Vacation: New Mexico

The day after Disneyland we boarded a plane to Albuquerque, New Mexico where we met Auntie Barbara who had arrived 8 hours earlier. Flying in, the pilot called our attention to a huge wildfire burning at the Arizona/New Mexico boarder. The billows of smoke was amazing to see, the smoke filling Albuquerque was even more shocking, you couldn't see more than 70 yards ahead of you and the intense smell of smoke permeated the car and restaurant where we stopped to eat. By the time we arrived in Taos, three plus hours from the airport, it was 11:00pm and the night sky was dark and filled with stars.

When I awoke the next morning I got my first relatively clear look of the area and really loved the beauty of it all. Taos is situated in the high desert, with mountains, mesas, hills and the Rio Grande forging its way through the gorge just four miles from Barbara's vacation house.

View from the driveway

Rio Grande Gorge

View of Taos from Blueberry Hill

Michael and Barbara spent a few days cleaning up and cleaning out the house and storage sheds so Harrison and I explored the neighborhood. We took several walks up the road to a neighbor's property to gaze upon the awesome scrap metal sculptures. It might be difficult to tell from the photo below, but there is a windmill, a bull and a man... if you know your literature it is Don Quixote! Harrison loved these, especially the windmill and now excitedly points out all windmills big and small.

An evening walk

Barbara's neighbor Judy was very sweet to Harrison and had him visit her greenhouse several times to pick the smallest, sweetest strawberries almost everyday. We got to know Judy pretty well since we saw her daily and also made friends with another neighbor up the street, Alberto. Between them we learned a lot about the local history, culture and people and got a great feel what it might be like to be "Taosanian."

One day we took a lovely drive to the Rio Grande to swim and relax in the 85* sun. Harrison had a lot of fun splashing mom and dad with the cold water; only dad was brave enough to actually swim in the water! A little live entertainment was provided by a few daring young men who climbed the nearby bridge and jumped 50 feet into the river, which is evidently deeper than it looks.

Harrison has picked up interest in using the potty again and sometimes when we change his diaper it triggers his urge to go. When we changed him at the river he asked to use a potty and dad decided it was time to teach him to do it standing up in the bushes! I got one photo and managed to keep it tasteful:

After a picnic lunch, we packed up and headed back into town, stopping at a store to shop and check out the tee pees out front.

Barbara took us to meet her close friends, Rick and Jerry, and tour their amazing home. It has been featured in magazines because it is full more artwork than you can imagine and has a beautiful garden filled with sculptures as well as old rusted farm equipment that make an oasis in the desert. Since this "art gallery" is their home, I didn't take many photos but at one point, Harrison was standing at the top of the stairs leading up to the garden, raised his arms to the sky and yelled "Look at me, mommy!!" several times.

Sunday night, Barbara and Judy watched Harrison while Michael and I went out for dinner at Doc Martins. I was feeling especially adventurous that evening and ate rabbit and rattlesnake sausage and an elk burger and would definitely do it again, everything was delicious.

Our last night in Taos, we invited Judy and her friend over for dinner on the patio finished off with a fire and Smores and another lovely Taos sunset.

Our last day in new Mexico, we breakfasted at the Taos Diner then drove to Sante Fe before heading to Albuquerque for our flight. Strolling Sante Fe's streets we saw the cathedral Basilica of St. Francis, checked out the nicest jewelery shop in town (so posh!), bought some silver earrings from a local artisan, perused a photo gallery and ate lunch at Cafe Pasqual's.

Hanging around the park

Lunch at Pasqual's

Thank you Auntie Barbara for a wonder trip. Los Angeles, Taos and Sante Fe were wonderful and we enjoyed spending so much time with you, your family and friends!