The Santa Fe Indian
Market. As we set out on our 1st post-retirement adventure, our
destination is Santa Fe to visit friends and the Santa Fe Indian Market which
takes place mid-August. This 4-day annual market, which features remarkable
art, jewelry and pottery, attracts Native American artists from all over the
southwest. The streets converging on the plaza at the heart of Santa Fe are
lined with booths and it will take you several days if you want to see it all.
A real treat are the drummers that sit in circles throughout the market. We are
mesmerized as synchronized drumming and chanting fill the air. The group is a
mix of both old and young drummers who follow each other so precisely that they
play as one person. 
We enjoyed visiting the beautiful churches and walking the historic streets. Old adobe walls rise from the earth they’re
made of and guide us serenely through the winding streets as if we were water flowing
between canyon walls. |
| Our friend, Cille & Jim. |
The High Road to
Taos. Pointing our Sprinter north we take the scenic route to Colorado’s
Great Sand Dunes National Monument. This is the High Road to Taos on the western
slopes of the Sangre de Christo Mountains. The road ascends ridges and winds through
canyons and old Spanish villages where walled courtyards embrace cool patios,
flower gardens and the comforts of home.
Truchas. The
homes in Truchas, a village along the High Road, are placed purposefully along
a ridge with a view of the Truchas Peaks that grace the eastern horizon. This lovingly
preserved adobe home perches on the slope overlooking the canyon with its back
to the road, leaving me longing to see inside its rambling rooms.
Las Trampas.
Along the High Road, Las Trampas is a scattering of homes far from anywhere
which is just where its residents want to be. It has a beautiful old church, one
of those things you don’t know you were looking for until you come around the
corner and there it is glowing warmly in the sun. The San Jose de Garcia
Catholic Church was built in 1760. It sets resolutely in the present but its
rough appearance anchors it firmly to its past. It is unpresuming and doesn’t tell
you to believe but only to have faith. Turning around after I photographed the
church I saw this wonderful gate.
Penasco. Another
High Road town has a building proclaiming its use as a theater and bistro.
Colorful murals depict the culture of the area. I like the guys building the
adobe wall. The building looked like it hadn’t been open for a long time but
who knows. Some nights it could be really hopping. A Penasco resident also
created a sculpture garden of which the best piece was a fence made of
bicycles.
Taos. The only
stopping we did as we passed through Taos was in the continuous traffic jam
that is the only road through town.
Rio Grande Gorge
Bridge. North of Taos on Hwy 522, we took a 7-mile side trip to the Rio
Grande Gorge Bridge just to walk across it and got a good dose of vertigo.
Fort Garland.
Fort Garland figures into stories we knew about the frontier days so we visited
the Fort Garland Museum and were not disappointed. Many buildings made of adobe
brick and wood beams have been preserved in almost original condition and house
a fine collection of artifacts. We walk at leisure through the barracks where
the enlisted men slept and the home where the commander and family lived. Kit
Carson commanded the New Mexico Volunteers at this fort and aided in negotiations
with the Utes. A successful campaign against rebel forces at the Battle of Glorieta
near Santa Fe was launched from here. This battle was one of only two Civil War
battles fought in the West.Among the exhibits are some very well done dioramas depicting frontier and infantry life. Don’t miss this little jewel of a museum.
Our next stop is Great Sand Dunes National Monument. Finding
good 4G connection is challenging in the mountains but we’ll try to keep up
with our blog as best we can.
See you down the road.
Jackie
Jackie
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