The "Res" and the Canyon de Chelly

The beauty of the barren plain, the mystical wind passing through my hair, the sounds of the natural surroundings at Ms. Roessel's beautiful home resonated in my mind and my heart. The power of the atmosphere at this magnificent place, along with the rare opportunity to sleep in a traditional Hogan took the group's idea of an "authentic" Native American experience to a whole new level. Both the sharing of traditional "Dine," or Navajo tales, along with the incredibly delicious fry bread that sat so warmly in our stomachs, allowed the native spirit I so desired to feel to almost course through my veins. And then, there was the Canyon...Or, in other words, one of the most beautiful places on the face of the earth. Not only was it majestic in appearance, but also magical in nature. Our guide, Mr. Andrew Bia,knew each and every crevasse of the beautiful Canyon, teaching us the intricate history of every cave drawing we passed. He added movement and a specific purpose to each ruin or drawing, allowing me personally to truly witness the depth of the Navajo understanding of nature and personal meaning. It was incredible to view the stories of the original inhabitants through the drawings, the signatures of the cavalry members from the 1800's, and finally our own personal signatures of footsteps and of happiness we left upon the Canyon de Chelly. What an amazing three days.