TAOS

April 4, 2013…Onwards to Taos, NM

Today we reluctantly pulled out of Oho Caliente, we loved it there, and headed for Taos, which we are very excited about. We started by taking one of Bruce’s ‘famous scenic detours’ down Hwy 567 towards Orilla Verde Recreation area on the Rio Grande gorge. It all started well on a nice paved road but as we approached the gorge it turned into a narrow gravel road as it wounds it way down the steep sides of the gorge. Freaking out! When we got to the bottom, it was a spectacular area but all campgrounds were still closed. It looks like it could get extremely busy in the summer months with raft rides etc. We made our way out of the canyon, not so crazy steep on this side and on to Taos.

Orilla Verde Recreation area

The campground we’re in, Taos Valley RV Park is ok …. But once again their ‘free wi-fi’ doesn’t work! This is a constant problem in these places and drives us nuts! But … still … you can see the mountains and it’s close to downtown so hard to complain too loudly!

Our campsite at Taos Valley RV Park

We explored the town which is mostly touristy shops, restaurants and cool architecture, but lots of fun to wander around!

Kit Carson Rd, Taos

Taos

April 5, 2013 – The Enchanted Circle Route

Today we drove the ‘Enchanted Circle Drive’ which is an 83 mile round trip that winds around Wheeler Peak, through Carson National Forest and through towns like Angel Fire, Red River, Eagle Nest etc. We even drove up to the Taos Valley Ski area and believe it or not … they’re still skiing there! It looks like a huge mountain so lots of areas to still find snow.

Wheeler Peak on the Enchanted Circle Tour

Red River on the Enchanted Circle Route

Taos Ski Valley on the Enchanted Circle Route

Arroyo Seco on the Enchanted Circle Route

April 6, 2013 – More exploration of Taos and area

The weather is beautiful and we’re really enjoying the area. We drove around a bit and checked out the bridge crossing the Rio Grande Gorge…spectacular!! We also at another historical home, La Hacienda de los Martinez, which was interesting. After that we plan to take in Taos Pueblo which we are pretty excited about…it sounds like an amazing place!

Rio Grande Gorge

Rio Grande Gorge Bridge

La Hacienda de los Martinez

Taos Pueblo

A truly remarkable place! So glad we came! Taos Pueblo is a Unesco World Heritage site and the main part of the present buildings located here were most likely constructed between 1000 and 1450 A.D. The buildings here have not changed much in appearance since the first Spanish explorers arrived in Northern New Mexico in 1540. The Spanish believed that the Pueblo was one of the fabled golden cities of Cibola. We saw Taos Pueblo which they say is the oldest continuously inhabited community in the U.S.A.

About 150 Taos people are still living full time within the adobe homes that have been there for perhaps a thousand years. Some modifications have been made such as doors (normal adobe settlements had only entrances thru the roof that was accessible only via ladders) but there is still no electricity or running water. The two structures called Hlauuma (north house) and Hlaukwima (south house) are said to be of similar age and are considered to be the oldest continuously inhabited communities in the USA.

Taos Pueblo

There are some gift shops here selling native jewellery, artwork etc…Bruce picked up a nice copper bracelet for himself. We also stopped for some traditional fry bread…delicious!!

A gift shop in Taos Pueblo

The ruins of San Geronimo church are situated prominently in Taos Pueblo. The original church was built by the Spanish but was destroyed in 1847 during the Mexican-American War. Under attack from the U.S. Army, Indian and Mexican forces took shelter inside the church, only to be besieged by two days of cannon fire.

The remains of Geronimo church

And were not done yet!

We also visited San Francisco de Asis Church which was built in 1772. Very beautiful and serene. It’s built in a plaza where some of the homes surrounding it are hundreds of years old. We came back later to a restaurant in the plaza and had some of the most amazing New Mexican food we’ve had yet.