TRAVEL TO COLORADO

Was off to Colorado for wildflowers photography in the San Juan Mountains in July. I teamed up with my friends Lin and Mike to drive from San Diego to Grand Junction where we would meet up with the LightChase Photography Group.

We took two days to get there from San Diego with a stop at Cedar Breaks National Monument to check out their wildflowers and sunset. Before reaching Cedar Breaks we stopped at a small grove of Bristlecone Pines just off of Utah 14. Mike and I took the half mile walk to the small grove of Bristlecones. There was a nice vista from there to the South with Zion National Park in the distance. 

Bristlecone with Snaking Roots

 

We got to Cedar Breaks after the V. C. had closed, but there was plenty of time to explore the wildflowers and the vistas before sunset. 

Wildflower Celebration, Cedar Breaks N.M.

Sunflowers and Penstemon

Lupine Bouquet

Monument Plant, Frasera speciosa

Prairie Smoke, Genum triflorum

As the Canyon faces West we watched the sunset in the distance.

Cedar Breaks Detail

Looking West, Cedar Breaks N.M.

Finally it was time to get to Panguitch, grab a sandwich, and head for our Motel.

BRYCE CANYON and onto GRAND JUNCTION, COLORADO

It was a short night as we wanted to be at Bryce National Park for sunrise. We photographed from Sunset Point,

Bryce Canyon w. Storm Clouds 1

Bryce Canyon w. Storm Clouds 2

A Bryce HooDoo

A Bryce Needle

 then went to Bryce Point to the South for a different view:

Bryce Canyon from Bryce Point

Bryce Canyon, A Closer Look

This gave us a better overall view of the Canyon looking at it from the South.

We had brought food for breakfast and then headed for the Lodge and Coffee Shop so that we could enjoy it with a cup of java. While at the Lodge I ran into Bill, Nancy, and Rosey  who I had worked with at the North Rim. After I breakfast I also ran into Kurt who had also been at the North Rim while we were there. (Small world!)

After returning to Panguitch to check out we stopped at the local True Value Hardware Store to get a couple of much needed items. I needed a bolt and nut to repair my tripod, and Lin needed a lubricant for her ballhead on her tripod. We were able to get exactly what we needed with the help of a very knowledgeable and helpful clerk.

Finally we headed for Grand Junction through some of Utah’s beautiful valleys and vistas. We went North on US-89 through Marysvale, and Big Rock Candy Mountain Resort before linking up with I-70. We visited a small park along the way.

Near Marysvale, UT

Big Bird and Tortoise

Once on I-70 we headed East through some beautiful open country with little development. We watched the development of thunderclouds to the East and North. We stopped at the San Rafael Swell Overlook to see and photograph this spectacular geological feature. 

I-70 Going Through the San Rafael Swell

I-70 Cutting Through San Rafael Swell

A Panorama of the San Rafael Swell Area

Have reviewed some of the area via the internet and it really is a fascinating area. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Rafael_Swell)

Finally we headed for our motel in Grand Junction, CO. We enjoyed a Japanese dinner with two others who we will be traveling with for our photo adventure. Tomorrow we head out for a photo adventure in Southwestern Colorado starting with Crested Butte.

TAOS PUEBLO

Today we visited the Town of Taos as well as the Pueblo. But first we drove on to the Bridge over the Rio Grande Gorge. It is 565 feet above the Rio Grande.  My pictures do not do justice to the structure as the area around the bridge has been fenced off so it is difficult to get a good view of its grandeur. 
 

From The Web

 These are mine --

Rio Grande Gorge Bridge

Rio Grande Gorge

 Included here are a couple of pictures of some rafters about to go under the Bridge.

Rafters on the Rio Grande from the Gorge Bridge

Rio Grande Rafters, A Closer Look

The Taos Pueblo is one of a number Pueblos located around Santa Fe. It is was  probably built about 1000 years ago. There are large parts of the Pueblo which are off limits to the public. There are times throughout the year that the whole pueblo is closed to the public. There is no running water, nor electricity within the Pueblo walls. Their source of water is the Willow Creek

Willow Creek

which separates the North Pueblo 

North Pueblo

from the South. 

South Pueblo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Approximately 150 people live within the Pueblo full time with the remainder living in homes outside the walls of the Pueblo, but still on Pueblo land. This is similar to what occurs at Acomo Pueblo which I visited last Fall outside of Albuquerque. One thing I enjoyed here was visiting the various artists, and a piece of freshly made fry bread. 

Taos Church

Storm Brewing in the Mountains w/North Pueblo in Foreground

We enjoyed lunch at the Gorge Bar and Grill back in Taos on the Plaza. There was a rain shower while we were in Taos, but we were able to stay dry while browsing the various shops.

SATURDAY/SUNDAY – HOMEWARD BOUND.

We headed home today with an expensive stop in Gallup, N.M. before heading into Arizona and a night stay at La Posada once again. I had been looking for a bracelet to go with some Indian Jewelry purchased last year, and found a piece done by the same artist. It is being resized to fit my smaller wrist, but will be well worth it.

In Winslow we went off to take a couple of pictures of the “Corner”, and then had to dodge a rain shower.

The Corner, Winslow AZ

Note the wall art in the background.

 We once again enjoyed the relaxed ambiance of La Posada, and a very good meal. We splurged and split four ways their

 

Double Chocolate, Grand Marnier Soufflé for Two

Rich dark chocolate soufflé baked to order and served with whipped cream and dark chocolate Grand Marnier sauce.


which was sinful and excellent.

