Day 2: beautiful Mountain Views from a Durango Train and the impressive Mesa Verde Dwelling

Today we decided to change plans a bit and do not return to Monument Valley but to drive a bit and go for a train ride through the mountains in Durango.

This is the way.

Here is the websiteq of the train.

“The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad offers a historic train ride through Colorado’s scenic San Juan Mountains. Built in 1882, it features vintage steam locomotives traveling 45 miles between Durango and Silverton. Passengers enjoy breathtaking views of rugged peaks, forests, and rivers, making it a popular heritage and sightseeing experience.” from ChatGPT.

Here we are! A real steamy!

Old times…

Look at the scenery… beautiful nature.

Look at these views

And here is the final stop

And here the way back

Beautiful!

After the train, we decided spontaneously to go to a National Park near here, it is called Mesa Verde National Park. here the website.

Nearly 40min drive from the Colorado Train

“Mesa Verde National Park, in Colorado, preserves the ancient cliff dwellings of the Ancestral Puebloans. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it features over 600 archaeological sites, including the iconic Cliff Palace. Visitors explore rugged canyons, scenic trails, and rich cultural history, offering a glimpse into Native American heritage and ingenuity.” from ChatGPT.

First ruins we saw at Mesa Verde National Park

A small village built inside a rock fissure. Amazing.

This was just the appetizer, until we saw the Cliff Palace.

Cliff Palace at Mesa Verde

You have to book a tour to be able to go down there. So, if you want to do so, please go to the website of the park (link above) and reserve it in advance.