Amber365

#243: Had Green Chile Beer

2009-10-23T10:34:00.001-04:00

While in Taos, went to a little pub and was told I had to try it. YUCK. and the food was bad too... But it was a new thing, so had to do it!

#242: Hiked up to an elevation of 9000 feet

2009-09-23T10:06:00.002-04:00

See new thing #237.

#241: Learning Italian while running errands

2009-09-23T09:55:00.002-04:00

Supposedly going to Italy in November, so I purchased a CD set to learn some basic Italian while driving around town. I can confidently say thus far:

Io sono Americana. Capisco un po 'italiano, ma non molto bene.

#240: Purchased authentic Native American-made jewelry

2009-09-22T20:45:00.006-04:00

Here's one of my purchases... a ring made by Thomas Charley --

Here's a snippet from his bio:

Thomas Charley is full blooded Navajo Indian. He was born in 1952 into the Navajo Reservation and has been creating jewelry since 1977. He specializes in his own unique contemporary style that he has developed on his own. His style is both stylish and very dramatic while still having all the character and ethics of his forefathers that introduced him into the business. His earrings, watches, rings, bracelets, concho belts, and bolo ties are all easily recognized by his beautiful sterling silver designs. His masterpieces are very stylish, elegant, and oh so sophisticated.

This ring was a favorite. The shop owner sold 3 of these rings to ladies in our group!

#239: Had a bird encounter at DFW Airport

2009-09-22T20:31:00.002-04:00

Bird in the DFW Airport, originally uploaded by amber365.

Waiting around for my connection on the way home from Santa Fe -- Birdie just flew in and hopped around my gate area. As soon as got the shot he flew off.

#238: Saw the mother church of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe

2009-09-22T20:26:00.002-04:00

Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, originally uploaded by amber365.

The Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi, commonly known as Saint Francis Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic cathedral in downtown Santa Fe, New Mexico. It is the mother church of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe.

The cathedral was built by Archbishop Jean Baptiste Lamy between 1869 and 1886 on the site of an older adobe church, La Parroquia (built in 1714-1717). An even earlier church on the same site, built in 1626, had been destroyed in the 1680 Pueblo Revolt. The new cathedral was built around La Parroquia, which was dismantled once construction was complete. A small chapel on the north side of the cathedral is all that remains of the old church.

#237: Hiked the Aspen Vista Trail in the Santa Fe National Forest

2009-09-22T20:22:00.001-04:00

Aspen Vista, Santa Fe National Forest, originally uploaded by amber365.

On this trail, I got an altogether different view of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains than while at Tent Rocks.

#236: Enjoyed a first-rate view of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains

2009-09-22T20:15:00.001-04:00

At the Top of Tent Rocks, originally uploaded by amber365.

Truly awesome.

#235: Climbed to the top of a mesa

2009-09-22T20:13:00.002-04:00

At the Top of Tent Rocks, originally uploaded by amber365.

I also learned the following:

A butte is taller than it is wide.
A mesa is wider than it is tall.
And a plateau is great big mesa.

#234: Saw me some hoodoos and cap stones

2009-09-22T20:08:00.002-04:00

Tent Rocks, originally uploaded by amber365.

These are the "Tent Rock"s. Being among these was like being on the set of Star Wars.

From Wikipedia:

A hoodoo (also tent rock, fairy chimney, earth pyramid) is a tall thin spire of rock that protrudes from the bottom of an arid drainage basin or badland. Hoodoos are composed of soft sedimentary rock and are topped by a piece of harder, less easily-eroded stone that protects the column from the elements.

#233: Hiked Slot Canyon

2009-09-22T20:04:00.002-04:00

Slot Canyon, Tent Rocks, originally uploaded by amber365.

In the Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument. On lands owned by they Cochiti Pueblo, the canyon loop trail is amazing. With every twist and turn, there is something incredible to behold.

#232: Visited Santa Fe, NM

2009-09-21T20:28:00.002-04:00

Boy, did I ever. In addition to the physical activities, I definitely did my patriotic part to prime the consumer economy engine!

The jewelry purchases got a little out of hand: a necklace, a bracelet, earrings, and a ring. The earrings and ring were actually purchased Taos, but still. I rarely treat myself in this way. Love everything I got!

#231: Stayed at the Inn on the Alameda

2009-09-21T20:21:00.003-04:00

peppers, originally uploaded by amber365.

Fantastic! Well-placed on the edge of old Santa Fe, excellent service, great rooms, complimentary wine and cheese in the afternoon, great breakfast in the morning.

HIGHLY recommended.

Here's a link to their site.

#230: Dined at Doc Martin's

2009-09-21T20:05:00.006-04:00

Photo Credit: Sue Crawford

Well, like everything in Taos, there's a story there:

About Doc:

Dr. Thomas Paul (Doc) Martin, came to Taos in the 1890s and bought the largest of several adobe houses which at the time surrounded a small plaza. The plaza is now the Inn's lobby, complete with community well in the center. Doc himself was a popular man, well-regarded for his concern for people of Taos.

The ghost story (full article here):

After Doc Martin passed away, his wife Helen bought the neighboring adobes and, with help from doc's former patients, connected them all under one roof and opened "The Hotel Martin" in 1936. The hotel's name changed in the 1940s when it was bought by Sam and Mary Albright. But it was the property's first owner, Arthur Manby, the man who sold Doc Martin his home, who is the inn's most active spirit.

Taos natives are well acquainted with the tales of Manby's strange death. It seems after he sold the house to Doc Martin, Manby resided next door in what is now the Stables Art Gallery. One day, a few years after taking up his new residence, a headless body, presumed to be Arthur Manby, was found on the floor of Manby's home.

