mesa verde

stones used to grind the corn

the city of the people built into the hillside (this is in colorado) near cortez the holes you see that people are around were covered with thatched roofing in the winter and two -4 families would live down there to stay out of the cold. --there is access to water--back behind those walls with windows in them--(lots of water)

a beautiful hike from up above on the ridge over to where the actual ruins were group of people are huddle together listening to the guide telling stories of the people and how they did things-- the man joined the wives villiage --so the family he was leaving would throw mud balls at his new family--at the wedding--is that where the tradition of rice throwing started? Ha--

there were air vents for fresh air to come in and the little round spot is of course the fire place--we stoped at the places pictures plus hiked to some others not shown--that were a little different style--but still typical of each other

then the 'great spirit" as our tour guide explained--directed the people to leave this home land and this area after generations of living there and move out to the plains--in arizona and new mexico--and they left basically cause they were directed to--do so--by a higher power--it was time.

On the way down to New Mexico a few weeks back we stopped by a place I had never been called mesa verde--where the ancestors of the pueblo Indians had made their homes--I found it so interesting and wanted to share a few more pics of it even though I already sent you grandkids a post card of it--I will never complain about my living conditions again--if I do--well

slap me or something--It was a lot of work for this culture to even survive and yet they were very creative and they made it oh so pretty--as they knew how--we climbed down and up ladders