Taos, NM

[Sparkle]

My photo of the square didn't come out very good. Beth, do you have one? We liked Taos much better than either old town Albuquerque or Santa Fe. Both of them were way to tarted up, no real feel of an old town. The streets were too wide, their was no history of the buildings, however Taos was everything we were hoping for. We kept finding narrow little streets filled with neat shops, people sitting outside reading newspapers, dogs wandering around, unleashed, but at their masters heels. Street people were singing and playing guitars.


As always we looked for churches. We found this one, it looked a bit modern and we couldn't find a date.


The Alter.


This was at the back of the church. Is it called the Sanctuary? A woman was kneeling and praying, so we waited until she left to take the photo.


The windows were done in a stained glass process called Dalle de Verre. That is big thick chunks of glass which are shaped with a hammer and then set in concrete. Men like doing this process more than the leaded style.


a murel.


We finally found the OLD church. Called St Francis of Assis. There was no I at the end. It was built 1813-15. Just as I tried to take a photo this guy popped out from behind the gate.


Interior of the church,


You could see the straw in the Adobe.


And this is what happens when Adobe is beglected. It just melts away.

[Redetotry]

Now I'm wondering what they do to adobe to keep it from melting!

Taos looks like a place I would enjoy. Love the church pictures especially the stained glass.

[Bethers]

I love the area around Taos. Actually I love New Mexico - but Taos is the largest city in it that I really like -

Haven't even looked at my pics yet - need to get around to that - and get the last batch off my camera. I just don't know how you all keep up with them so quickly! Good thing Liz will be in Alaska with me - I'll hope she gets the pics posted!

Thought Sparkle would be leaving today- and she told me early this morning she was going to hang around one more day - well we managed to see 2 more national monuments - and another cultural center - another great day. Then we both gave the casino here a couple dollars in the video poker machines tonight. They are so addicting

[bluepinecones]

Thanks for the tour; love the photos.

Someone asked about "melting adobe". For interesting brief write up, See:
Preservation of Historic Adobe Buildings
http://www.nps.gov/hps/tps/briefs/brief05.htm

[jemek]

We went to Taos..several years ago..about 7 or so. We went on our day off, Dh and I were in Cimarron for Boy Scout Training Camp and they gave us Wed off to explore the area. WE went to the Indian Pueblo...we don't have any pictures as they were actually having some type of celebration that weekend with traditional clothing and such..so they did not allow any cameras.

It is on my list of places to go back to.

[Cedar518]

Nice tour, thanks Sparkle!

[asirimarco]

Glad you went to Taos and saw the old church. When we were there a few years ago the people of the church were working on the outside of it to keep it up. Women, men and children - with ladders and buckets. I really liked the town too and would like to go back. Did you go to the Pueblo - it is much more interesting then Sky City. Had to pay to use the camera but it was worth it. Such a beautiful area.

[Sparkle]

Darn Carol, no we didn't go to the Pueblo! We parked and walked over, then discovered it cost 10.00 each, plus 5.00 for the camera. we didn't think ANYTHING could be better than Acoma, so we drove away. Oh well, Beth and I have agreed we could do New Mexico all over again and still not see everything. So that's on the list for next time.

[mtngal]

Thanks as always for trip reports Sparkle. I love NM too!

[Pooker]

How nice to go along with you gals! You are so right, Sparkle, there is a lot to see and do in NM. Also one of my favorite states. Glad you're having such a swell time.

Evie

[Redetotry]

Bluepinecones thanks for the link to the adobe care. Great article but the conclusion is a bit sad.

"In conclusion, to attempt the preservation of an adobe building is almost a contradiction. Adobe is a formed-earth material, a little stronger perhaps than the soil itself, but a material whose nature is to deteriorate. The preservation of historic adobe buildings, then, is a broader and more complex problem than most people realize. The propensity of adobe to deteriorate is a natural, ongoing process. While it would be desirable to arrest that process in order to safeguard the building, no satisfactory method has yet been developed. Competent preservation and maintenance of historic adobe buildings in the American Southwest must (1) accept the adobe material and its natural deterioration, (2) understand the building as a system, and (3) understand the forces of nature which seek to return the building to its original state."

[carold]

We loved that area and enjoyed Taos. By any chance, did you manage to get anyone to disclose where Julia Roberts' property is? They are sure hush, hush about it - which I think is a good thing, really. Just thought Sparkle might have found a New Mexican rendition of Elvis and sweet talked him into divulging. carold

[Liz]

Enjoyed your pictures! I love the old adobe buildings.

[Bethers]

LOL the Julie Roberts and Elvis comment. I didn't even realize she had a place there -

As to the pueblo - yes, as soon as we decided to not go there, it was added to the list for the next trip. That list grew LONGER from having spent this month - as lots of places I want to go back to - and the others we didn't make it to. (Then, of course, there are those that once was enough, at least for me.)

[Nasoosie]

More great pictures, Sparkle! I think New Mexico will be my trip to 'Mexico' as it looks pretty much the same, but is in the USA. The more I think about it, the more I think that will be my goal.

We will miss the adventres of Beth and Sparkle, for sure, but will look forward to the daring duo's adventures again next year!

I can only imagine how hard it will be for you two to part today, albeit just temporarily, until next season.

"Parting is such sweet sorrow."