01/22/2006 to 01/28/2006
We drove over to Taos, New Mexico to meet our friends Paula & Bruce so the boys could ski. We love New Mexico and always find new places to visit as we drive and this time was no exception.
Taos is a really nice town, full of museums, art, food and places of interest. It's home to Taos Pueblo which has been inhabited for over 1,000 years. The residents live there much as they did then.
We only had a few days there so we must plan a return trip. For one thing the Anaconda Bar has great mojitos, and then there's Doc Martins martinis and appetizers, Olgivies great lunches!! Well, you get the picture. Lots to see, do and eat.
- Santuario de Chimayo
- St. Francis of Assis Church
- Taos Pueblo
- Taos Plaza & Stuff
- Los Alamos
- Three River Petroglyphs
- Sunspot Observatory
- White Sands National Monument
On our way to Taos, we decided to stop at Santuario de Chimayo.
It's believed to be built on sacred earth with miraculous healing powers.
The shrine El Santuario de Chimayo is probably the most visited church in New Mexico.
The crucifix which began the original shrine still resides on the chapel alter, but for some reason its curative powers have been overshadowed by El Posito, the "sacred sand pit" from which it sprang.
Since it was Sunday and Mass was in progress, we did not go into the chapel.
But it's on our must for the next trip to that area.
Just down the road from our hotel was the San Francisco de Assis Church in the Rancho de Taos Plaza.
I'm sure you'll recognize it since it's one of the most photographed churches in the Southwest.
George took shots during the day, then at night, then again when it snowed.
Yup, we're typical tourists.
Construction was started around 1772 (the exact date seems to vary widely) and completed in 1815.
Recent restoration has helped preserve and restore it, with the adobe mud applied by hand.
Inside are two carved reredos, one behind the alter and one to the side.
These are very elaborate, and since you can not take photos inside the church I've scanned pictures from postcards so you can have some idea of what they look like.
Front of the church in daylight
This gives you some idea of the size of those buttresses
Front at night. As I said, we made multiple trips
This is the main alter reredo. You can see the vibrant colors and details
Side alter reredo
 - Outside gate 1.jpg "It's really pretty in the snow")
It's really pretty in the snow
 - North side 1.jpg)
The doors to the homes and shops in the Plaza are all painted this blue
Taos Pueblo has been continuously occupied for over 1,000 years. Yup, that's right.
Architecturally not much has changed except the access is no longer via ladders to the roof and they can have propane heat.
However, no running water and no electricity.
Cooking is still done using traditional ovens outside.
Water comes from the small stream running through the middle of the pueblo.
The history is one of imposed Catholicism, revolt, massacre (both sides), and survival.
Today the residents practice a combination of native beliefs and Catholicism but they will not discuss it because it is sacred to them.
The link below will tell you more about the people and history.
Some residents sell jewelry, art and baked goods to tourists from their homes.
These are clearly marked by signs, but it is best to ask permission before entering.
Kind of like a Native American version of an Amish settlement.
San Geranimo (St. Jerome) Church. The original one, built in 1619, was burned during the Mexican War in 1847. This one dates to 1850.
The North Side pueblos. You can see it's a huge complex
North side again. Those are drying racks out front
The remains of the old church in the graveyard serves as a memorial to those burned alive inside during the rebellion
Dog Attack!! Actually he was seeking my protection from the alpha male trying to bite him. Naturally I took care of him
We loved this "Real Indian Stuff" sign. Good sense of humor
This is an alley on the South Side. As you can see it goes back quite a ways
This is one of the traditional ovens still used for cooking
Shot of the South Side. Ya, I know. Looks a lot like the North Side
As usual we took more pictures than we needed so I'm just making a general Taos site with various shots.
Naturally we went to the bridge over the Rio Grande. It's a great view and really vibrates when big trucks go by.
Truckers are still fun and if you stand on the bridge and wave as they go by they'll blow their horns for you, just like when you were a little kid.
We took a few shots of Taos Plaza, especially the great horse sculpture.
There are shots of Paula & I looking cold, and the Sagebrush Inn where we stayed.
Also a few shots from the ski slopes, since that was one of the reasons we went.
Did I not mention this was a ski trip?
That's us on the bridge over the Rio Grande. If I didn't tell you you'd probably never know
We stayed at The Sagebrush Inn. Very nice place
Taos Plaza. It's a large square surrounded by shops, businesses and restaurants
Doesn't he have the cutest expression?
George, Sharon & the horse
Paula & Sharon trying not to look cold. At least Paula had the good sense to wear a hat
This sculpture looks like some of the cave paintings from Lasaux cave in France
A shot of the village at Taos Ski Valley
Bruce on the lift
George on the lift. He's smiling, really he is
Ever been to a black hole? Well, there's one in Los Alamos.
It's full of stuff, much of it from the old labs.
Things like ancient computer fronts, breakers, tubes, lights, you name it.
It's run by a funny, sweet man named Ed, and if you're very lucky you too can have his personal tour.
If you're a big fan of the A-bomb don't go because Ed is not and he makes no bones about telling you so.
However, he is a great host and we enjoyed ourselves.
Welcome to the Black Hole
Sharon with Ed. He's a lot of fun
Meandering towards home we noticed the Three Rivers Petroglyph site on our map so we figured we would stop and look.
This place is amazing.
It's just a small trail going back among the rocks covered with petroglyphs. Hundreds of them.
Hopefully you can get some idea from the few I'm posting.
The petroglyphs are over 600 years old and there are over 20,000 of them in the area
After leaving Three River Petroglyph we decided to stop at The Sunspot Observatory.
Not too much open this time of year but we enjoyed the bit we saw.
DEER PEEING!!! My first ever shot of a deer peeing in the woods! We saw them driving up to the observatory
Big Dome
Tower Telescope
Inside the Tower Telescope. For you UNIX folks, those are Sun servers racked & stacked back there
Another shot inside the Tower Telescope
Naturally we had to stop at White Sands.
We really love this place.
We did the Alkali Flats Trail again.
If you've never been here you must follow the markers as they meander through the gypsum. They stand out like orange tipped skeleton fingers helping you back to the parking lot.
It was a bit cold but we still had a great time scrambling up and down the dunes.
We discovered we aren't alone out there.
The Shadow People made an appearance and there were traces of folks who had gone before; gone being interpreted any way you like
A rare siting of The Shadow People
Pretty dune shot. We have lots and lots of these
Depending on shifting dunes Alkali Flats Trail can vary in length. Today it was 4.3 instead of 4.5 miles
Look closely and you can see the trail markers marching off into the distance
That little black spot out there is actually a person on the trail
Another dune shot
Sharon climbing up a dune. The obligatory butt shot. There's one in just about every hike and climb
Big Foot was here
Sharon wandering along the trail
Footprints to nowhere
