Mesa Verde

I had done a timeshare exchange to Pagosa Springs, Colorado and was very excited to learn that America’s premier archeological park, Mesa Verde, was only a 2 1/2 hour drive.  National Geographic Traveler had named it as one of the fifty “must see” places of a lifetime.

Mesa Verde is also our first World Heritage Site and it’s easy to see why.  The 700 year old homes, villages and kivas where the religious ceremonies were held speak eloquently of the people who built them.  And whatever you do, don’t call them Anasazi.  In today’s politically correct world they are now called Ancestral Puebloans.

Cliff Dwelling Mesa Verde

There are over 4700 archeological sites within the 52,000 acre park and more than 600 of them are cliff dwellings – the most spectacular to see.  Mesa Verde was inhabited from about A.D. 550-1300.  It was discovered much later on a snowy December day in 1888, while ranchers Richard Wetherill and Charlie Mason searched Mesa Verde’s canyons for stray cattle. They unexpectedly came upon the cliff dwelling now know as “Cliff Palace” for the first time.

After paying only $15 to enter the park I drove the 15 miles to the Park Headquarters along the top of the mesa.  Once there I paid $6 for two ranger guided tours of the cliff dwellings of Cliff Palace and Balcony House -  definitely the best $6 I’ve ever spent.

The first tour was led by a sixty something, pony tailed Navajo by the name of Clyde – big disconnect – who added personal insights into the Native American culture.  He said the Ancient Puebloans ate while sitting on the ground to be closer to “Mother”.  Earth was Mother and rain Father. He said that he remembered as a kid the long conversation his whole family had about buying a kitchen table and chairs to sit at for their meals.  Those of his family that objected did so because it was distancing them from “Mother”.

Mesa Verde Cliff Dwelling

The second tour was led by a very informed and experienced Caucasian ranger but lacked Clyde’s color commentary.  I highly recommend asking for a Native American guide if you’re ever touring the park.

It was a long day but worth it.  All in all, Pagosa Springs was a great place to to take a timeshare vacation and  I look forward returning to it again.  The next time I exchange my timeshare there I’ll be checking out The Million Dollar Highway that loops from Durango to Ouray – the “Switzerland of America” – to Telluride and back.

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Jeff Pierce, The Timeshare Expert, has taught thousands of timeshare owners the secrets to getting the best exchanges with both RCI and Interval International for over 21 years.

His two books, The Timeshare Exchange Bible – RCI Weeks Edition, and The Timeshare Exchange Bible – Interval International, are the only books of their kind in the timeshare industry and designed to help you  master at the very complicated art of getting good exchanges.

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