could have been formed at one spot to avoid background people but of course not that would be too easy.  No one seemed to get 'it' and well now they too have all these people lingering around as if there was free money when you touched the circle.  Now if the local tribe that ran the tourist trap place was smart, they would have a photographer there taking your photo and then selling the photos they take of you, LOL.  At least that would control all the background strangers.  I was so ready to be out of there . . . checked the block and never need to return.  It was nice to have a piece of fry bread before we left . . . oh so yummy and fatty too!  We were all hot and tired so time to head back to Durango.  We walked around and ended up at Nini's Taqueria for a light dinner of nachos . . . it was huge and we hardly put a dent in them!  Of course Colin was ready to hit the pool!