Early Morning in Sorrento

The umbrellas are all lined up, ready for the tourists and sunbathers.  They're not free either.  If you want a lounge and umbrella there is a cost.

"Early Morning in Sorrento"     © Kathy Dunham 2010

The 'Ol Coal Tender

The railyard in Chama, New Mexico is filled with old narrow gauge rail cars.  This coal tender with it's "Dog House" on top for the front brakeman, is sitting patiently waiting to be called back into service. 

"The 'Ol Coal Tender"    © Kathy Dunham 2010

More Slot Cnyons

Everywhere you turn, there are colors, undulating forms, shadows and sunlight.  Antelope "Slot" Canyons on Navajo land outside of Page, Arizona, is like walking into another world.  It's ethereal and surreal.  Unlike anything most of us ever come across.  These weather worn, extremely narrow canyons, really show you the beauty in nature.

"More Slot Canyons"    © Kathy Dunham 2010

First Ruins

The Anazasi built many cliff dwellings in Canyon de Chelly.  No on knows why they abandoned them or where they went.  But they left us these apartments, nestled high in the cliffs, to speculate on their fate. 

"First Ruins"    © Kathy Dunham 2010

Taking a Break

Working on a steam locomotive is hard work.  Hard, dirty work.  This was a lunch break for the crew on the Cumbres Toltec Railroad as we crossed back and forth between New Mexico and Colorado.  The fireman is the guy in the bowler style hat.  He's the one responsible for keeping the fires stoked with coal.

"Taking a Break"   © Kathy Dunham 2010

Monsoon Sunset

This time of year the Southwest gets moisture coming up from the Gulf of California creating monsoons.  Sometimes we just get big clouds, other times it's rain and thunder and lightening.  Tonight it was just clouds here in the desert.  But they were certainly colorful.

"Monsoon Sunset"   © Kathy Dunham 2010

Taos Pueblo

The oldest pueblo that's been continually lived in, Taos Pueblo has been active for over 1,000 years.  Made of adobe and mud, this beautiful structure is a statement to the simple life style of the Native Amreicans who inhabit it.  It's open to the public and you'll find artisans selling their wares and residents co-mingling with the tourists.

"Taos Pueblo"    © Kathy Dunham 2010

Desert Moonrise

It's a full moon tonight and the clouds were billowing in the east just at the moon was coming up.  Perfect timing.  The rose of the sunset created a nice backdrop for the moon.

"Desert Moonrise"     © Kathy Dunham 2010

Salt River Canyon

I keep experiencing new and wonderful landscape.  New Mexico and Arizona both have some unique and very beautiful landscape.  If you take the road less traveled you can experience many new things.  I found this raw canyon just outside Show Low, Arizona on the way to Globe.  It's not very big but stunning none-the-less.  It's on route 60 which goes east from Phoenix on the way up to the mountains. 

"Salt River Canyon"    © Kathy Dunham 2010

Is Anyone Out There?

If you saw the movie "Contact", you saw these.  In the middle of nowhere, at an elevation of 7,000' in New Mexico are these huge radio receivers referred to as "Very Large Array" or VLA.  Used for radio astronomy, these parabolic discs, 82 feet across, are aimed at the skies in search of knowledge.  Hello?  Hello?

"Is Anyone Out There?"    © Kathy Dunham 2010

Fresh Chiles

If you've ever seen those dark red chile ristas (lots of chiles tied in a 2' long bunch) hanging from the eaves of houses in the Southwest, well let me tell you, this is how they start out.  Fresh chiles are licked and tied together with raffia and strung up to dry.  This is a simple storage solution and you just pick a chile when you're ready to cook.

"Fresh Chiles"     © Kathy Dunham 2010

The Bar - El Farol

 El Farol Restaurant, at the top of Canyon Road in Santa Fe offers a very Spanish menu.  Tapas and paella are some of the choices.  The food is good, they have Flamenco shows on the weekend and are the oldest restaurant in Santa Fe.

"The Bar - El Farol"    © Kathy Dunham 2010

Marinez Hacienda

The Martinez family were early settlers in Taos.  Their hacienda still survives today and gives us a look into what life was like a couple of centuries ago. 

"Martinez Hacienda"     © Kathy Dunham 2010

Santuario de Chimayo

This old church about 30 minutes north of Santa Fe is considered the "Lourdes" of America.  Pilgrims flock here to partake of the "Holy Dirt", said to have curative powers.  Just a few hundred yards north of here is a fantastic restaurant...  Rancho de Chimayo.  Make sure you take the time to drive out for a great meal.

"Santuario de Chimayo"    © Kathy Dunham 2010

Cemetery - Taos Pueblo

Taos Pueblo, the oldest, continually inhabited pueblo in the United States, is a must see when in Taos, New Mexico.  The heritage it represents makes this a historical sight you should not miss.  Today, there are lots of native artists who sell their hand crafted wares.  It also provides a great chance to meet and talk with those who still live there. 

