New Mexico

Until now, we had not ever been to New Mexico -- Arizona, Utah, Colorado, yeah, but not New Mexico. On this trip, we only actually saw a small part of it, but what we did see was very beautiful!

Our destination was Taos, a place we had heard was magical and spiritually inspiring. I must say, I don't think I have ever seen road-side, impromptu memorials quite like the ones we saw along the New Mexico highways.

Of course, probably the biggest attraction to the area is the Taos Pueblo - multi-storied adobe buildings that have been continuously inhabited for perhaps 1000 years.

Note that doors and windows were not part of the original design. Entrance to these dwellings was through holes in the roof, for security reasons, much like fortresses in old Europe, that had doors mounted on the second story, with ladders that could be pulled up inside.

We took a tour of the Pueblo, guided by a nice young man (16 or 17 years old), named Aspen, who gave us historical background and information about how the buildings were made and are now maintained. Apparently, there are only a small number of families still living there. Most of the buildings are used as shops where the natives sell their crafts, freshly baked bread, and other tasty treats. 

Ovens still used to bake bread. Covers are put over the openings to prevent dogs from sleeping in them.

Interesting door for my collection...

One family's home, with drying racks for animal skins.

Ceremonial post for Native American religious celebration.

Although the native tribe still practices its ancient native religion, they combine it with the Christian religion brought to them by the European invaders. Our guide revealed very little about their ancient ceremonies. He only pointed out to us an area of the pueblo that is used for their most sacred ceremonies -- the kiva -- an area no outsider is allowed to enter.

Entrance to the courtyard in front of San Geronimo, the Catholic church on the Pueblo, built in 1850.

The old graveyard near the ruins of the original Catholic church and bell tower, built in 1619, and destroyed by the US Army in 1847 during the War with Mexico.

While staying in Taos, we drove out to the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, the fifth highest bridge in the US.

We walked across the steel bridge and looked down 650 feet to the Rio Grande.

Rio Grande Gorge

Ubiquitous symbol of New Mexico.

  
Our last day in the Land of Enchantment, was spent driving through incredibly beautiful scenery, stopping often to take photos.

Beautiful autumn color near Abiquiu, a town close to the Ghost Ranch, where Georgia O'Keefe lived for over 40 years.

"Ship Rock" in the distance, rising almost 1600 ft. above the high-desert plain

Slightly closer view of Ship Rock.

Other, much smaller, rock formations on the high-desert plain of northern New Mexico.

(If you want to see a photo in larger format, click on one of them, a slide show will come up with all of the photos. When you close that window, it will return you to the blog.)