It all began in the sandbox in kindergarten, many moons ago, when Diana and I became friends. What a marvelous friendship it has been and one that I have cherished for, lo, these many years.
As fate would have it Diana and her family lived in the Carson Valley when I moved here in 2013 and they welcomed me into their fold. It became a habit to watch Sunday Night Football together and when they moved to New Mexico, I invited myself to watch the Super Bowl with them. I wanted to see their new place and get to know their environs. What a beautiful, historical place this valley is. Technically, they live in El Prado, a small community outside of Taos, but they are in the same valley.
First things first. Food! Orlando’s might look like an old Taco Bell or something akin to that from the outside, but the ambiance and food inside certainly aren’t.There is a reason why people line up before the 5 pm opening to get in on the first seating. My mouth waters just thinking about those vittles.This is La Hacienda de Los Martinez, built in 1804 that eventually contained 21 rooms and two placitas (courtyards). The two-foot-thick adobe construction and windowless exterior walls was designed to serve as a refuge for family and neighbors. In a sense, it was like a small fort, containing living quarters, blacksmith shop, weaving room, chapel and other needed areas. La Cocina (kitchen). People could sleep on the platform above the floor area working area.The weaving roomEscarpines (wool stockings), an important trade item in the 1800s. The hacienda served, in part, as a small factory with workers washing, carding, spinning and knitting the wool. The entire process took about 30 hours to make one pair of socks.An horno. The “h” is not pronounced in Spanish. So, we say “orno.” These ovens are in countless yards throughout the area. The same silent “h” goes for hacienda = acienda.
I’m including some websites for those who are interested in learning more about the sites we visited. Otherwise, I would write way too much for the casual visitors. You’ll be able to see more pictures if you click on the URLs.http://www.aztecnm.com/fourcorners/newmexico/taos/HaciendaDeLosMartinez.htm
Another place we visited is the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge. Yes, it’s the same Rio Grande that flows between Texas and Mexico. The gorge is massive and deep, making it a bit nerve wracking to walk out on it. If you’d like more info, click on this link. https://taos.org/explore/landmarks/gorge-bridge/Jim, me, and Zoe on the bridgeLooking toward the Rio’s source, way off in the distance. https://www.americanrivers.org/river/rio-grande/ Looking down 650’Just a few miles from the Rio Grande Bridge, is the Earthship Biotecture area. A very interesting, self-sustaining, off-the-grid community. Google Earthship, Taos, if you would like to learn more. My server wouldn’t let me include their website.An Earthship houseAn Earthship wall. If you’ve visited ghost towns around the West, you may have seen some bottle houses. Maybe those old pioneers were into recycling before its time (except for the tires)Descending into the Rio Grande Gorge north of the scary bridge to see another bridge…the John Dunn Bridge.It crosses the Rio Grande near the confluence of the Rio Hondo. It was built in 1908 by John Dunn who transported travelers and mail into Taos and housed travelers overnight at his hotel near the bridge.Jack and I getting ready to hike to the hot springs a short distance down by the river.Two guys who took our photo. The interesting person in the photo is the dude behind the guys. He had just finished bathing in the hot springs and came up the trail with no shirt on. (It was COLD in the shadows!) Hanging from his belt were beautiful pelts that he had tanned himself (a raccoon and a pine marten that he had named). They were roadkill, so at least we don’t have to feel sorry for the critters. Sorry that I didn’t get a front on photo of him.Jack going down the trail to the hot springs. We had to really watch our step.Man in the hot spring. He said it was about 99º and was quite comfortable. (He does have shorts on in case you’re wondering) I have no idea what those “eyes” or spots are in the photo. They were not visible to us. People left their names on rock even in 1925. The spider to the right is not an old petroglyph.Diana is a docent at the Couse-Sharp Historic Site. I tagged along on one of her tours to learn more about Couse and Sharp as well as the Taos Society of Artists. Diana kept us engaged for the entire two hour tour. There’s a lot to see! http://couse-sharp.org/ https://www.taosartmuseum.org/taos-society-of-artists.htmlDuring a snow day, we all watched “Oppenheimer,” an Oscar nominated movie and that led to curiosity about Los Alamos and what goes on there today. Research labs are still in Los Alamos and military is still present guarding secure areas. We visited the Bradbury Museum that was amazing and overwhelming. So much to see and not enough time. The Los Alamos Historical Museum was also enlightening. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g60730-Activities-Los_Alamos_New_Mexico.htmlJ. Robert Oppenheimer, me, and General Leslie Groves -both primary figures at Los Alamos during WWII.Near Los Alamos is the Bandelier National Monument where ancestors of present-day Pueblo Indians have lived in and around for thousands of years and continue to do so today. The ladder leads to a cavate dwelling, which, I believe, was a natural indentation in the rock and then hallowed out more from the soft volcanic rock. https://www.nps.gov/band/index.htmView from inside the cavate.All too soon, it was time to hop on the plane in Santa Fe and go home. But not, before I captured this sunset view of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains from the Jacobs’ living roomMy thanks to the Jacobs’ hospitality and Zoe’s vitality and love for making this a very special adventureP.S. My little coyote family carved from pine in Taos.
Dear Cora, you captured it all, and by including links to the various places might interest others in visiting our area (and hopefully us). Love, All 4 of us
buzzardnotes 
Dear Cora, you captured it all, and by including links to the various places might interest others in visiting our area (and hopefully us).
Love, All 4 of us
What an interesting blog! Glad to see the Jacobs are doing so well!
My, you and the Jacobs certainly had a lot of adventures. How interesting! It looks like all of you are doing well! Thanks for sharing! Love, ~Connie