This home shares a kitchen wall with what is now Doc Martin's restaurant in the Taos Inn, and likewise this seems to be where a lot of phenomena occurs. Pots, pans and kitchen appliances have been known to fly from their resting places and crash unexpectedly on the floor.

#229: Toured Santuario de Chimayo

2009-09-21T20:00:00.001-04:00

Chapel, Santuario de Chimayo, originally uploaded by amber365.

Believed to be built on sacred earth with miraculous healing powers, Santuario de Chimayó is probably the most visited church in New Mexico.

The legend:
Somewhere around 1810, a Chimayó friar was performing penances when he saw a light bursting from a hillside. Digging, he found a crucifix, quickly dubbed the miraculous crucifix of Our Lord of Esquipulas. A local priest brought the crucifix to Santa Cruz, but three times it disappeared and was later found back in its hole. By the third time, everyone understood that El Senor de Esquipulas wanted to remain in Chimayó, and so a small chapel was built on the site.

Then the miraculous healings began. These grew so numerous that the chapel had to be replaced by the larger, current Chimayó Shrine -- an adobe mission -- in 1816. The crucifix which began the original shrine still resides on the chapel alter, but for some reason its curative powers have been overshadowed by El Posito, the "sacred sand pit" from which it sprang.

Each year during Holy Week thousands of people make a pilgrimage to Chimayó to visit the Santuario and take away a bit of the sacred dirt. Pilgrims walk a few yards or a hundred miles. Many claim to have been cured there of diseases, infirmities and unhappiness. The walls of the sacristy are hung with discarded crutches and before-and-after photographs as evidence of the healing.

Note: I have a bag of dirt. Awaiting shoulder pain to disappear.

#228: Saw the mission church that inspired both Georgia O'keefe and Ansel Adams

2009-09-21T19:49:00.004-04:00

San Francisco de Asis Church, originally uploaded by amber365.

San Francisco de Asis Church is in Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico.

Here is a painting of it by Georgia O'Keefe. She painted the backside of the building.

#227: Heard the Tiwa language spoken

2009-09-21T19:36:00.001-04:00

April, Taos Pueblo, originally uploaded by amber365.

Our Taos Pueblo guide graced us with a "thank you and good luck" in Tiwa -- the language of the Taos Pueblo.

Hearing it was special as Tiwa, by design, has never been written and is preserved via oral tradition only.

#226: Visited Taos Pueblo

2009-09-21T19:27:00.002-04:00

Taos Pueblo, originally uploaded by amber365.

Taos Pueblo is the only living Native American community designated both a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and a National Historic Landmark. The multi-story adobe buildings have been continuously inhabited for over a 1,000 years.

Read all about it here.

#225: Visited Taos, NM

2009-09-21T19:22:00.002-04:00

originally uploaded by amber365.

Stayed at the lovely Casa Benavides while in town. I knew Taos was pretty and artsy, but really, other than Georgia O'keefe, had no knowledge of it's long history and all the additional literatti and artistic luminaries that have passed thru.

I don't need opine about the wonders of Taos - many others have covered it better than I. Here's a great site dedicated to this great old place.

Insider tip: It's better to buy jewely while in Taos than Santa Fe. Santa Fe prices are much higher!

#224: Rafted the Rio Grande...

2009-09-21T19:14:00.001-04:00

Rafting1, originally uploaded by amber365.

... which was not too grande at all. The water levels were low, so while a more technical ride navigating the exposed rocks, no crazy rapids were experienced. It was a LOVELY day though, and a peaceful and fun trip.

As the ghosted text on the image suggests, this photograph is courtesy:

Southern Exposure, Inc.
Great Photography in the Great Outdoors!
1-800-754-9520
www.raftphotos.com

#223: Was 30 feet from a curious coyote

2009-09-21T19:07:00.004-04:00

While having lunch alfresco at Bandalier, a coyote appeared in a clearing no more than 30 feet away from our group. He clearly smelled the lunch, but his nonchalant demeanor was mesmerizing. The encounter was brief, and none were prepared with camera in hand - so our little friend left as unceremoniously as he appeared. He looked alot like the picture above (photo by Sally King).

Read about coyotes at Bandalier here.

#222: Climed inside a kiva...

2009-09-21T19:01:00.004-04:00

...a reconstructed kiva at Alcove House. Here's a picture from the inside of the kiva.

#221: Climbed up and down 140 ft of ladder to reach an ancient cavedwelling

2009-09-21T18:54:00.003-04:00

Climbing Down from Alcove House Cave Dwelling, originally uploaded by amber365.

Yikes. It was a lot worse going down, but really not too bad. It was actually a series of 4 ladders, thank goodness.

Here is another view that gives you some context of how high it was.

#220: Sat inside an ancient cave dwelling

2009-09-21T18:33:00.002-04:00

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21097952@N02/3932559631/, originally uploaded by amber365.

The ancestral puebloan lived in stone and mudd adobe structures, but also were cliff dwellers.

Smoky fires, used for heat and light, caused soot to accumulate on the walls and ceilings, but floor vents were built to bring fresh air into the rooms, and ceiling vents helped to disperse the smoke.

As per usual, there is a vandalism issue and about 2 times a year, they have to "re-soot" the ceiling to cover up grafitti. Read more about that here.

#219: Learned what a Kiva is

2009-09-21T18:26:00.001-04:00

Large Kiva, Bandalier, originally uploaded by amber365.

I've been making microloans thru Kiva.org for over a year... and have finally seen a real Kiva!