Mesa Verde

On our way home from visiting family this summer we stopped in Mesa Verde to check out the ruins.  We were so impressed.  We only had a couple hours to spend and we loved it. 

We took a tour of the Balcony House.  We had to climb down a pathway to get to these ladders and then climb up the ladders to get into the cliff dwellings.  I was a little freaked out by the heights but tried to not let it affect the tour.

Here's a photo of part of the Balcony House with a couple kiva's in the floor.  Isn't it cool?!

To get out of the dwellings we had to crawl through a small area...which was actually the only way in or out while the people dwelling actually lived there.  Sorry all you get is a photo of my behind.

We were told to shimmy out or duck walk out of the area because there was a large step down at the end and it was easier to do if you had your feet in front of you.

And then another ladder to get out...and finally...

...this steep path.  I'm so glad they had the steal railing to hang onto since this was the scariest part of the whole tour.  And this was how the people entered their town.