Taos Pueblo - World Heritage Site

Taos Pueblo (http://www.taospueblo.com/about.php ).  Our most recent trip was to visit the Taos Pueblo in Taos, NM.  We also stopped by the bridge over the gorge over the Rio Grande River (not for those who are afraid of heights).  A bighorn sheep suddenly appeared on the side of the bridge for a photo op! Vin Pelletier, the Director of our Program at Sangre de Cristo Center bravely walking across the bridge, which sways in heavy winds. Taos Pueblo is the only living Native American community designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and a National Historic Landmark.  The multi-storied adobe buildings have been continuously inhabited for over 1000 years! The Pueblo is made entirely of adobe -- earth mixed with water and straw, then either poured into forms or made into sun-dried bricks. The walls are frequently several feet thick. The roofs of each of the five stories are supported by large timbers -- vigas -- hauled down from the mountain forests. Smaller pieces of wood -- pine or aspen latillas -- are placed side-by-side on top of the vigas; the whole roof is covered with packed dirt. The outside surfaces of the Pueblo are continuously maintained by re-plastering with thick layers of mud. Interior walls are carefully coated with thin washes of white earth to keep them clean and bright. The Pueblo is actually many individual homes, built side-by-side and in layers, with common walls but no connecting doorways. In earlier days there were no doors or windows and entry was gained only from the top. Approximately 150 people live within the Pueblo full time. Other families owning homes in the North or South buildings live in summer homes near their fields, and in more modern homes outside the old walls but still within Pueblo land. There are over 1900 Taos Indians living on Taos Pueblo lands. The present San Geronimo, or St. Jerome, Chapel,   was completed in 1850 to replace the original church which was destroyed in the War with Mexico by the U.S. Army in 1847. That church, the ruins still evident on the west side of the village, was first built in 1619. It was then destroyed in the Spanish Revolt of 1680 but soon rebuilt on the same site. St. Jerome is the patron saint of Taos Pueblo. The indians are 90% Catholic but also preserve their ancient Indian religious rites which are an important part of Taos Pueblo life. The Pueblo religion is very complex; however, there is no conflict with the Catholic church, as evidenced by the prominent presence of both church and kiva in the village.



Free Weekend in Colorado

We had a free weekend so I decided to drive with three friends from the Sangre Program to Colorado and enjoy the fall foliage in the mountains.  We had a great weekend, visiting Durango, Silverton, Mesa Verde, Christ in the Desert and the Ghost Ranch in NM.  I hope you enjoy the pictures.  My friends are Annie Espinosa (Texas), Young Ae Kim (Korea), and David O'Brien (Australia).  The weather was perfect and the foliage was at its peak.  Also they had had their first snowfall on the mountains.

David knows a thing about trains and was delighted to hear from the conductor that these are the same types of trains that were brought to Australia.  They were made in the home town of one of our other friends.

The second day of our free weekend we went to Mesa Verde National Park which was glorious in fall foliage and wonderful views.  We encountered all kind of wildlife along the way, but I was driving so I didn't get any pictures of the Elk, Buffalo, Coyote, Mule Deer or bears that we spotted. 

On Sunday we left Durango early so that we could make it to Christ in the Desert Monastery in Abiquiu, NM in time to meet the monks after Mass.  The Chama valley was filled with golden yellow also from the foliage of the huge cottonwood trees by the river.

International Balloon Festival, Albuquerque, NM

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is a "must do." Fall in New Mexico is a time of cooler temperatures and brilliant colors. The Aspen forests in the north paint the mountainsides. Albuquerque hosts wine and arts and crafts festivals. But what most visitors look forward to in fall is the colorful International Balloon Festival.

We got up at 4:00 am. to get ready to head off to Albuquerque, NM for a once in a lifetime experience.  It was in the high 30's when we left, so we were sure to bundle up.  The fiesta takes place on a huge plain where there is plenty of parking and a lot of concessions and demonstrations.  There is really no security, so you can walk right up to the balloons and baskets and talk to their owners about the process.

Hundreds of balloonists representing one-third of the world’s countries launch their magnificent flying machines to float gently over the beautiful New Mexico landscape. The Fiesta includes such events as evening fireworks, mass ascensions, balloon glows, the Special Shapes Rodeo, and the America’s Challenge Gas Balloon Race.

 The Fiesta is a Photographer's Dream::  here are some of my many shots, from early pre-dawn "glow" to the "mass ascension" at 7:00 am.  It was truly a fantastic expeirence.

My friend, Owen Ormsby, from New Jersey.

Smokey Bear

Pepsi is one of the sponsors of the fiesta.

Who said cows can't fly?

Brazil was represented by a huge haunted house balloon which took quite a while to inflate.

A replica of the Breitling balloon, the first to circumnavigate the globe, was also represented. (silver)

Even Darth Vader from Star Wars made an appearance!

Carmen Miranda was immortalized in this colorful balloon.

What a morning!  I wish you all could have been here, especially the kids, because they would have loved it.