Introduction
This Bilderbuch - Picture Book of the Southwestern United States is part of my "illustrated family history," However, its intent is also to lure our European friends - and especially Jürgen and Irene Grosskreutz - to visit us and see the beauty of this land: It is a visual guide book written in English to be readable also by those who cannot read German. Jürgen will forgive me and broaden his English.
The pictures are arranged geographically, overlooking the fact that they were taken over many years. Except in the case of Chaco Canyon they are all my photos and for that reason, the selection does not include places which I have not been to: Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, Natural Bridges all in Utah, and numerous others in that area. Barbara knows these places well and her cecommendations arte included in the detailed travel plan for Jürgen and Irene. You can also easily find descriptions and images of these parks with Google in the internet. A separate folder contains road maps. Despite their size (about 400 kB each) they still cannot replace detailed paper maps. They are intended for general orientation in this large area.
A detailed Travel Plan für Jürgen and Irene (2004) is also included
If you have any questions write me an e-mail: rolf357@verizon.net .
Pacific Palisades, 2 February, 2004
Suggested Books
A resourceful German survey of Indian culture and history, archeology of the southwest, and some maps. Not useable for travel information:
Werner Rockstroh, USA, Der Südwesten, DuMont Kunst-Reiseführer, Köln, 1979 ff (in German)
The following guide books are excellent, none are better, their only drawback is, they are bulky and heavy. See http://www.Amazon.com for details: "book-search" for Moon Handbooks.
Julian Smith, Moon Handbooks: Four Corners: Including Navajo and Hopi Country, Moab, and Lake Powell, October, 2003, ISBN: 1566915813, Paperback, $11 at Amazon.com
W. C. McRae Moon Handbooks: Zion and Bryce: Including Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Escalante, December, 2002, ISBN: 1566915511, Paperback, $11 at Amazon.com
Bill Weir, Moon Handbooks: Grand Canyon: Including Arizonas Indian Country (2nd Edition), January, 2002, ISBN: 1566913713, Paperback, $11 at Amazone,com
Other newer monographs, which I have not seen yet, but come highly recommended:
David
Grant Noble , Brad Melton, Ancient
Ruins of the Southwest: An Archaeological Guide,
June, 2003, ISBN: 0873587243
Paperback, about $12 at Amazone.com
David
E. Stuart, Anasazi America: 17
Centuries on the Road from Center Place
July, 2000: ISBN 0826321798
Paperback, about $14 at Amazon.com
Kenneth
A. Brown, Four Corners : History,
Land, and People of the Desert Southwest, November,
1996 ISBN: 0060927593
Paperback, about $11 at Amazon.com
R. Gwinn Vivian , Bruce Hilpert, The Chaco Handbook: An Encyclopedic Guide (Chaco Canyon Series) July, 2002 ISBN: 0874807050 Paperback, about $11 at Amazon.com
The best road map of the Four-Corners Area is available for $ 3.95 at all AAA Offices. Indian Country Guide Map, American Automobile Association - Automobile Club of Southern California, 2002
AAA Tour Books, California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, etc. American Automobile Association - Automobile Club of Southern California, 2004, Hotel and restaurant directories which are invaluable travel aids. Only available to AAA members (free of charge). Borrow them from Barbara.
These and dozens of other road and city maps are free for members (a one year membership around $40 includes road emergency and towing services!).
The Internet - Links
Use www.Google.com to search for places, or use their very useful Image-Search for pictures. It is silly to give a list individual URLs for each location or park, try the National Park Service Website: http://www.nps.gov/parks.html It has a page for each of the parks and monuments they administer, but contains not much information outside opening times, entry fees, lodging reservations, and an occasional map.