I’m back in New Mexico, and happy to be here. The light, especially around sunset, is as gorgeous as I had remembered it from last April. Yes, I know, seems like I was just here!
First I had to get out of Colorado, which I did by spending two nights near the border, at Trinidad Lake State Park. It’s a lovely place, and even with only one loop open for campers, it wasn’t too crazy. Well, except for that guy in the tent with the guitar…
I crossed into New Mexico on Friday, bound for friends’ driveway outside Santa Fe. It was a wonderful place to stay, and the sunrises out my back window were beautiful. I thoroughly enjoying hanging out with them, and we certainly made the most of our weekend.
Saturday was the trip to Ghost Ranch. I kind of want to see this area in every season, so I sense there is more New Mexico in my future travels, albeit over time.
Just as the sun was setting, we showed up at the church in Chimayo and it was worth the extra bit of drive to get this shot, and to eat some wonderful food at Rancho de Chimayo.
Sunday, we headed to Winter Market, where there was a lot of looking and a little bit of buying from the many wonderful artists displaying their creations. It was also fun to talk to the artists and share a love of New Mexico.
Sunday, I headed down to Bernalillo, just north of Albuquerque for a few days, to relax a bit and hopefully get caught up on my NaNo Writing. So much for that, I’m still behind, but I’ve been getting some beautiful images on my dusk walks. The setting sun lights up the yellowing cottonwoods and I’m not sure I capture how intensely beautiful that is.
Monday’s adventure was a visit to Meow Wolf. I can’t really describe it except to say it’s a bunch of different visual artists who created a house of crazy wonderful madness. Like you walk into a refrigerator and out into a series of paradise destinations on another planet. Literally. Lots of neon and visual puns and imagination and I loved it. My favorite might have been playing the dinosaur bones, which were like playing a thumb piano only with a drumstick.
And this was the exit…
Tuesday started off slow, with a visit to what must be the busiest laundromat I’ve ever seen. Got back to the trailer, car gassed up and freshly washed, just in time for a bit of rain. The cool activity of the day was the Chinese Lantern Festival in Albuquerque, where I got to hang out with friends and have really bad food while enjoying acrobats, dancers, and, oh, yes, lanterns.
Today, I continue my move south searching for warmer weather. It rained on me yesterday so I am clearly not southerly enough yet!
When you turn around, you’ll see something I bet you’ve never seen before. If it takes your breath away, then you’ll fit in nicely. If you don’t feel anything, then maybe you don’t belong here.
Veronica Randolph Batterson
So, Go South, young woman. (hey, you’re younger than me!). Safe travels and thanks for all the pics and stories.