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.