"Cemetery - Taos Pueblo"    © Kathy Dunham 2010

Blowing out the Tank

The Cumbres Toltec Scenic R.R. runs between Chama, New Mexico and Antonito, Colorado.  The train criss crosses back and forth, in and out of the two states 10 times. During the trip, the engineer blows out the water from the bottom of the tank to clean out the sand and dirt particles that accumulate.  It's quite a blast of water.

"Blowing out the Tank"    © Kathy Dunham 2010

"Old 492"

The Cumbre Toltec Railroad is a historical treasure that runs between Chama, New Mexico and Antonito, Colorado. It's the highest narrow guage railroad still operating in the country. This old engine, #492, is no longer in service and sits in the railyard in Chama. It's a K-37 type engine with a 2-8-2 wheel arrangement. It's boiler was made for a standard gauge locomotive in 1902 but was put onto a new narrow gauge frame in 1928. But alas, it sits rusting in the railyard

"Old 492"    © Kathy Dunham 2010

White House Ruins - Canyon de Chelly

Canyon de Chelly, just outside Chinle, Arizona, is an awesome trip back in time.  Home to the Anazasi or "Ancient Ones", the canyon has numerous ruins that are 1,000 years old.  This one is called "White House" since one of the dwellings on the upper ledge was white.  Now home to the Navajo, the canyon provides fertile farm land for their crops and livestock.

"White House Ruins - Canyon de Chelly"    © Kathy Dunham 2010

Antelope Canyon

Outside Page, Arizona are some hidden slot canyons.  What's a slot canyon?  It's an extremely narrow "slot" in the earth, created by millenium of erosion.  Sometimes they are so narrow you can barely pass through.  At the right time of day the sun streams in, creating shafts of light that are magnificient. 

"Antelope Canyon"        © Kathy Dunham 2010

Glen Canyon Dam

Glen Canyon Dam is a marvel of engineering.  Built in the narrow Glen Canyon to provide hydroelectric power for 7 western states, it also provides some of the most awesome boating and naturally scenic beauty in America.  Take a tour of the dam if you're ever in Page, Arizona.

"Glen Canyon Dam"    © Kathy Dunham 2010

Drink with a View

I would love to have a view like this every day.  But I'll enjoy it when I can, even if it means a trip to Sedona.  If you stay at the Enchanment Resort in a remote canyon outside the city you too can have a drink on the patio at sunset with this view.

"Drink with a View"   © Kathy Dunham 2010

Verde Canyon RR

Just outside the old mining town of Jerome, Arizona, is the Verde Canyon Railroad.  Add this to your list of things to do if you want to see some spectacular scenery.  Originally built in 1911 over a period of one year at a cost of $1.3 million it was used to initially haul the smelted ore from the copper mines in Jerome.  Now it hauls only interested spectators through a rugged wilderness area in Arizona.  Red rocks abound in this narrow canyon as the Verde River plows its course to the south.  An awesome sight to see!!

"Verde Canyon  RR"    © Kathy Dunham 2010

Cathedral Rock at Sunset

Sedona, Arizona is known for its red rocks.  And they are spectarular, especially at sunset when the light is the best.  It was a bit of a walk to get to this location but it was worth every step to get a shot like this.  And I got there just in time before the light was gone.

"Cathedral Rock at Sunset"     © Kathy Dunham 2010

Red Coleus

Many times we overlook the obvious.  Coleus are used a lot as filler plants.  They come in many colors of red/pink/yellow and green.  But a close up look shows the beauty of the ruffled leaves. 

"Red Coleus"     © Kathy Dunham 2010

Roadside Mailboxes

The morning glories add a nice touch, but the road reflectors take away the charm of rural mailboxes.  I guess this is how the owners find their "turn off" in the dark.  But they might also serve as a warning to wild drivers to avoid the mailboxes (or serve as a target - you pick).


"Roadside Mialboxes"     © Kathy Dunham 2010

Restaurant Le Poulbo

My French isn't very good so I'm not sure what the name of this restaurant in the Montmarte district of Paris stands for.  But I love the charm of the area.  I bet it looked like this over 100 years ago when the Impressionists made this area their haunt.

"Restaurant Le Poulbo"     © Kathy Dunham 2010

Sunset in Tucson

Tuscon is known for it's beautiful sunsets.  Everything takes on a golden glow as the sun dips in the horizon.  It's a photographer's delight.

"Sunset in Tucson"    © Kathy Dunham 2010

Fresh Blueberry Scones

We were the second ones in the gate at the spectacular Van Deusen Gardens in Vancouver, B.C.  But we were the first to arrive at the little coffee shack and our timing was perfect.  The counter girl was just taking these yummy scones out of the oven.  They were soooo good!

"Fresh Blueberry Scones"    © Kathy Dunham 2010

Waves of Petals

I never realized that rose petals resemble a cresting wave.  And this rose in full bloom is loaded.  A regular tempest of a storm type of waves.  "Batten down the hatches".

"Waves of Petals"   © Kathy Dunham 2010

Anazasi Newspaper

I'm not sure exactly what the message is in this petroglyph but it looks to me that the horse on the left has been running in a figure eight, going nowhere, while the horse on the right is turning his back and heading out.  What do you think?

"Anazasi Newspaper"   © Kathy Dunham 2010