Not bad for a day's activities.
We ventured out to the Bandelier State Park and began our journey up to the top of the mesa where the Tsankawi Indian ruins lay. There were bits of broken pottery strewn along the work rocky path lying next to sun bleached rocks and fallen scorched trees. The walk to the top was long and extremely difficult to traverse due to altitude and rough terrain. It was a fascinating hike through desert territory. Eventually, we came to the Tsankawi cave dwellings. The caves were carved into the rock face and flowed very organically from one to another seamlessly. The insides were acoustic dreams! The bass notes of your voice reverberated through the rock itself. The porous stone had etchings and storytelling narratives carved into them that were hundreds of years old. It was truly awe inspiring.
After climbing on, in and through them for the better part of two hours, we ran out of water and got severely dehydrated. The main problem with that was not the obvious lack of water in a desert, high altitude climate but the fact that it was another 30 minute hike back to the nearest water source.
Ugh. . .
We did make it (obviously) and recovered from heat exhaustion and dehydration there. Afterwards, we packed up and went off to eat at a place called "El Parasol." It was nothing special. Jay Jones ordered a burrito that was made up of deep fried pork fat. Apparently Jay was not familiar with the growing cholesterol problem in America. . .
After eating, we sailed on up to a place called the "House of Old Things" antique store. This place was incredilbe. We just saw it on the road and pulled over and went inside. It was a house owned by a group of sibling and packed full of really cool stuff. Katie bought some ornate buttons, Jerry bought some antique keys and sewing machine parts he found fascinating, and I found a cool but non functioning antique metronome (I would have bought it had it worked.)
New items in hand, we set off for Chimayo, NM where we visited the El Santuario Chimayo Church. The grounds were very beautiful and full of little shrines adorned with photos, crosses, rosaries and other religious objects of significance. The church itself was the quintessential portrait of southwestern architecture and spirit. The inside didn't allow photos but was breathtaking. Aged wooden pews, an elaborately carved and decorated altar-piece, a carving of Jesus that was something out of a Lord of the Rings movie, and the discarded crutches of healed believers. It even had a courtyard with graves of former people of importance to the church. It was a truly amazing place and I am glad we went there. Mat even painted a beautiful sketch of the place. He said he plans on turning it into a full on MBK painting.
I hope he makes prints. . .
Afterwards, we drove a scenic drive through the mountains of New Mexico and back to the familiar confines of Suitable Digs where I write this as Bob Giova prepares the evening meal of sloppy joes and fries.
Ciao!
Caleb
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