mostly Mesa Verde, CO - although you wouldn't think it to read this post

[seldear]

Monument City. If you've ever seen a town that's the epitome of cowboy westerns, this place is it. The spars scrub of the Arizona desert rising and falling on the hills is interupted by the occasional red rock formation beneath a vivid blue sky. One can easily imagine the traditional 'cowboys and indians' movies being enacted out here with only the rolling tumbleweed missing from the scene.

I always said if I toured Europe it would be for the history, and if I toured America, it would be for the land: the trip from Vegas to Omaha, through Arizona, Utah, Arizona, Utah, Arizona, Colorado and then in to Nebraska has emphasised that.

I can see why the early settlers to this country considered themselves very brave and bold, adventurous, pioneers into the 'wild west'. (Forerunners of today's American arrogance?)

I can also see some elements of why they started off as a rather spiritually-based country. For someone who has a basic belief in a Creator God, one only has to look at the high reaches of sky and the broad lengths of scrubby desert, the formations of mountains billions of years old and the colours that even our modern photography can't emulate without a little twitching, and you can echo the hymnist's words:

Oh mighty God, when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the works your hand has made,
I see the stars. I hear the mighty thunder,
Your power throughout the universe displayed...

America as a land is truly magnificent. It's a pity about some of the people, though. and I wonder a bit if Australia has the same kind of awe-inspiring scenery to people who aren't local. I must admit, I've never been to a lot of Australia - something which I think I'd like to change in the next couple of years: even if it's just a handful of road trips out to places that might otherwise not be on the holiday map.

Any of the Australians up for it? Probably not more than a week here and there, possibly flying out, possibly driving. Maybe during holiday break if any of the uni students want to join in.

I guess one of the things about travelling is that there are neither pictures nor words that can fully describe the experience. I tend to use more words than not, and I find myself unable to get all the detail into my descriptions - or even a fraction of the detail. And even a thousand words with every picture doesn't convey the whole surrounding feeling of being there, seeing it, having the 360-degree, surround-sound experience in cone-and-rod colour.

I'll try not to bore you too much with the pics. :)

Mesa Verde National Park was awesome. Cannot describe. Will not try.

Tonight, we're in Durango. We have a suite for less than last night's room. We have a queen-sized bed each. We have free internet access.

If it wasn't for the fact that three of us are American, we'd be happy little Vegemites. As it is, I'm a Happy Little Vegemite (somewhat displaced) and the others are just happy. *g*

Comments

[saramund.livejournal.com]

*puts hand up*

Seeing as how Chris gets MAYBE one week a year off (during CHristmas) - hell yes!

Have car, will travel. I've done a LOT of the east coast - am willing to re-visit, however.

oooh! What about a Winni? (or like-minded vehicle) if we get enough interested?! Stop where we want?!

Oh dear, here come the plans...

[seldearslj.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't mind travelling inland a bit. I know that it's all plains, plains, plains, but I have a story set in inland Australia and should probably do a little bit of personal research. *g*

[erica-w.livejournal.com]

Forerunners of today's American arrogance?

I'd say so. Manifest Destiny anyone?

It's a pity about some of the people, though.

LOL, yes it is.

[matt1969.livejournal.com]

A lot of those westerns were shot in that area, so its not surprising you were able to imagine that.

I must admit, there were days I walked down my street in Havasu in complete awe. I had a wonderful view of the mountains across the lake and the early morning sun catching them was just... amazing.

There is also a lot to be said for traveling and exploring your own backyard. I had a primary school teacher who made one of our class projects an exploration of our town and the surrounding area. Her feeling was that families were taking their children on trips to Spain for holidays, but they knew nothing of the area in which they live.

We have places around here that I've yet to visit, despite having already live here a total of 3 years. We'll be hoping to do some of that at weekends once school starts. Just discovering the area is... something.