A Monumental Experience.

Monument Valley is another iconic destination that doesn’t disappoint when you see it ‘in the flesh’.  The views coming into the valley just kept getting better and better.

Forrest Gump stops running here.

We stayed at the Monument View Hotel, and you may be surprised to know that this offered sensational  views of Monument Valley. Here’s a picture of the back of our heads. No sorry, here’s a picture of the view from our balcony.

We took the 17 mile self-drive trail which weaved its way through the valley. We thought that we’d seen the view from our balcony, but wait, there’s more. So much more in fact – tons of absolutely fantastic rock formations.  Probably 20 gazillion photos more, but we will spare you (until we get home that is and then you’re in trouble!). 

In case we were feeling homesick, the valley threw in a bonus dust storm for us. And just to be sure, followed up with a rainy mud storm – sound familiar to you lot who live in Broken Hill?? However the next day it snowed so that was a departure from the script. 

In the evening we joined a tour with Garry, a Navajo guide, who took us to Teardrop Arch for spectacular sunset views of the valley. The weather cleared up after the storm making for a beautiful evening wandering around the edge of cliffs and climbing through tiny holes. Mike took the opportunity to do some re-birthing. 

It's a boy!

Garry sang some Navajo blessing songs and played flute in a natural rock amphitheatre making for an ethereal moment. He is an interesting bloke, has 10 children and about to adopt a little boy from China. Somehow he maintains an aura of serenity with what seems to be a chaotic life. He told us that he loved playing “Cowboys and Indians” as a child – he liked being a Cowboy cos he got to shoot the Indians with a BB gun.  He said that some-one usually went home in tears. Boys will be boys.

In the immortal words of John Wayne….”A man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do”. For Mike, this means being forced to pose for a naff photo on a horse in Monument Valley. Mike is upset that he didn’t have chaps, a cowboy hat and a cowhide fringed vest. (settle yourselves, ladies!)   John Wayne also said “ life is hard, but it’s even harder when you’re stupid”. Words to live by.