May 8, 2023

Day 2 in Taos did not disappoint. We enjoyed a full breakfast at our hotel, the historic Pueblo Lodge which was originally built as a ranch in 1912. This hotel is quite distinct as the architecture is unique to the area and each room and out building has its own personality.

Just two miles up the road is the World Heritage Site, “The Place of the Red Willows”, Taos Pueblo. It is an active Native American community with over 30 families living in a 15 square mile radius much like their ancestors did for more than 1,000 continuous years. This fiercely protected village with it’s multi-storied adobe buildings, appears much as they did when the first Spanish explorers arrived in northern New Mexico in 1540.

Looking south at the compound with the church as the prominent feature with the whitewashed walls.

The building with the white crosses is St. Jerome Church built in 1850. Mass is held every Sunday at 7am and the Blessed Mother is heavily featured, as she also represents Mother Earth. Catholicism blends with how the native people practice religion today. They honor the Earth in all ways and also hold religious ceremonies in a natural space called a kiva.

Below is a still picture of a postcard of the inside of the church – no photography is allowed inside St. Jerome or San Geronimo Church. The figure in the center is the original Madonna.

The church of St. Jerome was originally constructed in 1619 and destroyed in the Pueblo Revolt of 1680 – this is the only time in history that a tribe successfully removed a large group of foreign inhabitants – the Spanish. Unfortunately, this freedom and peace did not last. In 1847, tragedy struck when U.S. Government forces burned the church with over 100 men, women and children inside – their bodies were the first burials on the site of this sacred ruin.

The site of the earliest church with the original crosses which are respectfully stacked at the base of the bell tower when they fall over. The original Spanish bell still hangs in the tower – a haunting image. The site serves as a reminder of the violence inflicted upon the Puebloans of Taos.

Each family is responsible for maintaining the integrity of their adobe home. It is a painstaking process but the benefits of this dwelling provides warmth from cold days and nights and a cool oasis from the heat of the desert sun.

In ancient times before the Spaniards added doors to these mud and thatch homes, the entrances were small square openings on the rooftops hence the long ladders.

A look north with my back to the church at the mighty flow of the The Rio Pueblo de Taos – a tributary of Rio Grande. This river is also called Red Willow Creek and is the source for the drinking water of the residents of the Pueblo.

These mounds were introduced to the Pueblo people by the Spaniards. They are cook mounds and they operate much like a giant pizza oven.

After our tour of Taos Pueblo we took a drive up the the Taos Ski Valley, where we found a peaceful, shady spot by the river for lunch.

The very same snow capped mountains from our trip up from Valley of Fire!

A look at the ski resort at Taos Ski Valley

River views for lunch then onto a hike into Carson National Forest.

We enjoyed a full day as tourists and travelers. Then off to dinner and a birthday toast* to son, Nate, CHEERS! [*Prickly Pear Margarita for Julie and Fat Tire for Rob]

Keeping the rubber side down, Julie and Rob