Saturday, March 31, 2018

March 30, 2018 - Road to Pagosa Springs, CO

Today, we left Santa Fe up into the higher mountains to eventually end up in Pagosa Springs, CO.  We will be here for most of the week working on puzzles and probably the golf game.
On the road to Taos, we came upon a car at the stoplight.  An old vintage Chevy.  On the passenger side window was a device we had never seen. It was a Thermador Car Cooler.  Didn't cars back then have Air Conditioning. 

 Towards the northern section of New Mexico, the altitude is higher although the Sagebrush is still abundant.

 Taos, NM is a tourist town but is also very popular in the winter as a ski resort town.

 How could one not buy some Red Peppers and a chicken lawn ornament.

 Just outside of Taos, we came to the Rio Grande Gorge, and Bridge. We have already been over the Rio Grande several times on this trip. The bridge is a little over a quarter of a mile long, so we got in at least a half mile of walking today, not including the aisles at the grocery store.

 Looking straight from the bridge down the river narrows down to just a few yards.

 On the other side of the bridge were a few Big Horned Sheep getting a rest.

 There were a couple of people trying to get a close up, but since the Big Horned Sheep out weighed us, we stayed on our side of the fence and we relied on the zoom.

The Gorge from the other side of the bridge.

 From the bridge, the nearby mountains are still snow covered.

 On the way we went through the Rachel Carson National Forest. most of the Forest is over 8000 feet.  Up around the 9000 foot mark, the snow was still 1-2 feet deep.

 We peaked at 10,500 feet and then headed down over the other side, crossing the Continental Divide.

 A panoramic shot with a clear sky.

Coming down out of the Carson National Forest headed to Pagosa Springs.

 A view of the mountains from our timeshare for the week.  At the grocery store, there were a few people in sky pants doing some shopping for supplies.  Pagosa Springs is still busy with the ski enthusiasts. The Wolf Creek Ski Area is is about 25 miles east on Route 160.  For those who are ready to see the snow gone.  The slopes are still open.  Wolf Creek Ski Area
This week the blog may be a bit spotty...unless you want to see some golf scorecards...or a puzzle in process. 
Happy Easter everyone.

Wednesday, March 28, 2018

March 28, 2018 - Santa Fe

Good evening everyone.  Today we went into the city of Santa Fe, the state Capitol.  It is the center of the state's government and also is an art showcase.
 Last night, the city of Santa Fe has seen more snow than in recent years.

 The next several picture are of art displayed on the walls of the State Capitol.

 "Salt Book"

 The state has many people of religious faith and express it through art.



 The Senate Chambers, very simple and yet functional.





 "Jackie Chavez"

 Painting on wood

"Multiculture Harvest"







 "The Buffalo Who Wouldn't Die".  This was done by Pablita Velarde who was bullied by male artists, and went on to create hundreds of paintings including some for Bandelier National Monument.

 It is hard to realize how much went into this piece of art but almost all of it it discarded materials.

 If you look into the eye carefully you will see a fishing reel.

 In the eye there is a lantern without glass.



 Pastel view of the mountains.







 The next 8 pictures were taken on the 4th floor where Govervor Suzana Martinez has her office.



 "The Simple Pleasures of New Mexico"

 Janis Joplin and Tommy Masters

 "Tired Fish"

 "Crossing"

 This is a door that has inset shelves under glass.



 Sculpture on the front steps of the Capitol Building.

A planter on the front steps.

 Next, we went to the Georgia O'Keefe Museum.
Bella Donna

 One of the "Pelvis Series"

 Georgia's front yard in Abiquiu, NM where she went to live after her husband died in 1946.

 Petunia

 Mules Skull with Pink Poinsettia

 Purple Hills Ghost Ranch

 Georgia maintained a garden to use for meals.


  Next, we walked around the old part of the city.

 Visitors Center.



 A common decoration in the city

 Santa Fe Plaza.

 Palace of the Governors.  In front of the palace, only Native Americans are allowed to sell their wares.

 Colorful clothes is the norm.

 No petting the animals.
It was a great day for visiting Santa Fe although the wind was up and the temperature never made it to 60.