Monday, December 26, 2011

Flutes in the Grand Canyon...

The Grand Canyon is spectacular, even in November.

We hiked the south rim trail on a beautiful but cold day. We also brought the flutes to see how they would sound, magnificent.







The only problem was the temperature was in the 30's and 40's and the altitude was more than 7000 feet above sea level.








That makes it a little hard to play for very long. Tom got a lot of compliments from others who were hiking. They said it could be heard a long way off and sounded so right.

















Next: Christmas

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

More Grand Canyon...

It is 7000 feet above sea level here.











Friday, December 16, 2011

Grand Canyon...

This is our first attempt at video uploading, so somebody please let us know how it turns out.



Thursday, December 8, 2011

Montezuma's Well

Monntezuma wasn't here, either. However, people lived in the cliffs, just like the Castle.




























When we climbed down the hill side (not into the well, but down the outside), we found where the water left the well from below.
















They cut a small channel where the water escaped from underground and used it to irrigate their fields.
It then spread out into a small creek that meandered into the Verde River.























Tom and I now find all sorts of interesting places to play our flutes. In fact, we have 2 more, a B and a small G. Still playing every day.Next: The Grand Canyon...

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Montezuma's Castle

Montezuma was never here. In fact, he wasn't born until at least 200 years after the site was abandoned. The people who lived here just disappeared. The Navajo and Hopi say they are still here in them.





This is a model of the pueblo. The Park Service has an agreement with some local Native Americans to maintain the ruins in a completely authentic manner. Last year they came and repaired or replaced the main roof.


The public is no longer allowed to enter the ruins or climb the cliffs. I'm glad, this way they will be there for us all for a long, long time to come.









These are some of the storage caves. They would fill the cave with supplies, light a small fire and then seal the cave completely. The fire would burn all the oxygen out and the food would be safe in the cave for about three years.











Tom bought our first Native American flute in Red Rock Canyon State Park in Nevada about a month ago. He plays it every day now. In the gift shop here, they had a display of High Spirits flutes, the same manufacturer as the first one he bought. Needless to say we bought some more. Now we have a C (the first one) an A and 2 pocket flutes in A. We both play every day now.





Next: Montezuma's Well.