Pueblo Home

Taos Pueblo is similar to a large apartment house.  Or should I say two apartment houses.  There is a north and a south Pueblo separated by a small stream.  This particular house/apartment is located in the south pueblo.  Aesthetically, I like the north one but if you poke around there are lots of good nooks and crannies in the south pueblo.

"Pueblo Home"       © Kathy Dunham 2011

One Old Wheel

La Haciaenda de los Martinez in Taos, New Mexico, is full of treasures from years past.  One of the earliest haciendas in the area, it is now a museum that give us an idea how the early rancheros lived.

"One Old Wheel"     © Kathy Dunham 2011

Crucita's Indian Shop

A visit to Taos Pueblo always inspires me.  When the light is right, the shadows created by the angular edges of the buildings is awesome.  But this turquoise door definitely caught my eye.  The color was so vibrant against the adobe color of the mud and straw that covers the walls.  This is the oldest continually inhabited Indian Pueblo in America.  The Indians still live here and many have businesses that sell goods and items for us tourists.

"Crucita's Indian Shop"      © Kathy Dunham 2011

Sanctuary Gate

The small town of Rancho de Chimayo, just north of Santa Fe, has been inhabited for hundreds of years by the Native Americans, Mexicans and Spaniards.  Nearby is a small church, Santuario de Chimayo, that is famous and known for it's healing "dirt".  Pilgrams walk for miles to be blessed and hopefully cured.  It's a peaceful site that has recently been expanding due to the numbers of pilgrams who visit. 

"Sanctuary Gate"     © Kathy Dunham 2010

Chama Hollyhocks

I love hollyhocks and they can be found all over the world.  I just keep forgetting to plant some in my yard.  So I take lots of pictures.  I found these in the railyard at Chama, New Mexico.  They've planted a nice garden just outside the ticket office with a few benches so everyone can enjoy the beauty of the flowers.

"Chama Hollyhocks"      © Kathy Dunham 2010

Through the Window

If you're ever in Taos, New Mexico you should stop at La Hacienda de los Martinez to get a feel of what life was like hundreds of years ago in the West.  This original adobe structure shows us how family life was back then. 

"Through the Window"     © Kathy Dunham 2010

Inside the Cab

I love trains.  What kid doesn't?  Guess I'll never grow up.  I remember the train around the tree at Christmas time.  Well, I'm a big kid now and still love the sound of the whistle and the clickity clack of the wheels on the rails.  This summer I took a ride on the Cumbres - Toltec Railroad.  It's the highest, longest narrow gauge steam railroad in the U.S.   It runs from Chama, New Mexico to Antonito, Colorado.  Beautiful unspoiled country.  Before leaving several of us passengers were talking with the engineer and he invited us into the cab.  Oh boy!!!  What a treat.  I have never been close to seeing what it looks like inside the cab.  All those dials and gauges and the hot fire box loaded with coal to keep this big baby moving.  What a thrill.

"Inside the Cab"     © Kathy Dunham 2010

Evening Sky

Evenings along the Rio Grande River in New Mexico offers some awesome sunsets.  I spotted these clouds just outside Rio Rancho, a small community just north of Albuquerque.  Make sure you always have your camera with you when you're in the Land of Enchanment.

"Evening Sky"    © Kathy Dunham 2010

How Do I Turn on the Radio?

The old turquoise mining town of Cerrillos, New Mexico, is about as small a town as you can get where there are still people living in it.  Just south of Santa Fe at the beginning of the Turquoise Trail, the back road between Albuquerque and Santa Fe, this town had some innovative residents.  This old radio was perched high in a nook of the outer wall around a house.  There was long extension cord but I don't think there'll be much coming out of this music box. 

"How Do I Turn on the Radio?"    © 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

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

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

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

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