Tag Archives: travel

Desert Odyssey 5 The Ruins of Bandelier

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I would like to say more about these photographs, but I think that any real comments I may have on this exceptional part of the world will have ro wait until we’re back home. In the mean time here are some photos taken over the last few days:

These first images were taken at the Santa Fe farmers market held every Saturday at the Rail Yard. Many interesting venders and lots of variety.

This was my very first tamale. It will not be my last!

Here are two of the Rail Yard itself.

This next batch of images are on the trip up to Bandelier National Monument and of the Adobe ruins in the monument. There’s also some landscapes I took of around the valley where the monument sits.

Rio Grande valley

The last in this group is back I Santa Fe, at the San Miguel Mission. The church was built in 1610, making it the oldest church in the US. 

I hope you liked this bunch. Tomorrow we head up to Abiquiu and Geogia O’Keeffe country. 

Till next time….

Greg

 

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Desert Odyssey 4 More Santa Fe

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Again, I’m short on time, so I’ll have to keep the text to a minimum. I do want to say what a wonderful city Santa Fe is. The climate is cool in winter but city is full of warm hearts. Rarely, do we come across locals who aren’t quick to pass on a warm smile and friendly words. Below are more shots of the downtown area and quite a few were taken along Canyon Road, the art and gallery centre of the city. I hope you enjoy perusing them as much as I enjoyed taking them.

Greg 

Desert Odyssey 3 Santa Fe at Last

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A little too tired to write, but I thought I would pass on some pictures from the past couple of days. Here they are starting with the New Mexico State line, some Pie Town goodies, a little bit of the Very Large Array as it listens to the mysteries of space and ending in Santa Fe, beautiful Santa Fe!

Desert Odyssey Part 2

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YVR.jpgMy father was a bush pilot. I spent more than an average amount of time in the wild blue yonder when I was young. In my early 20s I even had a stint at the controls myself, getting as far as my very own private pilots licence. But that’s where my love affair with aviation comes to an abrupt end. In short I hate flying! But… If you want to see any part of this beautiful planet without taking a great deal of time getting there, you have to buckle down and buckle up. 

The trip was fine, really. I have nothing to complain about, and WestJet is the best stagecoach company in the sky – even though they kept trying tell us they were taking us to Winnipeg instead of Phoenix! And of course, the view was breathtaking, with pillowy soft clouds bellow us for part of the time and jagged Rocky Mountains and deep canyons for the other part. 

Phoenix is someplace I never thought I would set foot in, but I’m willing to give it the benefit of the doubt. We didn’t stay in Phoenix proper, but in the sprawling metropolis of Scottsdale, a city that seems too functional for its own good. We had a great dinner with family members who are very dear to us, and then hit the pillow early at the Best Western Thunderbird Suites.

We went to bed early so we could get on the road early, but what do they say about the best laid plans of mice and tourists? It was one o’clock by the time our wheels finally touched the well used tracks of Route 60 Eastbound. Roads are like the people that build them, they evolve and change as time passes by. Route 60 went through an entire life cycle as we drove eastward, starting out young and highly energetic, full of headlon optimism, slowing and losing lanes like some of us lose hair, until it’s where we are right now, quiet and contemplative with plenty of snow all around. 

Along the way we passed from desert cactus as far as the eye can see to the breathtaking Salt River Canyon, just past fields of fresh white snow. 

Tomorrow we drive from Show Low to Santa Fe, our main destination. I’ll let you know how it goes and try and give you a glimps into what we see along the way…

A Desert Odyssey Part 1

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We don’t travel a lot. Home with the dog, the wood stove, the rain; that works for us. Real homebodies. But we’re not old enough to ignore the BC FerrySiren’s song of a new voyage. So, today we’ve left our little island and are headed South-Southeast to the landlocked state of New Mexico.

Our first day is a light one, our odyssey only takes us across The Georgia Straight to our old home of Vancouver. I miss this city often, imagethough I’m glad to be free of its traffic, noise and unending growth. Vancouver is like a pretty, cranky child in a beautiful crib. You’re never sure whether staying or leaving would be better for body and soul.

Tonight, We’re staying in Richmond, just Hotel Roomsouth of Vancouver proper, so we can more easily catch our morning flight. Dinner out is at The French Table with dear friends.   This little restaurant on Main Street might just be the best in the city. Where else can you get exceptional French cuisine and good humoured grief all in one pleasing setting.image

Tomorrow we fly to Phoenix, Arizona for the second stage of our New Mexico odyssey. The weather is looking fine: mild and sunny. We’ll overnight there and have an evening with family we don’t see often enough; transplants from the island of Maui that have become desert dwellers. After that, we’ll hit the road, driving highway 60 out of Arizona and into cold clear weather, eventually ending up in a place I’ve long desired to see, Santa Fe. I’ll try and keep you informed as we go, along with some fun and funky snapshots for entertainment value.

Take care, all,

Greg