Hopi Land

Leaving Canyon de Chelly we traveled through the Hopi Reservation. A mere island in the center of the Navajo Reservation, the Hopi Reservation is only 2,531.773 sq. mi. and home to 6,900+ Hopi and Tewa Indians.

The population is centered around the three mesas, which each have several villages.They are rather sensitive about having photos taken of their homes and villages, so we didn't. We did stop at the Cultural Center, Second Mesa, and toured the museum and gift shop, and had lunch in the restaurant. The restaurant and hotel are fairly new, and there are some interesting architectural details. I was fascinated by the use of broken pottery shards to decorate the base of columns in the restaurant.

They had an interesting menu with a lot of traditional dishes. We chose what turned out to be a yummy stew of hominy and pintos with green chilis, served with blue corn flat bread (which they call a tortilla) or fry bread. We had one of each, and both were really good. We had purchased some blue corn flour at the grocery store in Chinle, so I'll experiment when we get home and see how close I can get to the authentic.

Having been without decent connections for so long we decided to push on to civilization, and spend the night at an RV park in Tuba City.

Sunday night - we checked in to the Quality Inn RV park - nice facility, for an RV park in the middle of town, and a little laundry room near our site, so time to get caught up on that too.

We had received sad news while in Canyon de Chelly, that one of our very best friends, Bill Barren, had passed away unexpectedly. We've been digesting the idea, as it's hard to grasp an unexpected death. We camped often with the Barrens and it will be strange to go to old familiar places without him. We took advantage of our good connections here in Tuba City to call friends and check in with Bill's wife, Grayce. Though it's dampened our spirits a bit, we know Bill would expect us to "press on" and so we shall, telling stories and remembering the good times spent with him as we go. And we'll have a Coors for him as we do it!

We decided to stay a second night here, so we could check out the Navajo museum next door. It was a good decision.

The museum is a complex consisting of an historic trading post which is still in use as a small grocery store and a gift shop, and outside the trading post is a replica hogan, where Steve posed with one of the reservation dogs that wanders around, looking for handouts.

There is also a museum telling the story of the Navajo Code Talkers, and a Navajo culture museum. All are well done, and the culture museum is interactive, designed to be easily understood and enjoyed by even young children.

In the gift shop I bought a Hopi cookbook, so hopefully we can put that blue corn flour we bought in Chinle to good use.

There are a few more photos in the album.

Time to move on toward the Grand Canyon, north rim.