We elected to go for the 9.00 am tour. We met, as instructed, in the lobby of the View Hotel. A beautiful lady told us that Stephen would be our guide. My heart sank - I had hoped for a Navajo guide. Silly me.
Stephen was a wonderful young Navajo man of gracious good humour. This was soon evident when I explained that I was pleasantly surprised that he was Navajo, as the lady at the hotel, Dinah, had not indicated thus. He laughed, with good humour, as he told us that the lady was Charlene Johnson and that "Dineh" was Navajo for "People" and "BeKeyah" meant "Land." Ahem!
It's difficult to explain Monument Valley. It's achingly beautiful - but you can see that from the Ford/Wayne cowboy films.
What's harder to explain is just how deep the land penetrates your soul.
I'm Irish.
We have lousy weather and super green fields of grass.
We get sunburn when we open the fridge door.
Monument Valley is desert as far as you can see.
And beyond.
It was 106F/42C the day of our trip.
I have never felt more at home outside of Ireland.
It was uncanny.
Stephen certainly helped. Knowledgable, courteous, and funny in equal measures, it was an absolute pleasure to travel in his company.
But the land itself gets inside you.
And burns away all vestiges of discomfort.
It's wonderful.
We drove from Tucson for more than six hours to reach Monument Valley.
It was worth every second!