Day 28 - Page to Farmington

Monument Valley

This is the famous backdrop for loads of Westerns - I'm sure you recognise it:

It's in Navajo run country and you have to pay a fee to get in (separate from the National Park fee)
I really liked Monument Valley itself but I didn't really enjoy being on Navajo land. When I stopped for gas I was kind of cornered by a young man asking me for money which was uncomfortable. I got out of it by mentioning my husband and gesturing towards the restrooms. In Monument Valley and Four Corners (next) there were lots of shops run by Navajo people selling "authentic" souvenirs. I really don't enjoy native authenticity being thrust upon me. It feels the same as when you go to Egypt and they take you to a "genuine" bedouin tent, serve you tea and try to sell you a necklace. Or when in Spain women dress up in flamenco dresses just for the tourists. Other people do seem to enjoy it though so good luck to 'em.

Four Corners

After Monument Valley I went to Four Corners - the only place in the US where you can stand on four states at once (Arizona, Colorado, Utah and New Mexico) It was... ok. A little disappointing but ok. It's a big plaque on the floor which is kind of cool but it's been made into a kind of courtyard, surrounded by a whole bunch of souvenir stalls (which encouraged the disappointment)

Weird things about the States

- Do not pass. First time I saw one of these signs I came to a screeching halt. Eventually realised that they meant "Do not overtake" We seriously need to reintroduce these people to the English language (if we are to avoid huge pile-ups on the motorway caused by unsuspecting Brits following simple instructions on traffic signs)

- Restrooms (aka toilets) - I've seen big ones, small ones, long-drop ones, no-lock-on-the-door ones... They all have one thing in common: these devilishly confounding toilet seat covers. If you've never seen one, it is an oval shaped  toilet cover sized sheet of very thin paper. When I first saw one I gathered you were meant to put it on the toilet seat and then sit on it but I must have done something horribly wrong because I ended up with an oval shaped toilet cover sized sheet of very thin paper stuck to my bum. Since then I've decided I'm more likely to die from driving off a mountain road than from toilet seat cooties so I've not used one again. Besides, what's wrong with good old fashioned European hovering?

"Rest Assured"? For real??

- Motels with unsuitable locks on doors. 

- These plastic containers in motels - what are they for? (not the cups)

- The Election - I really feel for anyone who's not sure who to vote for in the upcoming election. Not only out of the Presidential candidates but on a state, county, school district level. Even I, as a mildly uninterested outsider, can see that on every topic someone must be lying but who knows who and on which issues? Frankly, I'm not sure if I'm more surprised at the blatant deceit or at the fact that Obama, who four years ago was the Messiah reincarnate, is not a clearer favourite. It seems likely that he'll win but no landslide in sight. Odd.

Other things that happened today

I woke up to the Page Balloon Regatta 2012

Went back into Utah

Now I'm in New Mexico

From a distance this rock looked like a city, actually, like Emerald City (from The Wizard of Oz)

I meant to take this photo

But this happened (and I didn't realise until I just now! no idea what went on!)

It's my *new* godson Jacob's birthday today!!