Thursday, September 16

We left early for the 45 minute drive to Bandelier National Monument in Frijoles Canyon northwest of Santa Fe. We had hiking and climbing to do and the day would be hot. The 52 sq. mile Monument is home to thousands of archeological sites and some 70 miles of trails (vs. only 3 miles of public road) within its borders.

For the visitor like us with limited time, there are wonderful pueblo ruins, petroglyphs, and cavates (cave rooms pronounced “CAVE-eights”) in the “tuff” (volcanic ash) cliffs less than a mile from the visitor’s center. Most date from around 1100-1200 A.D. We enjoyed climbing up short ladders to peer into cavates and admired the many petroglyphs carved high on the rock face along the path. We especially liked one large, clear petroglyph showing a macaw parrot (thought to be obtained in trade with peoples from Mexico).

see the parrot?

On the valley floor, we also saw the extensive, partially excavated ruins of a village called Tyuonyi (QU-whe-nee) which translated means “meeting place”. It once had at least two stories and over 400 rooms. It is estimated that it was inhabited for some 400 years ending in the mid-1500s.

Another half mile beyond the village is the Alcove House--a 140 ft. climb on 4 ladders and many stone steps to an alcove carved out high on the rock face and thought once to be home to some 25 people.

almost to the alcove

The alcove also includes a small reconstructed kiva (which is often but not always an underground room entered through a hole in the ceiling and associated with religious or community activities or ceremonies). We could barely see the alcove from below. From the top, it was like being in a secret treehouse. Climbing into the tiny kiva felt like we had been transported to another time. For a short time we even had the Alcove House to ourselves. It was beautiful.

We would have liked to visit Los Alamos but the day was hot and time was short. Instead, we went back to our condo for an afternoon swim knowing that early the next morning we would have to leave. Definitely many more sights to see in Santa Fe.