New Mexico Travelogue - Albuquerque, Santa Fe & Taos - October 2009
Oct. 17, 2009 Back to Index Sept. 26, 2009
This was our long-delayed anniversary trip, first planned 5 years ago. Although it was my second trip to Albuquerque, it was Stephanie's first visit to New Mexico.
Dawn Patrol at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, 5:45 AM.
The Dawn Patrol lifts off about an hour before sunrise, putting on a show for the crowd, and indicating whether the "box" winds are present.
This morning, the "box" was working, allowing the Dawn Patrol to make multiple passes over the field.
The Mass Ascension begins. This year's Fiesta invited 550 balloons, plus an additional 100 special shapes (such as "Wally" the fish, seen just above the trailer.)
One of the big, 12-passenger ride balloons. This behemoth might be 250,000 cubic feet,
almost four times larger than our Dreamtime.
Stephanie and me, posing before begining the inflation of Rich's Euphoria Grande.
Rich is waiting to lift off with me in the basket, so Stephanie grabbed a quick hug. Not that she was worried or anything ...
Our Launch Director (dressed in "zebra" attire) gives us the thumbs-up signal to launch.
And up we go. Fiesta attracts more than 80,000 visitors every day, and the opening morning crowd may top 100,000.
Heading toward the Rio Grande, Rich begins exploring the box winds, going back and forth, already thinking about where to land.
We found a pasture near the river (it's just behind those trees), along with another couple of balloons.
We visited Acoma Sky City Pueblo, the oldest continuously inhabited community in North America.
The Acoma people began living atop White Mesa (Sky City) about 1150 A.D.
Some of the 250 houses atop the mesa date back over 400 years; others are more recent. The 50 or so year-round inhabitants live as they have for hundreds of years, with no electricty or running water. This is one of three natural cachement basins atop the mesa.
The San Esteban del Rey Mission, begun in 1629, and restored during the last century. Both the Pueblo and San Esteban del Rey Mission are listed on the National Register of Historic Monuments.
The cemetary wall, with one of the animal guardian images at the corner. The soil and rock for the cemetary was all hand-carried up from the valley, 350 feet below.
The original route up to Sky City was a hidden, hand-cut staircase, which afforded protection
from attackers. It has been improved to allow tourists to descend in relative safety.
El Paradero Bed and Breakfast in Santa Fe, a wonderful place to stay just four blocks from the Plaza. We highly recommend it.
The common room at El Paradero. Our room, one of 15, had a kiva fireplace and its own bathroom. See their website for more photos.
A spectacular New Mexico sunset, as seen from the Tower Bar atop the La Fonda Hotel on the Santa Fe Plaza.
We visited Nambe Falls, on the Nambe Pueblo, while on our way from Santa Fe to Taos.
We also stopped at El Santuario de Chimayo, known as the "Lourdes of America." It is renowned for the legendary healing power of the sacred dirt in the anteroom just off the chapel.
Out timing was perfect, with many of the aspens in full fall color along the high road to Taos.
Our room, the "Fetish Bear Suite," at the Dreamcatcher Bed and Breakfast in Taos.
Just a short walk from the Taos Plaza, the Dreamcatcher was a great place to relax and unwind.
Headed north from Taos to Denver, we encountered Blanca Peak before turning east across La Veta pass.
Oct. 17, 2009 Back to Index Sept. 26, 2009