Bandelier Park

							             Bandelier Park
• I had never heard of Bandelier National
  Monument. I just know that is we drove up
  the spiraling highway, I kept thinking o boy,
  I am going to have problems walking up
  just like in Inscription Rock. Matters were
  made worse when I saw that the Fire
  warning was at high.
 Bandelier National Monument
• Oh my Lord! What a place. Awesome! I just did
  not know what to do. I had made an effort to walk
  all the other sites except for climbing Inscription
  Rock, but this was something else. Back and
  forth I went – undecided – I wanted to go, but I
  kept getting out of breath. Finally I made up my
  mind. There was no way on earth I would ever
  come back here. Primarily because I am in no
  physical condition to climb those ladders, but I
  have always been fascinated by the Anazasi
  People and I just had to go.
• What an experience, this whole trip was
  all worth it just by being here. Walking
  the path of the Ancient Ones, viewing
  their homes, climbing to the caves they
  had carved out in the mountain sides.
  Spectacular!
• I made it! I know I could not continue to
  the Long houses simply because
  heights and I do not get along. I am
  contented with what I did see.
• The inside was very spacious and way
  bigger than what I thought. It was also
  cool and a welcome relief from the heat
  outside. It was worth the effort and the
  climb, getting down was another story.
       Alcove Long Houses
• When I saw this picture I knew I had made
  the right decision of not continuing on. I
  probably would have gotten dizzy, not to
  mention a very hard time going down. Nope,
  just looking at it is scary and I get chills down
  my back. My hat of to those who were
  successful, but more importantly my
  admiration for the Ancient Ones continues to
  grow. Breathtakingly beautiful!
• Of course I am not as daring as Maribel, Dr.
  Green or Sean, there was no way I was
  going to climb those ladders – I am afraid of
  heights especially freefalls.
• The beauty of this place is indescribable,
  tucked away in such a secluded place. You
  really have to be into hiking and camping to
  know about this place. I am really glad I
  came and that I made an effort to see it. I
  really would have regretted it if I had not
  done so.
                            Closing
• The scenery, the Pueblos, to me they’ve been an eye opener. I
  wonder what Fray Marcos de Niza, Coronado and Onate thought
  when they first saw these pueblos. Probably great disappointment as
  there was no real wealth they could get their hands on. I feel for
  Coronado who used his wife’s wealth to finance the expedition and at
  the end have nothing to show for it.
• Unfortunately, the reality of that time was that gold was necessary
  and the expeditions into the southwest were because they were
  seeking wealth and hoping to spread their religious beliefs on the
  Natives. No respect for the culture of the natives and that is in itself
  sad. Looking back, the Pecos Pueblo natives did attempt to live
  peacefully with the Spanish, but that did not happen, hence the
  various revolts of the Natives.
• What was true then is true today. In order to live in peace we must
  accept or at least be tolerant of other people’s beliefs.
• I thoroughly enjoyed this trip and I now understand some of those
  reality shows. It is hard living together with other people, but I like to
  think we did good.