NATIVE AMERICAN INDIANS & THE ARCHES

June 4,2008. We started heading to Utah to visit Arches National Park. Before we start travelling nothing impressed me more than The Arches and Niagara Falls. We have been travelling for 25 days and visited the most tourist attraction places in US. If you ask me which one is the best so far, I don't think that I have an answer for that. Each individual places had something special which is different from the rest. What I can say is as much as human beings built Hoover Dam, Nature has been building itself such a breathtaking scenery of Arches. Nature didn't need an Architect and Engineers for these sculptures.

For a moment I am going to take you back to Arizona from Utah. When we were driving from Arizona to Utah we drove through one of the largest Indian Reservation in US. It was located inside the state of Arizona. The area was dry and mountainous. The name of the reservation and Native Indian tribes living in there called Navajo.

We stopped by where The Native Indians sell crafts. It was too hot. When Andy and Avi were heading to see the Canyon, I first started touring the crafts and then talked to a Native Indian Guy inside the store. You shouldn't expect a fancy store :-) It was in the middle of nowhere. The crafts were amazing. Myself bought necklace and bracelet for my sister.

First I asked him about the flag I saw. It was an American flag but it had a picture of Native Indian woman in the middle. He said " This is a flag for Sioux tribe. There are 217 Native American Indian different Tribes living throughout the US and I guess in Canada too.Each tribe speaks its own language. 217 languages !!!! He also said each tribe has its own flag.

I heard also a music which was playing there. He said Indians like music and dance. Apparently, All Native American Indians ( 217 tribes ) are going to meet in Texas in October for yearly festival. He also asked me where I am from. I told him about myself and tribes in Ethiopia including my tribe. For those of you who want to know my tribe, it is called Guraghe. I speak my tribal language in addition to our National language called Amharic.

There are about 80 tribes in Ethiopia. They have their own language and culture. I asked him to have a picture with me. He was glad. Andy took a picture of him and I. That was my best picture ever. I smiled a lot !!!

I asked him more about himself. He said he was born and raised in this area. His parents and grand parents were all lived here. Their sons and daughter were sent to the nearby town to school so that they can get a job.

Then we started heading towards Utah. We took scenic drive through Monument Valley. It was enjoyable to see different shaped cliffs on left and right side of the road.

Around 8 PM we arrived at Moab, a small town in Utah. This town is located very close to The Arches National Parks.Right there one of a friend gave me a call from Virginia and told me, my hero Obama secured his Presidential Nomination for Democrats. I was excited. I have been following up the Presidential Campaign and debates since February, 2007.

Before we headed to camping site we went to a movie theater to see Indian Jones. We enjoyed it.

The following morning, June 5, 2008 around 10 AM we started heading towards the Arches. There are 2000 arches in this park. We did tour the whole day until 5 PM. Every Cliff or Arch you see were astonishing. Please, go and see the pictures. I can't describe this. IT IS ONE OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST DENSITIES OF NATURAL ARCHES. The most interesting thing is: Until today new arches are being formed and the old ones destroyed. Water, ice,extreme temperatures, underground salt movement and erosion are responsible for the sculptured rock scenery of Arches National Park.

We went also for hiking. As usual Andy climbed over some Arches and Cliffs. Also we played freezby. We have been playing freezby everywhere in the parks.

Our plan after visiting the Grand Canyon was heading towards New Mexico. Because heading towards the Arches were a litte bit out of the way.I wanted to visit this park. The documentary I saw about this park before we start travelling impressed me a lot. Thanks to Andy and Avi for sticking with my plan.

Next, we are going to drive together over the rocky mountains of Colorado. Keep in touch.

You can reach me for comments at : virginiacons@gmail.com