Monument Valley, Arizona
Monument Valley, Arizona
We left the town of Moab early in the morning.
We knew that it would take hours of driving until we would arrive in the town of Page, Arizona, and we wanted to make it before sunset.
In the tiny town of Monticello, about an hour’s drive from Moab, we stopped at a small cafe for breakfast.
It was a charming place that combined a local arts and craft gallery with a restaurant and cafe.
It is run by three charming Mexican women, who made us very good almond milk lattes and a tasty breakfast.
They sold Navajo rugs, as well as rugs made by a Mexican Indian tribe called “The People Of The Clouds.”
Both designs were made from sheep’s wool with natural dyes.
In the town of Blanding, Utah, just before crossing over into Arizona, we stopped at the information center.
The lovely lady working there was so happy to chat with us.
She told us that she grew up in Colorado, but had moved to Blanding after she got married, and somehow, forty years later, she is still here and loving it.
She said the people are lovely, creative, communal and kind, and that living in this small town feels so much better than living remotely.
Before that, she used to live in the nearby mountains without electricity or running water, and finally got tired of being snowed in for weeks at a time during the winter months.
We picked up many brochures about the different parks and sights in the area, and before we left, she gave us good advice.
She said that instead of following our Google maps’ GPS, we should take Route 163, which will take us to Page by way of Monument Valley.
Monument Valley is a very vast valley, with almost no human habitation.
In the valley, natural rock formations that resemble medieval fortifications or castles, rise up in the air.
We saw many of these amazing rock formations. Some were clustered together, and were aptly named “The Garden Of The Gods.”
The road was long and with almost no services, but since it did not connect any big cities, the traffic was light and there were no huge scary semi tractor/trailers speeding down the road.
It was a pleasant drive with stunning views of canyons and cliffs.
The area is very clean and unspoiled landscape, stretching out beyond what you can see on the horizon.
It reminded me why so many people from around the world, love renting a car and driving across America.
If you choose the right roads, it is beautiful, quiet and peaceful.
We arrived in Page, Arizona just as the sunset got golden red.
The small town is simple and unassuming, located inside the beautiful territory of the Navajo tribe.
The Navajo Nation extends into the states of Utah , Arizona and New Mexico, covering over 27,000 square miles
Page is not a glitzy town.
The best hotel is the newly built Hyatt Place, but all of the brands of low and mid range chain hotels in the USA were recently built here, to accommodate the rise in global tourism.
We saw people from all over the world, but the majority at this time of the years were from Asia.
Despite the many tourists who come to see these amazing canyons, there is no great choice of good restaurants at which to dine.
Mexican food is the most popular, but there is also a popular Japanese restaurant that makes decent sushi rolls, three Americanized Chinese restaurants, a Thai place, all the fast food chain restaurants and a few other options of places to dine.
There are lots of churches in Page, and sadly some native locals who abuse drugs and alcohol.
We saw them congregating around the Safeway supermarket, huddled in coats, asking for a few dollars, which we gladly gave.
The unemployment rate is a very high fifty six precent.
This is what happens when people do not learn to honor their core Self.
They drift through life never learning how holy and precious they truly are....
Tomorrow we have to wake up bright and early, to visit four amazing canyons.
With love and light,
Tali
