Journey through Monument Valley (Navajo Tribal Land)

Many of the Diné have converted their pickup trucks into mini tour buses which they use to take the tourists from the many large buses back into the Valley. We decided to venture around the rough and rocky loop road in our rental car, and because we were out early - before the buses arrived - we essentially had the place to ourselves.

 It’s quiet back (down?) here, and the rocks themselves seem like “presences”.

One of my favorite places was a horse corral that we came upon soon after we got on the loop trail. All of the horses were gentle, friendly even. They came right up to us, pushing their big noses through the fence for a little pat. I was captivated by these animals - just touching them seemed like a way to enter a different way of knowing and being in life. It seemed that if I could live in the little trailer over at the edge of the corral, and do nothing my whole life but care for and be with these animals, that would be enough. A totally fulfilled and meaningful life, there would be no need to get out there and compete and try to be something or have things. 

This gray one and I connected!

 But they were all magnificent creatures, perfectly at home in this land.

 Our lone rental car ...

 ... down the road ...

 A hogan with drying rack and pickup ...