Sunday we drove home via Prescott, Quartzsite, and Yuma. It was more scenic and not that much further than the outward bound trip. (The temperature outside the car reached 114˚F west of Yuma.) Thankfully the car air conditioner worked just fine. We were home by 1630 and were able to get a walk in before dinner. 

SANTA FE and THE OPERA

Today was overcast with a strong threat of rain in the afternoon, and on into the evening. You could say that this was our day for culture!

After breakfast we were off to a couple of museums located on “Museum Hill”:

Our first stop was the International Museum of Folk Art. This was a fun place to visit with many examples of hand crafted collections of toys, dolls, costumes, beadwork, textiles, etc. One of the most fascinating exhibits for me was “The Red That Colored the World” Exhibit which is about the American Cochineal insect and how it has colored the world in red. It is fascinating. The research on it shows that it has been used to color items red for hundreds of years.(See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cochineal)

Then it was onto the Museum of Indian Art and Culture. This was also interesting and diverse. It highlights all of the many facets of Indian Art. One of the exhibits was of the work of David Bradley, current artist of many media: paintings, mixed media, and bronze sculptures. A number of his paintings are wonderful spoofs on the modern ideas of who Native Americans are. 

I apologize for the lack of photos but I would rather enjoy the museum than photograph what is there. I recommend both of these museums highly.

After lunch at the Museums’ Café we returned to our hotel for a nap before getting ready to go to the Opera. 

The Santa Fe Opera setting is world renown, and quite beautiful. Here is a link to it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Fe_Opera. Scroll through the images. Imagine sitting at the Dapples Pavilion with it pouring rain down those giant sails. We attended the Preview Buffet and discussion by the musicologist on the Opera “La Finta Giardiniera” written by Mozart when he was 18. The setting is lovely and the Opera was beautiful, though complex in story line. There were only seven members to the cast, and all but one was involved in various love schemes. While we were at the Preview dinner it started to rain and continued all evening. Though the area is open it is covered and we were dry except when returning to our car, but our umbrellas worked fine. I do not know the amount of rainfall but it was well over an inch for the night. We enjoyed the evening and our first experience with live Opera.

THURSDAY – SANTA FE

The weather forecast was for rain, heavy at times. We decided to spend the day around downtown Santa Fe. First we visited the Museum of New Mexico History and the Palace of the Governors. It was interesting to see the evolution of the settlement of New Mexico.

Browsing Downtown Santa Fe

Museum Building

A Tribute to a Wonderful Photographer

"Mud Coach"

We then visited the Georgia O’Keefe Museum located downtown. This was a small museum but had great examples of her art, philosophy, and life. She was a very independent person and artist and showed her love of the natural world in  a large and wonderful way. These is a quotes from Georgia O'Keefe: "Nobody sees a flower - really - it is so small it takes time - we haven't time - and to see takes time, like to have a friend takes time."
"If I could paint the flower exactly as I see it no one would see what I see because I would paint it small like the flower is small. So I said to myself - I'll paint what I see - what the flower is to me but I'll paint it big and they will be surprised into taking time to look at it - I will make even busy New Yorkers take time to see what I see of flowers."

Our lunch was at the San Francisco Street Grill located on the second floor of one of the buildings downtown. Across the street from us was a group of ladies having a good time and taking “selfies”. I could not resist and proceeded to take photos of them taking their pictures.

After lunch we visited the Basilica of St. Francis of Asis,  and the Loretto Chapel where there is a beautiful spiral staircase to the choir loft. No one knows who built the staircase which was added after the Chapel had been completed.

Basilica of St. Francis of Asis

Chapel of Loretto

Spiral Staircase

Spiral Staircase 2

Then it was time to call it a day for visiting the wonderful sights of Santa Fe.
 

SANTA FE: CHIMAYO and LAS VEGAS

Today we were off to Chimayo and then onto Las Vegas. N.M. We drove through some very beautiful high country with beautiful ranch lands, and small towns. Chimayo is the home of Santuario de Chimayo which is known as a healing site. The Chapel is small but full of history. 

Chapel Entrance

Chapel Detail

The Pilgrim

The Chapel

The town is also known for the Ortega Weaving Company which has been run by the same family for nine generations. Their woven rugs, coats, vest, etc. are beautiful.  If I had not purchased a wool vest at Mule Days this year, I would have been strongly tempted to get one at the Ortega Weaving Shop.

A Storm is Brewing

After a delightful lunch at the Rancho Chimayo Restaurant, we pressed on through the countryside to the small town of Las Vegas. 

The town of Las Vegas has a College, New Mexico Highlands University, and a Junior College. It is also the home of the Rough Rider Museum dedicated to the history of the Rough Riders led by Teddy Roosevelt during the Spanish-American War of 1898.

A Word of Warning

 

Art in The Park

George and Friend with Plaza Hotel in Background

Above the Desk at Plaza Hotel

Tin Chandelier in Plaza Hotel

Located in the town square is a plaque with the proclamation of General Stephen Kearny taking possession of the State of New Mexico for the United States. It really is an interesting read….

We visited the partially restored Plaza Hotel and drove by the  which is a Harvey House Hotel located next to the railroad station. 
 

Las Vegas, N.M. Railroad Station

The people who restored La Posada, own and are restoring the Plaza Hotel, and will be restoring the Castaneda Hotel.

There is a lot of work to be done, and I am sure it will be a couple of years before it is open for business.

Having had a late but delicious lunch we opted to call it a day when we returned to Santa Fe close to sunset.