(Page, Arizona, U.S.A.)
We had very diverse experiences around the essentially new town of Page, Arizona. We began with a scenic outlook over Lake Powell, which was formed by the damming of the Colorado River. The lake is very quiet now, but it must be teeming with activity in the warmer months.
From there, we went to “Horseshoe Bend”. You may not have heard of it by name, but you’ve probably seen pictures of it. It is a dramatic and very deep (300 metres!) curve of the Colorado River that is shaped like a horseshoe. However, as our guide explained, its current state is a reflection of “Instagram” tourism.
Before 2018, the parking lot near the top of Horseshoe Bend was unpaved. There was no charge to get in. However, thanks to ever-more dramatic photos of Horseshoe Bend, people have flocked here to take a look at it…and take their own photos to post on social media. As a result, entry fees are now charged (and the parking lot is paved).
Alas, even in late November, it does not seem that the traffic has abated very much. Just like seeing Venice or the Mona Lisa, you do not get to enjoy it in quiet contemplation of its beauty and/or your own insignificance.
Our visit to the Antelope Canyon was quite a contrast. This is another slot canyon, but completely different from what we saw in Zion National Park. Through erosion and flooding, the bright red rock has evolved into a kind of underground maze with massive rounded shapes, arches, and spires.
It seems like the kind of place that Antoni Gaudí might have designed, if he worked with geological processes. Other than that, I think the photographs will do a better job of explaining what Antelope Canyon is like…even though my photos are compromised somewhat by the very difficult lighting inside the canyon.
For lunch that day, we visited a Navajo community and had “Navajo Tacos” for lunch. They aren’t really tacos, but pieces of frybread with tacoesque toppings. Although historically associated with the Navajo and other nearby nations, frybread was only developed here in 1864 using colonial ingredients. It was also very interesting to hear about economic development from the Navajo perspective.
The day concluded with a long drive to Tusayan, Arizona. The name may not sound familiar, but the nearby national park certainly will. I’ll have details about that in the next post…I have a feeling that it won’t be a typical tourist experience!