2017 Western Trip - Day Three

This was a day of contrasts.  Early in the morning, as we were having breakfast, it began to snow!  Since it was light we took a chance to drive out to see the Rio Grande bridge, spanning a huge chasm through which to river flows.  By the time we reached the bridge it was snowing hard, so we had no choice but to turn back.

What to do?  We decided to visit the Millicent Rogers Museum, an amazing place that started with Ms. Rogers' jewelery collection, but expanded to include American Indian textiles, Hispanic art (including pottery by Maria Martinez) and Mexican religious art. It was worth the visit and by the time we were finished, the precipitation was beginning to disappear.

So next we decided to take in the City of Taos' Lilac Festival. Many vendors in the outdoor setting were there, but without many customers.  Picking up a cappuccino we started walking around the old town, where we found many small art galleries, specialty shops and restaurants.  We found a Trolly Tour outlet and decided to take it.  Good choice!  The tour included many things we had wanted to see.

First stop was the Taos Pueblo, home of the Taos Pueblo tribe for more than a thousand years.  There we heard the unhappy history of the interaction between native Americans, the Spanish, and Europeans that took place up to the 19th century. We saw the adobe homes and learned how they are built and continually maintained, patching the adobe a couple of times a year. Jan is pictured in front of the village's Roman Catholic church.

The final stop was the Church of St. Francis in Taos, made famous by Georgia O'Keefe's paintings.  By this time the sun had come out in full force to warm us nicely.  After finishing the tour we drove back to the Rio Grande bridge, this time to get some excellent photos.

Tomorrow we will leave for Valles Caldera National Preserve (the newest national preserve), then to Jemez Springs.  More to come...