Went to Mesa Verde today. It was a beautiful drive but much longer drive than I anticipated. The locals in Cortez told me it was only nine miles to the National Park...but...they forgot to mention that it takes another hour at least to get to the dwellings once you enter the park and the roads are windy and they are numerous delays due to road construction. Once I got near the dwellings I found out that you have to sign up for tours to see each individual dwelling. I initially planned to just pop in and out and then head up to the mountains but that didn't materialize because it took me most of the day just to see one of the dwellings.

The Mesa Verde dwellings are very well preserved and it is my understanding that they are the largest Native American dwellings in North America. I enjoyed the one dwelling that I did see but had wished I had planned better. Next time I intend to spend the entire day and part of the evening here, instead of just going for part of the day. One of the more interesting tours includes seeing a large dwelling called "The Palace" which is lighted up at night. I bet that would be cool to see. Well, maybe next time.

I'm hanging over in Durango tonight before I head off to Silverton, a well known tourist town in the San Juan Mountains. I am really looking forward to heading up there tomorrow because according to my guidebook the road to Silverton is one of the most spectacular drives in the country...which means, lots of new pictures!