Mesa Verde part 2- Cliff Palace

Cliff Palace is the big one. There are dozens of cliff dwellings in the park, but if you've ever seen a picture of Mesa Verde , this is the one you saw. 

This is how it looks from the Mesa top. They have ranger-led tours of Cliff Palace, preceded by strong warnings about how the tour goes down steep stone steps, through narrow gaps in huge rocks, and up and down numerous ladders. They ain't kidding. THis wasn't the most strenuous one though, so we figured we'd do it. It was a challenge. 

That tiny ring of people over on the right is the tour group ahead of us.

Getting closer:

Here it is-

150 rooms, by the way.

David took a few pictures of stone steps and ladders going back up. Me, no. I was way too busy climbing those steps and ladders.  It was a challenge, for sure. And confirmed that going on the Balcony House tour was better left to younger and more adventurous folks! This one here was enough for me.