Shhhhhh! I Think I Hear Something!
- By dinakalns
- December 1, 2017
- 12 Comments
Ok. This is not New Mexico. Monument Valley falls on the Utah-Arizona border, but we were so close.
Left Mitten – Monument Valley. A popular backdrop for those John Wayne Westerns.
En route to Cacho Culture National Historic Park. The 7 -mile stretch of road through Navajo territory is in pretty bad shape. Apparently they are not too keen on visitors.
Pueblo Bonito: once the centre of the Chacoan world……
It was a bit of a scramble up the cliff to get a bird’s eye view.
Chile pepper ristra against an adobe wall. Brought to New Mexico by the Spanish in 1598 and now grown on over 30,000 acres. They are used for food, but even more so as decorations.
Homes in The Greater World Earthship Community….. “Earth to Earthship….come in Earthship.”
I just can’t see this on the cover of House Beautiful.
Bridge over the Rio Grande Gorge near Taos……
…….it was a looong way down!
Local wildlife in the Rio Grande Gorge.
Taos Pueblo…
…more Taos Pueblo
Regular and blue corn fry bread. Tasty but sits like a brick in your stomach afterwards.
La Hacienda de los Martinez, built 1804. Not really worth the detour.
San Francesco de Asis Church, Rancho de Taos. Constructed between 1710 & 1755 or 1813 & 1816; depending on which information placard you read. How can you be off by 100 years???
El Santuario de Chimayo, a place of indescribable spiritual energy. Hard to reconcile with today’s scientific world.
Puye Cliff Dwellings.
Puye Cliff Dwellings. Don’t tell me I can’t go up here!!!
Bandelier National Monument. The holes in the cliff were where the floor trusses were attached.
It takes four ladder to reach Alcove House……
San Miguel Mission. Supposedly the oldest church in America, built just after 1610 – but there are a lot of “the oldest” claims around here.
The Loretto Chapel staircase. Aesthetically beautiful but not so mysterious after all.
I couldn’t decide which one to buy. Not! Talk about a millstone around your neck!
Georgia O’Keeffe Museum – “Ram’s head, blue morning glory”.
Hey! Is anybody listening?
There are 27 of these dish antennas out here, each 82 feet across and weighing 230 tonnes.
Still working on my night shots…..National Radio Astronomy Observatory, VLA, New Mexico.
White Sands National Monument, southern New Mexico. It isn’t sand, but the largest gypsum deposit in the world!
Sunset at White Sands National Monument.
Porter was not too impressed with the whole aliens theme.
Carlsbad Caverns National Monument, south-east New Mexico. Much bigger and more impressive than Luray in Virginia…….
……although the surrounding countryside went on forever.
Big Bend National Park looking towards Sierra del Carmen mountains on the Mexican side
Chisos Basin area……not a mountain lion in sight.
The Rio Grande looking into Mexico
By the Rio Grande at Santa Elena Gorge……standing on the U.S. side with Mexico on the other side of the river.
Big Bend National Park – nothing but prickly stuff waiting to get you.
Rio Grande Village area…..nothing but scrub and cacti.
Arachnophobia anyone?
Waiting to cross into Mexico.
Budget cruise to Mexico…..all three minutes of it.
Local transportation.
Not exactly a high-end tourist shop, but they do what they can.
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Wow, just reading this blog and viewing the pictures, made me long for seascapes. I am so not a desert type person, but this was very interesting, historical wise, and satisfied any thoughts I’ve ever had about going to the US southwest. Living in Regina was for me too barren! With political correctness these days are any of our historical facts not effected by it, and adjusted accordingly.
Hope to see you when you’re back for Christmas 🎄
Hi Catriona – We really loved the southwest. Porter, not so much.;) Currently on South Padre Island where Porter is loving the sand and sea and bringing half the beach back with him to the rv. I’ve been doing a lot of vacuuming lately.:( Will definitely get together when we are home over Christmas.
Love hearing about your travels. Dina, those white sequinned boots are so you! Hope you bought those! Safe travels going forward
Hey Sandy! You know me so well. Those boots reminded me a bit of the Go-Go boots my mother refused to buy me when I was 8.LOL. But they stayed in the window. I’m still looking although I think the whole cowboy themed attire has gone out of vogue (except out here!).
Hi Guys. Another lovely read with so many interesting items that you convey so well.
When looking at the pictures of the US / Mexico border – I wondered where this wall would be!!!!
Thanks once again for the blog and pictures. Drive safe and keep well.
Andy
Thanks Andy! Interesting observation on “the wall”. Even in that little backwater town of Boquillas, they had “No to the Wall” signs posted all around. I just don’t get it.
Hi Dina, Hi John,
Of all of your adventures this area of the world appears to be the most desolate. Your photos are stunning, but to me it seems to be a very expansive and very lonely place.
It also gives me the impression of a very quiet existence……which reminds me of the time I woke up in the stairwell landing of 14 Division after John had just told me in no uncertain terms how things were going to be. All I could hear was the beating of my heart and my senses telling me to lift my head off the cold terrazzo floor….. but I digress.
Thanks for sharing I look forward to your next adventure.
Safe and Happy Holiday to you!
Hi Joe: That is a very perceptive observation. Vast, desolate and lonely describe this part of the U.S. perfectly. Are you sure you don’t write crime dramas? John doesn’t have the same recollections of 14 Division as you. Perhaps that is because of all the trauma you suffered. 😉 Buon Natale!!
Very interesting read Dina! Your written voice is very similar to mine so I thought I was reading my own writing LOL. Your observation about the Rio Grande not being so Grand is very accurate. I believe the reason is because of all the dams that have been built along its course. You’ve made me want to definitely see more of the West past Big Bend and hopefully we will get to do that this winter. I will refer back to this post in order to follow some of your path. If you get farther up Northeast in Texas and want to see more bat caves there are two notable ones: Kickapoo State park and Devil’s Hole. Safe journey and Merry Christmas to you, John and Porter.
Hi Patrice – It was so nice to meet you and compare a few notes. Hopefully all will go smoothly with the new coach, and we’ll have an opportunity to catch up again. Maybe in Arizona or south California? With this nomadic lifestyle, that is bound to happen. Until then, Merry Christmas and safe travels.
Sveika Dina😉 Jauki redzèt, lasīt. Bildes, kā vienmèr burvīgas! Sveicieni no Latvijas🇱🇻🇱🇻🇱🇻 un no mums. Ilva😘
Paldies Ilva. Ceru ka Jums visiem iet labi. Turēsim īkškus Latvijas olipiādes komandai!