Santa Fe, NM
Our home for a month at Santa Fe Skies RV Park.
The park was aptly named - we had fabulous views of the desert skies.
Not everything went perfectly in Santa Fe - Kermit was broken into and Susan's purse was stolen.
The historic Chimayo Chapel is known as the Lourdes of New Mexico for its healing powers.
We had lunch at the far end of the graceful Plaza in Taos.
The La Fonda hosted such luminaries as DH Lawrence and members of the Taos Society of Artist.
New Mexico once again earns its moniker of "The Land of Enchantment".
The famous Spanish colonial church St. Francis of Assisi in Rancho de Taos.
Trailhead to Tent Rocks.
Through this passage lies desert spendor.
OK, that might have been an overstatement.  But just a few steps more....Bill step aside.
The trail snakes through a slot canyon...
...leading to enchanting spiral rocks.
A graceful rock wearing a quite stylish turban.
 Stoney silence at a gathering of the Tent Rock High Council.
You know how boring those meetings can be - sometimes you feel like turning to stone.
Beyond the Kasha Katuwe Tent Rocks lies the Cochiti Pueblo and the Rio Grande Valley.
The Rio Grande Valley.
Mother Nature provides a splash of vibrant color.
A view of the continuing Rock High Council meeting from elevated gallery.
Gearing up for a strenuous 1,700' climb to the top of Atalaya Mountain.  Do I need the oxygen tank?
A seldom seen horned lizard.
Whew!  Puff, puff... Finally, a breather.
From an altitude of
9,121' we had a great view of Santa Fe and the valley beyond.
The Frijoles Canyon in Bandelier National Monument.
Hundreds of Anasazi ruins lay scattered across the Pajarito Plateau of New Mexico.
Tyuonyi pueblo, a circular arrangement of rooms around a central arena, has been partially restored.
Along the canyon walls are pueblo style houses and cliff dwellings.
Access to the cliff dwellings is much easier today - thank you National Park Service.
A splash of well-placed color by Mom Nature adds drama to the decor.
An Anasazi escalator - the latest in people-moving technology of the time.
This is where things get a bit dicey for the "edge" challenged member of our family.
Notice the steep cliff walls of Frijoles Canyon from the Alcove House.
How long to you think that rather nervous smile will last?
 140' of ladders lead to Alcove House was home to about 25 Anasazi between 1250 - 1600 A.D.
Because of its Kiva, the Alcove House was also known as the Ceremonial Cave.
According to the brochure, "This trail is not meant for those with a fear of heights."  Uhhuh!
Bradbury Science Museum in Los Alamos tell the story of the birth of the Atomic Age.
General Groves and Dr. Oppenheinmer of the Manhattan Project.  Mission: to build the bomb.
Replicas of Fat Man and Little Boy, bombs dropped on Japan during WWII.
This sculpture is called Journey's End and depicts the excitement of traveler's as they reached Santa Fe.
Museum Hill includes many good museums to visit.  Our primary stop was the Int'l Museum of Art.
Alexander Girard and his wife donated over 100,000 folk art items to New Mexico.
Girard designed the exhibits and personally placed most of the 10,000 folk art pieces in this museum.

Kasha Katuwe Tent Rocks
Atalaya Mountain Hike
Bandelier National Monument
Downtown Santa Fe
International Museum of Folk Art
Coyote Cafe (upper level), just off the Plaza, is a great place to relax and watch the world go by.
The Palace of the Governors vendors must be licensed and enter a daily lottery to sell their wares.
The arts and crafts are of high quality and certifiable.
Saint Francis Cathedral, located 1 block east of the Plaza, was dedicated in 1886.
One of several sculptures that adorn the Cathedral grounds.
The beautiful Loretto Chapel, completed in 1878, is now a private museum.
The graceful Chapel interior makes it a popular venue for weddings.
Legend says the "Miraculous Staircase" was inspired by St. Joseph, the Carpenter.
A series of carved wooden angels line a streamside path.
Dozens of art galleries line Canyon Road and its cross streets.
This fellow is taking a break from a long day of gallery hopping.
Santa Fe and Taos are known for their rustic and ornate doors.
Many of the art pieces were detailed dioramas of life for the people they depicted.
None of the art had names/labels because Girard wanted people to enjoy it and not read it.
Also in this building was an Indonesian art/artifact exhibit called "Dancing Shadows"
One of the rooms gives children the opportunity to interact with some of the art and musical instruments.
Indonesian shadow puppet performances are one the oldest story telling traditions in the world.
Hmmm, I wonder what this story was all about?
The Museum of Indian Arts and Culture is also located on Museum Hill.
Massive sculpture in the Museum's courtyard.