Taos, The High Road

Rio Grande River

 We headed out early yesterday to Taos. It was a beautiful cool day so we decided Grace could join us.  We had breakfast in Espanola.  We stopped at the Rio Grande Gorge visitor's center.  The Rio Grande is the 3rd longest river in the US. Only the Mississippi and Missouri are longer.

 We drove through Taos up to the Taos Pueblo.  The Taos Pueblo has been continually inhabited for over 1000 years. Today only about 100 people actually live in the pueblo. They have no electricity or running water so most tribe members opt to live outside the walls with modern conveniences.  It is mainly a tourist attraction, but still used for their tribal meetings, ceremonies and feasts.

Adobe Bricks drying in the Sun

 The feast of San Geronimo is next week.  There was a lot of building going on to spruce up the place.  There were piles of Adobe bricks and houses being re-plastered everywhere.

Ruins of the original Catholic Church

 The ruin on the left is the original Catholic church built by the Spanish in 1619.  It was destroyed by the tribe during the Pueblo Revolt of 1680, when the Spanish were driven out of New Mexico. It was rebuilt by the Spanish and then destroyed by the U.S. Army in 1847, during the Mexican American war.
After our visit to the pueblo, we headed back to the Santa Fe plaza in search of lunch. 

 We needed a spot with an outdoor patio so Grace could join us. We found "Bent Tree Deli and Cafe" - great food and very dog friendly.  We both had big salads.  We looked around the shops a little bit and then set off back to Santa Fe. 



We took the "High Road" which is a National Scenic Byway. It is a beautiful drive through mountains and small towns.  This is a great road for motorcycles - not so much for RV's.

Carson National Forrest

 There are several galleries and places to stop along the high road.  The only stop we made was in Chimayo.  Chimayo  is known for its weavings and for its famous chapel "Santuario de Chimayo".

The legend goes that an early Chimayo settler unearthed a Guatemalan crucifix.  The chapel was built on that site.  The sand where the crucifix was buried is said to have healing powers.  The "el pocito" is a small pit of holy dirt located in a side chapel.
Many believers make pilgrimages to the chapel each year to be healed, or to ask for blessings.
 It was a great day, but we were pooped when we got home....

Today we are planning a slow morning and a trip in to Santa Fe this afternoon.  See you down the road...