Welcome to Taos

May 13-14, 2025                                                      Most Recent Posts:
Taos Valley RV Park                                               Last Days in Santa Fe
Taos, New Mexico                                                   Bandelier National Monument

After scouting out the low road to Taos from Santa Fe with Jodee early in our stay in Santa Fe, Winnona and I had no problems.  Though the stretch of 20 or so miles of curvy two lane by the Rio Grande river and climbing out of the valley was a bit stressful.   Beautiful drive but it deserves more attention than the edges of my vision so I plan to go back the High Road and Up the Low Road in the car just to be able to stop and drink in the scenery.

Winnona and I are staying at Taos Valley RV Park which I like very much except for the fact that my site was SO unlevel side to side I had to put out 6 horse pads under the tires on the passenger side to keep them from floating in the air.  You can’t see the pads terribly well but look how high off the ground my step is.  I had to put out a metal step with the feet extended to make it easier to get  inside.

The only other down side to this park is that it was nearly $800 including THIRTEEN PERCENT tax for 2 weeks.   BUT it’s an excellent location.

Typical desert landscaping.  No grass to mow.

I can check the weather on my way to the bath house for a shower or to do the laundry.

I wonder if the tree really felt that happy about being “pruned”.

Winnona had a lovely setting.  I wish the site had pulled in the other way so this would have been my view from the dining table.

Although as you can see, I was just lucky no one was in the site across the road.  But how about those mountains.  Sangre de Christo.  

On my first full day after arriving,  I walked a mile up to the Visitor’s Center to see what information I might add to what I’d found in my own research.  I had planned then to walk in the other direction 1.5 miles to the San Francisco de Asis Catholic Mission.  It was the perfect plan to get in a 5 mile hike.  

Even the walk on the main street through Taos, Paseo Del Pueblo Sur, was beautiful despite the traffic which was there but not excessive.

It’s those mountains, visible from everywhere.

Along the way I passed an art gallery and went into a used book shop that was a wonderful warren of little rooms.   Taos seems to have murals everywhere.

I could have spent  long time in here but I simply CAN NOT buy any more books.

My walk to and especially from the Visitor’s Center was enough to convince me a further 3 mile walk wasn’t such a great idea. The wind was just too strong and my two miles fighting it was enough so I went back to the RV, brought in the slides and drove to the Mission.

It’s a beautiful adobe building that has been multiple times painted by O’Keeffe and photographed by Ansel Adams.  Both artists did the back side of the church which is what you see from the parking lot and the Mission front.

The spirituality of the building is apparent even from the parking lot and walking around the side to the front felt a bit like a pilgrimage.

The San Francisco de Asis Mission Church is one of the oldest churches in America dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi.  It was constructed between 1813-1815.  The church continues to be a place of worship and an important part of the community

It is such a work of art.  I couldn’t stop taking pictures of it.  Consider these a series like O’Keeffe’s paintings.  Maybe she did a series here as well.

Inside of the Mission the structure is still simple though the front near the alter  is ornate.

As in the Santa Fe Basilica, the stations of the cross line the side walls though there is no side walk next to them where worshipers can pause in front of each.

Back outside the beauty of this adobe house of worship is stunning.

I hope the winds will let up soon.  I would definitely like to walk down and spend more time here in this spiritual spot.   Although the Basilica was stunning, this little mission spoke more strongly to me.

Last Days in Santa Fe

Santa Fe Springs RV Park                                     Most Recent Posts:
Santa Fe, New Mexico                        Bandelier National Monument
                                                Origami in the Garden and Chocolate in Madrid

SATURDAY MAY 10

Saturday is the Santa Fe Farmer’s Market which I did not want to miss.   It has been a long time since I’ve been to so large a market with such variety.  There is also a artists' market in an entirely separate section.  

The markets are held along the railroad tracks in what is known as the Railyard.  When I saw the tracks I thought of The Harvey Girls who worked at the La Fonda Hotel in Santa Fe which was one of the Harvey Houses along the Santa Fe Railroad.  There are books about them including The Harvey Girls: The Women Who Civilized the West which I bought at the Grand Canyon and really enjoyed and  a novel The Harvey Girls written in 1942 by Samuel Hopkins Adams and made into a 1946 film staring Judy Garland.  A quick search found the movie readily available but I couldn’t find the book.

  How I wish I could have ridden the trains back then when they were a major transportation method and often elegant.

It was a busy spot and anything and everything having to do with food and gardening was there.   Even worms.

You can even buy poems.

What I assume was the Railyard water tower separates the food and gardening vendors from the artists beyond.

This reminded me a bit of Frida Kahlo.

