We took the back road to Taos, called the High Road to Taos Scenic Drive. It went through the Sangre De Christo mountains. Very scenic.
I had breakfast this morning with Kathy and Bill Howard at the Chocolate Maven bakery and restaurant. It is a locals place that makes backed goods for much of Santa Fe. There is a glass window in the back and you can see into the kitchen and see them baking. They have a house in Scottsdale and one in Santa Fe. I know Kathy from my days working on the Colorado Trail. On the scenic drive we stopped in Chimayo at the Santuario De Chimayo. It is known for it’s holy dirt. In 1810 a farmer was praying in his field and claimed to see a light emanating from the soil. Upon investigation he found a cross, which is now kept inside the chapel. Legend maintains that the earth surrounding this cross has healing power. Many pilgrims come to touch the dirt in a pit inside the chapel, where castoff crutches and braces line the walls.
The Santuario De Chimayo chapel. The holy dirt is in the pit in the far room and the crutches are on the left wall.
After the chapel we had tamales at Leonita’s across the square. They claim to be the best tamales in the state of New Mexico. They were very good. Leonita, in the red shirt in the background was going to be a nun. She was working in the gift shop for the Santuario and was moving a refrigerator and got a hernia, so she was in the hospital the week she was supposed to go to the convent. Somehow she ended up becoming a stewardess for Pan Am in the 60’s instead. She flew on flights to bring troop to Vietnam and evacuate refugees. She if from Chimayo and has not returned and makes tamales. A photo of the scenic highway with the pinyon and ponderosa pines. The grass was green and there were lots of wild flowers.
The High Road to Taos scenic byway, art in Truchas on the way, Sipapu ski area is in the area. Somehow I never think of Sipapu and ski area in the same place, and the MacDonalds in Taos. The bus is parked at the Taos Monte Bello RV Park. Mount Wheeler is in the background, it is the highest peak in New Mexico, and has Taos Ski area on it.
We had dinner on the patio at the Taos Mesa Brewery. Good beer, decent food. Cool building. This raven sculpture was by their patio in the back. Nice views.
Sunset from the trail by the RV park.
Flowers on the trail by the RV park. Sunflower, tiny purple flower, yellow bushes, aster, blazing star and verbena.
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