I think I'm slowly losing track of time. It's difficult for me to remember what day today is. I guess not having constant access to the internet, tv, and at times, cellphone reception will do that to you. At times, it can be unnerving, knowing that no one can reach me, and vice-versa, but not having to answer to anyone is sort of liberating. :)Let's see....what did I do 2 days ago. Oh yes! I drove from Santa Fe to Taos, New Mexico. The route my GPS mapped out for me took through the beautiful mountains on NM-68. I sped through the mountain valleys, alongside the Rio Grande. I tried taking pictures during my rest stops, but none of the photos I took that day can do justice to the scenery. The endless expanse of desert mountains framed against a clear blue sky reminded me of a picturesque scene out of a postcard.
Once I got to Taos, spent the day wondering around the small art galleries, jewelry and pottery shops before heading up to the Pueblos - one of the oldest inhabited civilizations in the Western Hemisphere. (It might have been the oldest, I'd have to double check)
Situated at the base of the mountain, the town is composed of rows and rows of clay buildings that keep the inhabitants warm during the winter and cool during the summer. Much of the way of life has been kept intact. In other words, even though countless generations have lived in this area, not much has changed, particularly in the way they carry out their daily lives. Many of the inhabitants are fine jewelry/pottery makers, and rely on the tourists and local shops to sell their goods.
The people of the Pueblos were nice and friendly. Very hospitable. They treated the tourists with the utmost kindness and respect. I wondered if these people ever got annoyed with the constant flood of tourists who visited them all year round. How would I feel if I had to deal with tourists constantly walking into my backyard everyday?
Before setting up camp, I decided to make a trip back towards Santa Fe to visit the Chimayo Shrine. I had learned about this place in my Art History class. The Santuario de Chimayo is known mainly for its miraculous healing powers. Hundreds and thousands of people make pilgrimage trips to this site on an annual basis to pray for themselves or ailing loved ones. In the corner room of the church is a small pit filled with dirt. This dirt supposedly has strong healing powers, which is why countless tourists, and even the locals, will take a handful with them hoping that the dirt will work its miraculous powers. I'm not much of a believer in miracles, but since I was here, I decided to pay a visit.That following night, set up camp in Petaca near the Rio Grande. The campsite was fairly empty save for the camp host and one other RV van. The distant thundering worried me, but once I got the tent set up, I stopped worrying - I have enough faith in REI's quality. And unsurprisngly enough, the tent kept me dry and fairly warm during the night.
One thing that I'll never forget from my first night camping out in the Southwest was the exquisite night sky. Because of the time difference, I woke up at around 4am, near dawn. Still groggy from sleep, I decided to take a short walk to wake myself up. It was dark and cold, as the sun wouldn't be out for another half hour or so, but the light from the stars was enough to illuminate the dark path along the campsite. Lining the pitch black sky were the stars that shone crystal clear, and bright as the lights in NYC. The view was so captivating, I probably stood there out in the cold for a good 40 minutes. :]
By 5am, I was back in my car, and speeding along the highway towards Colorado. Again, the drive from New Mexico to Colorado was nothing short of amazing. No surprise there. At around 10:30AM, I drove past a sign that read 'Welcome to Colorful Colorado.' On my way out of the car at one of the rest stops, I dropped my camera and broke it. Crap. That camera still had a few more years to it. :(
Stopped at the nearest Wal Mart and got a new camera. Oh well. Shelled out $150. :( Definitely not a highlight from the trip.
By 2PM, made it to Mesa Verde National Park. Took a tour of the Cliff Palaces, drove around, before setting up camp at the base of the mountain. I think I'm getting used to life in the outdoors.
Heading out to Moab, Utah today. Hopefully, I'll have internet access to blog some more. Until then, take care everyone!
