2018 On The Road Again

Part of the tour is a visit to a Navajo Hogan, there are male (ceremonial) and female (family homes) hogans and the doors always face east. The small hogan behind the female one is a sweat lodge. Inside we were shown how sheeps wool was cleaned and spun, it was amazing how long the yarn was from a small piece of wool. Also on display were other Navajo artefacts, some of which are still in use today. The tiny settlement is still inhabited and they bring water in from Goulding’s where we’re staying. The only spring in Monument Valley is used for livestock, sheep, cattle and horses. We’ve been looking for an authentic dream catcher and found one here !!Lue lisää

Signed up at the blue kiosk by the visitor centre for the 2 1/2 hour cultural and Lower Monument Valley tour. Our vehicle was a pickup front with 3 rows of seats high up and open at the back. Larry our Navajo driver and tour guide was brilliant, he grew up in Monument Valley and some of his family still live here. Larry stopped at scenic views telling us the names of the rock formations and also added interesting stories about the Navajo Nation and their way of life past and present. John Wayne Point was one of our stops, John Ford’s film Stagecoach with John Wayne was the first of many films made here. Our stops were at rock formations called The Chief and The Dragon. Along the route there are touristy shops and stalls selling Navajo crafts and jewellery. The Navajos originally came to this area from Alaska and Canada.Lue lisää