Mesa Verde, Monument Valley, and general observations

We have been at altitudes between 5000 and 8000 ft (1600 – 2600 m) since we arrived.  Mesa Verde (Spanish for green table) is a set of mesas/canyons where the ancient Puebloans lived; in the 13th century they moved from mesa top to villages in cliff alcoves:

On the way to Monument valley we did a small detour to Goosenecks State Park where the San Juan Riiver does about 4 180 degree loops in a very short distance:

The view up the road from Muley Point was great:

Monument Valley has featured in many movies, and even in Forest Gump (where he stopped his run):

General observations from both Kitty and Graeme;

1. Drug ads: Drug companies are allowed to advertise, so radio and TV are full of ads for drugs like Cialis for erectile dysfunction, Boneva for osteoporosis, and others for depression, lowering cholesterol, quitting smoking, etc etc. The benefits of the drug take up about one third of the ad; the remaining two thirds lists the side effects and warnings. One side effect of the anti-depressant is an increased risk of suicide!!
2. While driving we are limited in the radio stations we can receive; they are mostly country music and we are becoming very familiar with the current country hits. They have lyrics like:
   Our house is guarded by the good Lord and a gun, or
   Rain makes corn, corn makes whiskey, whiskey makes my baby feel ... a little frisky. Very little news, time checks (none) or commentary (some right wing announcers however)
3. Food: the size of helpings at restaurants is ludicrous. It explains the high obesity and diabetes problem they have here. Last time we ate breakfast out the omelets were made with 3 eggs and half the plate was fried potato cubes. One meal can often feed 2 people. Last night we ordered seniors meals at the Denny restaurant and finally got a sensible serving size.
4. Prices: generally much cheaper than in Oz. petrol 75 c per litre, Gatorade (20 oz) for 88c (at a supermart), lip-balm (SPF15) $1.........but one big exception are Doctors. Medicos here make our money-hungry doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists etc look like philanthropists !! To get a written prescription may cost $200-300 – if the doctor is willing to see you. When you call to make an appointment they generally say we don't accept walk-ins or non-regulars; they want to check if you have health insurance and if not - are very uncertain about how to extract those mega-bucks for the service. The alternative is to go to Walmart, get free advice from the pharmacist there and then buy say 1% Cortisone cream for about $2 an oz. Total cost $2.
5. Religion: Way more important here than in Oz. We went to a cowboy dinner and show in Jackson and they had a few moments silence with heads bowed before serving the food. There are frequent references to God and church in the media. They played a song on the radio about a poor little girl born to 2 non-believers who never gave her kisses and cuddles. One night she witnessed her father kill her mother in a drunken rage, and then kill himself. After that she was adopted by a family who took her to church and gave her kisses and cuddles. And of course she realised that God was with her and she was then ok .... sorry David, Michael and Jonathan – it looks like you are doomed after being raised by us!
6. Guns: A husband recently refused to obey his wife's command to feed their goat – so she pulled a gun on him to force him. He dared her to shoot. She did. He died. She is on a murder charge. No-one knows if the goat ever got fed !