Friday July 12

Navajo Nation

As we left Gallup, we paid yet another visit to Wal-Mart (this is the 3rd W-M we've been to on this trip). We also shopped the Rio West Mall and Corey bought a pair of sneakers. Then it was on to Window Rock, the capital of the Navajo Nation, just about a half-hour away.

"Welcome to the Navajo Nation" greeted us before the "Welcome to Arizona" sign. Just up the road was the Navajo Museum which features a really neat exhibit of Navajo Codetalkers, a hogan outside in the courtyard, a library and a zoo. Of course, there's a gift shop too. As I parked the car, a group of people exited the building. I asked one of the women how to get to "the rock" and she gave me directions (it's right up the road). We spoke for a few moments and I asked her if she would take a picture with me (on the reservations, ALWAYS ask before photographing). She was enthusiastic, and introduced herself, reaching her hand into the car and across Corey to shake hands. I exited the car and stood with her so Corey could take our pictures. Margilene told me her clan membership but I have it written down in the car. I'll update tomorrow.

Window Rock is an amazing place. A few long, low buildings are dwarfed by the rock, which sets the background for the nation's capital. The Tribal Council building is directly in front of the rock and has its entrance facing it. Off to the side is the legislative building. A bit farther down is what I think is their judicial branch. While our government creates its own monuments, here on the reservation, God created the monuments.

Just about 1/2 hour north is Tsaile, home of Dine College (formerly Navajo Community College) This is the "sister college" to RACC and where some of our instructors participated in an exchange program several years ago. Since I was not familiar with the Indian Route 12, it took me about an hour to reach the college. The campus is laid out inside a circle-road and the main building is shaped like a hogan. Horses graze along the roads, not just here, but everywhere! While Texas fenced in all of their nothing, the Navajo do not.

Along the road I saw hand-made signs of encouragement for America in this latest war. One was a large poster of an American flag with the words "Hold Strong" written across the bottom.

We are now at 5,000 feet above sea level. And climbing. We have already visited the north rim of Canyon de Chelly (a sacred site) and part of the south rim. The climbing is rough on the car so I keep turning off the A/C. The canyon is truly amazing. The vegetation above is sparse, yet down in the canyon it's a thick, lush green. There's what also looks like sand. And rocks.. rocks everywhere. Tall, strange formations, amazing!

Just outside the canyon, about 1/4 mile down the road, is the Holiday Inn where we are staying tonight. It doesn't look like a Holiday Inn at all, and I took many pictures of it. You might find something on the web if you look up Garcia Trading Post Holiday Inn. Corey went to the pool shortly after we arrived while I brought our things in from the car. I then joined her later, around 7:30. What is very confusing to me is that Arizona does not participate in Daylight Savings Time, so they are Mountain Time minus DST. The Navajo Nation does participate, so I am constantly confused. Thank goodness many places have 2 clocks, one for the actual time, and one for Arizona time. What I realized while driving west toward a restaurant last night (the sun could not be avoided) was that by not participating, Arizona actually got an extra hour of sunshine because it's an hour earlier... or something like that.. I am too confused about all the time zones and DST to try to figure it out.

We had dinner in a cute restaurant called Junction Restaurant at the Best Western. For our entertainment, a Navajo family sang and played traditional music and the father offered explanations. The boys were ages 14, 11 and 10 and the oldest reminded me of my son's best friend Matt when he was that age.

Back at the motel, Corey turned in early (all she wants to do this trip is sleep...). Tomorrow will be another busy day seeing the south rim and then heading down toward Hubble Trading Post and the Petrified Forest (which is on Arizona Time).

Entering Navajo Nation A Dream Come True	Margilene and me	Flags of Window Rock
Corey at Window Rock	Me at Window Rock	Another View
Behind Window Rock	More rock formations	Canyon de Chelly
2 Time Zones in AZ	Holiday Inn at Garcia Trading Post	Corey at Holiday Inn

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