It was the day after Easter when we headed to Taos. Our friend Eric had mentioned an Easter Pilgrimage to El Santuario de Chimayo which had just taken place on Easter. Some walk 90 miles from Albuquerque to the church. The Church and grounds were amazing and I'm so glad we went.
Fence filled with rosaries, crosses, notes
The Church
Interesting Navajo painting of The Last Supper
There are 13 disciples
Church court yard
Another church along the way
One of the most-original and best-preserved examples of
Spanish Colonial architecture in New Mexico
Our hotel in Taos, The Sagebrush Inn
17 room hotel, catering to guests traveling by carriage along the trade route
between New York and Arizona
Had always wanted to visit Taos and with my friend Valerie living there we just made the trip. Had a good Mexican dinner at Orlando's New Mexican Cafe where we met Valerie and had a short, but good visit. She gave us some good tips about things to see in the area and some BLM maps and info.
Valerie is a wildlife biologist and very good photographer
San Francisco de Asis Church is celebrating 300 years, also known as "Ranchos Church,"
built in the late 1700s and was made famous by Georgia O'Keeffe and Ansel Adams, among many other artists who became fascinated by its looming buttresses.
There has been a Taos hotel on the current site of La Fonda de Taos since1820
Don Fernando de Taos Plaza, settled by the Spanish colonists 400 years ago, built for defense; windows and doors faced into the plaza and the limited entrances could be barricaded.
Desert outside Taos, there were several odd and huge sculptures
Drove back to Santa Fe to see our friends Jim and Ann. We pet sat for them in 2012 and they invited us to come see them. We had a good visit, lots of talking and, of course, great food. It was so cool to see that Chaco, one of their dogs, had changed so much, mellowed out and was more relaxed and not so nervous. He was been a rescue and when we pet sat before he was quite a suspicious and nervous dog. He has adjusted and is happy. Thanks for your hospitality, we had a very good visit. (Missed taking a photo - so rare, sorry Chaco and Misa).
Happy times in the kitchen - always something good to eat here
Great kitchen, great cook
Modified quiche was delicious, Jim is a great cook
April 8th, we spent one night in Las Cruces to break up the drive to Tucson. So many beautiful flowers in bloom - the desert is alive. where we arrived the next day. Happy to get there and see our old friends, Mike & Cheryl and their two grandsons. We love visiting them and always have fun together. Usually our visits are so short, but we've got over a week to spend together this time.
Stopped at Harbor Freight to buy a "claw" - a gribber/grabber. This will help with picking up shells and I had left mine at "home" in storage in Florida. My back won't take too much bending over for extended periods. I've read that there are sand dollars where we're going and I have never in my life found a whole decent sized sand dollar so I'm very excited. Cheryl and I both like collecting shells and photography so I know we're going to have a great week.
Mike's amazing artichoke plant
Very beautiful home, garden and yard
I counted 14 artichokes
Jacob and Jordan - the grand kids
They were pretty funny and entertaining
They were pretty funny and entertaining
We had our own private quarters - the cabin on wheels
Very comfortable bed, air conditioning, shower
This is after we returned from Mexico
I'd heard of this place before. Good food and fun
Darn, we missed the gun fight.
No ties!!!!! or they cut them off
Rafters are totally filled with ties, a crack up
There are some weird ties too
Mike and his friends out grilling - we had shrimp, scallops (all wrapped in bacon)
red snapper, and carne asada - a basic feast
Back porch - they have such a lovely home and yard
I've put the before and after in Tucson in this blog because I'm doing a separate blog for Mexico. This leg of the trip has been filled with lots of friends which made it excellent.
