Well the last 24 hours have been the best 24 hours of the trip by far! We arrived at Monument Valley about 5pm where we met by our Nevajo guide, John. The Nevajo people had a huge impact on the Americans victory in World War Two because they created a code which the Japanese were unable to crack. John out guide was in the taking fruit clan and the bitter water clan. The nevajo people call themselves Dine because nevajo means thief in Spanish. John took us in his jeep around some sights of monument valley, including the left and right mittens, elephant rock, the three sisters, and had many photos taken! We went to a spot called the suns eye, which is an eye shaped hole in the monument. There are markings on some of the monuments which are believed to have been created by the tribe which habited the area before the Nevajo's, that tribe apparently all died in a huge sandstorm! We went to another monument which had a hole in the top which looked like a birds eye and beak. Whilst we were laying down looking at the birds face John sang a song to us and played his drum! It was incredibly peaceful in Monument Valley. Following this we went and had dinner outside which had been cooked by some of the female Nevajo's. They served flat bread, steak and salad! Yummy!! After dinner John and another man showed us some typical dances and singing. When he asked for volunteers to join in, myself and Felicity of course volunteered! We had to pair up and row like a boat! Forwards and backwards! And then spin. Following this we had to all get into a big circle and go in the middle in pairs and freestyle! This made me so nervous but I joined in!
Later we went to camp and set up our beds in a circle, outside, under the stars! We all chatted for a while and then fell asleep. It was so surreal sleeping in Monument Valley! At about 1.45am I woke up to half the group in a panic, there were a pack of wolves/wild dogs howling and fighting something, they sounded as if they were getting closer so if course all the girls ran inside the hogan. Sleeping in the hogan was another cool experience, they were built out if wood and dirt, they were so warm. Our one had a curved top...it was a female hogan and the curved top represented a females pregnant stomach. We all got up at 6am and went to watch the sunrise which was beautiful! We went and ate breakfast with our guides (they had a puppy which kept biting everyones legs!) and then hit the road, heading towards Lake Powell!