13.07.18 Cortez/Mesa Verde

On the trail of the Anasazi Indians.

Dawn😎☀️ at the motel.

After breakfast in our accommodation, we head to Mesa Verde National Park.

We book 2 guided tours. To the Cliff Palace and the Balcony House.

I've done these tours once when I was 27.

The first tour is at 10:30 a.m. You descend steps to the Cliff Palace. That's still quite comfortable.

A ranger talks for almost an hour about the Anasazi culture.

But no one really knows why these Indians lived here.

Then you climb back up steps and ladders.

Next is our 12 o'clock appointment at Balkony House.

The next ranger also talks a lot about the culture and gives safety tips. You can still turn around before the first ladder (Last Point of Return).

Here it is 🙈

At 27 years old, no problem at all. Today shaky knees and full pants 😂

But we made it to the top.

We continue on our knees through a pretty narrow tunnel

The butt is from our frontman 🙈

Then back up through various ladders and steps, even worse than the first ladder. But turning back is not an option.

As the ranger says so nicely, 'if you're afraid of heights, just don't look down'

We have truly earned our lunch rolls.

There are thunderstorms coming over the plateau and we drive back to the motel.

Steak for dinner tonight...and burgers🍽️ You have to treat yourself.

Oh yeah....and 'Elvis was here' 😎

Good night Germany🌛