There was a long line of booths on both sides with every artistic endeavor I could imagine.  Clothing, paintings, pottery, wood working ceramics, beadwork you name it.

These are just a few of my favorites.

And always the beautiful Sangre de Cristo mountains overlooking it all.

I am a devoted reader of environmental literature and Wendell Berry is a special favorite so I loved seeing this quote of his written on the wall outside the bathroom as I moved into the one indoor building at the Market.

The only thing I bought was a danish and it was excellent.  I’m trying only to purchase consumables at this point in life.

I’m not a coffee drinker but many people were here for that and the pastries.

Cherry Danish and hot water is my choice.

 

I wondered how it was decided who had booths inside and who out.

The Intergalactic Bread Company – great name!

Great looking flat breads.  Both the mushroom and roasted garlic were tempting.

I’d had to park about 5 blocks away and enjoyed the neighborhood on my walk.

No cute little  simple  adobe houses like this where I come from.  And no grass to mow here.

I believe this was an elementary school with murals on the outside walls.

From the Market I drove back to Santa Fe Plaza to do a proper visit to the Cathedral.  We had been there on the day the new Pope was elected and heard the bells ring and ring in celebration but there were too many people at that time.

It is known as St Francis Cathedral but its full name is Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. It's a Romanesque Revival style church.  The cathedral is the mother church of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe.

The Cathedral is a gorgeous work of art from its beautiful stone to its wonderful Rose Window and arched doorway holding the gorgeous bronze doors.  The statue on the left is Kateri Tekakwitha 1656-1680 the First Indian from North America to be Promoted a Saint. 

I wish there had been a tour guide or at least some literature to tell about the stone and the spectacular carvings on the doors.   Who built this beautiful house of worship?  I didn’t find out any of the following information until I was no longer at the church,  I had to look it up on my computer.

The bronze is exquisite.   I later read there are 16 panels that illustrate scenes from the history of the Catholic Church in New Mexico. Examples include Fray Marcos de Niza sighting the Zuni Pueblos, General Don Diego de Varga kneeling before a Franciscan friar, and Spanish colonists during the 1680 Pueblo Rebellion.  The doors were created during the 1986 cathedral restoration by sculptor Donna Quasthoff.  I have no idea what the former doors looked like but I wish I did.

This appears to be a baptismal font in the center of the nave and at least to this former Catholic, an unusual one.

Too shallow for immersion……anybody know?

Back outside there is a wonderful stone Chartres style labyrinth which I walk.

 

There is nothing quite as relaxing and inspiring as walking a labyrinth.  I seek them out as often as I can.

The buildings across the street remind me of the horizontal logs at Bandelier.

On my way back to the car I pass street vendors with colorful wares.  

And a Native drummer plays in the plaza.  Santa Fe is definitely a uniquely Southwestern city.

Monday May 12

On our last day together in Santa Fe Jodee and I have a delicious lunch at The Apothecary Dining.

 

The ambiance is wonderful.

In addition to dining, there is a day spa.

Definitely the nicest dining we’ve done and we both agree it’s a place to return to.

Coming out of the restaurant I saw this shop across the street and thought of David who always wore hats.  I’m sure he would have loved going in and might well have bought one to remember Santa Fe.

I’ll close  this last post of my two weeks in Santa Fe with some pictures of the RV Park.

 

My site had wonderful view of the mountains from the dining windows.

Jody was behind me and to my left in her new smaller rig PJ (plane Jane).  Don’t you love the name?

The sunrises were on our side of the park so it required an evening stroll to see the sunset on the other side but we were high up so both were easily viewable.

There was a paved path going all around the outside of the park.  Great for walking dogs, getting steps and viewing sunsets.

A sampling of sunsets.  This one from beside the office porch looking out over the “other side” of the park.

 

All throughout the park were metal sculptures.   Many of them were created by Joe Forrest Sackett an Albuquerque artist.  The sculptures are often abstract and sometimes geometrically based. Mostly made of steel he uses welding, forging, casting, and carving.    It’s rather like living in a sculpture garden.

This is my favorite and was right in front of Winnona.

From my patio I could look up and see the patio and adobe walls of the office.

Notice the tables on the patio.  Not sure if some times they have entertainment or food.  Not while we were there.

One of my favorite things about the southwest is looking in through these openings in the adobe walls to the courtyards within.

And looking out to see Winnona framed.

You definitely can see the skies of Santa Fe from Santa Fe Skies RV Park.

It was a perfect place to stay though more expensive than I have ever paid for two weeks but I would love to return.  

For now sadly, Jodee and Tessa have said they cannot come with me to Taos, my next stop in New Mexico.