Sightseeing in the Southwest

The next day, we hopped in the car and travelled to see some of the Southwest's most memorable sights.

But along the way, we drove through some pretty, and pretty desolate, territory.

After a couple of hours, and a few wrong turns onto scary dirt roads later, we arrived at Monument Valley:

It's the setting for more Western movies than anywhere else in the United States - but don't come for the movie references, come to see these sandstone formations. They take your breath away.

And if you're lucky, you'll be forced to slow down a bit for the local fauna.

Did I say Western movies? I think Thelma and Louise spent some time here - as of course did Forrest Gump.

We also stopped by Mexican Hat - that way cool rock formation in the background. I'm sweating to death in the foreground waiting on the sun to light up the formation. Sun on me and not on Mexican Hat. Cruel, cruel hot sun.

All in all, it was a long day of driving through some of the most desolate desert areas I've ever been in. Somehow, amidst the vast (hot, dry, scrubby) emptiness was incredible beauty. I suppose that's the allure that Western movies sell.