Day 12 Mesa Verde - Moab

After we sank tired into bed last night, it soon started to rain. Unfortunately, we didn't realize until Marielle was slightly soaked that the flap of the ceiling fan was open. So we were already awake for the first time at four in the morning.

At eight o'clock we were all up and ready to go for our daily shopping. We split up. Markus-jun. needed hiking boots and the necessary daily provisions had to be purchased.

After everything was stowed away in the camper, we set off for Mesa Verde National Park. About an hour's drive and about 1500 meters of altitude later, we reached the Indian settlement Balkony House. During the one-hour guided tour, the ranger impressively explained to us how the Anasazi peoples lived and why they lived in this cliff wall. One reason was protection from enemies. In addition, the sandstone stored water and they were protected from the constantly recurring forest fires. Impressive is the way of life, the art and the precisely constructed structures of these indigenous people, who inhabited the area in the 13th century.

After the visit, we went back down the valley and made our way to Moab. Moab is located in Utah and is near Arches National Park. On the way, we once again drove through a very varied landscape. In particular, the green plains of Colorado are a stark contrast to the desert landscapes of Arizona or Utah. The surroundings of Moab are also very barren and characterized by red sandstone. The weather is mediocre at the moment. It has been raining on and off all day. However, the temperatures have become bearable.

In the evening, we met the Gregorio family from Erlinsbach in Moab. We knew they were also in this area and arranged to meet via WhatsApp. During the cozy dinner, we exchanged our experiences and plans.