Colorado: Taos, Canyons, and EarthShips

Here comes what I think is the second to last installment of our Christmas Vacation Trip. We spent a day of our Colorado trip in Taos, New Mexico and the surrounding area. One of the coolest parts of that trip was the Pueblo Indian Reservation. Many of the people who live on the reservation reside in adobe dwellings dating back hundreds of years. They don't have power and their source of running water is a small stream or creek running through the middle of the reservation. They cook in Kivas outside their houses. They make their living by running little shops out of their homes. We got some yummy fry-bread blueberry pies. It was like stepping into a whole different century. After the reservation, we wandered around quaint downtown, enjoying galleries and local boutiques. As we were leaving Taos to head back to Blanca, we drove over a random canyon in the middle of the desert. It was surprising to all of a sudden come up to it. Many cars were parked on the sides of the bridge, so we followed suit and joined those who where trekking across the bridge. After that adventure, we drove past a colony of Earth Ships. Apparently, the one that I took a picture of as were driving was featured on HGTV. These houses are completely off the grid... generating solar power, using rain water and snow melt. They have absolutely nothing to do with the outside world. Interesting...

The Mother of all Earth Ships:

At the Canyon:

Looking down into the canyon. It really was a long way down and the bridge would shake as cars drive across.

The cemetery in Pueblo. The ruin was a church built in the 1700's. The Catholic missionaries built them a new church later on. It was interesting that there were grave markers up in the ruins too.

A Kiva for cooking:

Out in front of one of the dwellings. Each brightly colored door leads to a home where people run their shops. It really was quite cold despite Clay's short sleeves.

I have never been very good at art or painting, but I think that I am going to try to paint this picture. Another one of my random resolutions.