Sunday, February 1, 2009

A return to Northern New Mexico

New Mexico has always held a special place in my heart. It’s the birthplace of my daughter, where I bought my first home and the land of many adventures.

During the off-season, I took some down time to road trip with Alison throughout the northern mountains.

A must see for anyone visiting the area is Taos Pueblo. Ceremonial days are more interesting than visiting at other times of the year. Be sure to check out the tribe’s calendar and visiting hours for details. My personal favorites are San Geronimo Day and the Deer Dances.

Any tour to Taos should also include a stop at the Millicent Rogers Museum. The collections intrigued and entertained us, especially the textiles, large garden sculpture and unique jewelry exhibits.

To round out our time we included a mini-tour to Chimayo to see the Santuario de Chimayo. Regardless of your spiritual background, this enclave will touch you deeply. The path leading up to the church is lined with rosaries, candles and offerings for prayers.

Once inside the original chapel, we were overwhelmed with the abundance of artifacts, photos, and pleas for blessings that completely cover the walls.

*All photos for this blog entry are courtesy Alison Salva. When you use any photos from this blog, please list proper photo credit.

Cheers, Jillywray