Tuuvi and the Hopi Nation

Hi Everyone! We just made a quick trip up to Northern AZ. We were invited to the grand opening of the Legacy Hotel in Tuuvi (Tuba City). This is a very unique place. Tuba City is the Navajo name and Tuuvi is the Hopi name of the same town. one side of the street is Navajo and the other is Hopi. the Navajo nation is on daylight savings time and the Hopi nation is on AZ time. My phone showed Navajo time, Bruce's phone Hopi time! it was very confusing! there is just a little of area that is surrounded totally by the Navajos. Anyway, Bruce has been working with the Hopi's on a travel center there. I think it has been opened for about 2 years. Monday, the Hopi's had their grand opening of a hotel across the street from the travel center. We got to stay in the new hotel. It is just beautiful.
We went to Flagstaff to meet with Jeff, Terry and Scott to have dinner, then on to Tuuvi. this picture is by sunset point. just miles of yellow flowers. very pretty!
We had dinner at Black Bart's steakhouse. the food was great and all the waiters and waitresses sang to us while we ate. really a bunch of talented kids!

this is the hotel during the day. we arrived at night and it was breathtaking with the lighting.

every room had a balcony and the next two pics is the view from our balcony.

Tuesday morning was the ceremony. it started with the Village Crier. I don't' know what he said - it was all in Hopi. very moving. next an opening prayer. then the veterans had a flag ceremony. these were all veterans from the Vietnam War and Desert Storm. I love seeing the flag fly.

next came the social dancing. first came the drummers and the singers, then came the dancers. I think the kids were about 10 years old. there were 2 boys and 2 girls. I tell you those kids never missed a beat. they were right on the money with every beat of the drums. AND it was a very long dance. those kids didn't look winded at all.

Then there was a lot of talking. the Governor of the Hopi nation, different government officials from the Governors (AZ ) office and officials from Coconino county, different board members. then they did something unexpected. they invited all veterans - men and women to come up front. both Hopi and any one else there. they then announced that after the ribbon cutting, everyone was to come up and say thank you to the veterans. I thought that was very nice. the board members, Miss Hopi all cut the ribbon. then the food was served! LOL!
Here are the gentlemen I shared the table with. Terry, Jeff, Scott and Bruce! They all are Express Stop and worked with Hopi's.

For lunch we had salad, sandwiches, wonderful banana bread. AND pasole - I know I spelled that wrong. it was mutton with hominy. there was a BIG roasted chilie on top. I thought it was a Hatch green chilie - wrong!! this baby was hot!!!! I like hot and spicy, but this was a little much for me. It was very good though. I usually do not like mutton, but it was very mild. the broth was wonderful.

then it was time to go home. this pic is on the way out of the valley. lots of layers of color, very stark, really very beautiful.

This is the San Francisco Peaks! SNOW!!!! wow, this is the northern side. there was still a bit on the southern side too. It amazes me that there still is snow. even in flagstaff there was a bit of snow here and there. Remember I am a desert rat, I don't know what snow is, so it is always amazing to me to see it. LOL!

I found the Hopi people charming, friendly, and love to talk. they are so very proud of this new beautiful hotel. It is bringing jobs, and money into the tribe. and that is a good thing. thank you so much for inviting us! we had a wonderful time!!