Oct 13/2012

Up at 7:30 and off to Taos, 69 miles north of Santa Fe at 6967 ft. It was a beautiful scenic drive through the mountains and along the Rio Grande Gorge. The Rio Grande Rift extends from central Colorado to Southern Texas and is about 40 miles wide in places. Volcanic cones are scattered throughout the middle of the valley, forming the Taos Plateau volcanic field (180 volcanoes) inactive but still a geothermal area. After stopping at the visitors center in Taos we toured along the main street and eventually stopped for an authentic Mexican lunch at the Guadalajara Grill, plain jane but very good. Our first introduction to hibiscus juice-delicious, sweet but tart. After a bit more touring we went back to the info center and caught the 2:00 city trolley tour which took us to the Plaza, the historic center of the community beginning in the 1600s. We also took in the Taos Pueblo native community, a reserve of sorts with homes without water and power, used mainly at times of celebrations and ceremonies. There are lots of native artists and crafters who open their doors to the public anticipating sales of their goods. Then off to the Hacienda de los Martinez, circa 1804. It was closed (another tour !!) but we got some discriptive history of the place. The hacienda is a large square building consisting of 21 rooms around the perimiter with two courtyards in the center. It has 2 foot thick adobe windowless exterior walls designed to serve as a refuge for family and neighbours against possible Indian raids. It has only one entrance which is wide enough to bring in a horse drawn wagon. Then lastly, off to San Francisco di Asis Church, another ancient structure but very well preserved. We had a gret visit with Kathy & Ken, from Maryland, the only other folks on the tour. At 5:00 we headed for home via Chimaya for a fabulous New Mexican dinner, well known obviously by the number of cars in the parking lot. It is quite formal and looked expensive but turned out to be just the opposite And we left with as much as we ate (goodey-tomorrow night's dinner). Home by 8:30 with minds and bellies full of a really fun day.