We left Albuquerque on Monday heading for Pojoaque witch is just north of Santa Fe.  On Tuesday we went to Bandelier National Monument. This area was inhabited from the mid 1200’s to the mid 1500’s. Some of the villages here exceeded 600 rooms.  In the afternoon we went to Los Alamos where the first atomic bomb was developed.

Wednesday we went to Chimayo to visit the Holy Dirt Church. This area is know as the Lourdes of the U.S. This Church and the dirt from the spring is known for the healing of many people.  There are many crutches hanging up in the Church. We also visited some weaving shops in the area.

Thursday we toured Santa Fe. Included in the tour was the Loretto Chapel. When they built the Chapel in the 1870’s no one could figure out how to build a staircase to the choir loft.  The sisters prayed to Saint Joseph for help and a mysterious carpenter showed up and constructed the stairs using only wooden pegs. The story of these stairs were also featured on Unsolved Mysteries.  We also visited Saint Francis Cathedral Basilica next to the Chapel.

On Friday we went to Taos and the Rio Grande River Gorge. On Saturday we head for Durango, Co. 

A little snow was falling just before we 

left Albuquerque.

.

 View from the Cliff dwellings.

 View from the Cliff dwellings of the ruins.

We were able to climb  up to some of the rooms.

 Cliff Dwellings.

This was one of five stages of a 140 foot climb.

One of the weaving shops.

Dirt Church in Chimayo.

Doors leading into church grounds.

Bronze sculptures  in Santa Fe.

(Playmates)

Can you name this sculpture?

This is the door everyone went through on their

way to Los Alamos, the secret city.

After dark they would be taken up to the compound at Los Alamos.

No one could know where they were Everyone had the same address;

a PO box in Santa Fe.

 Santa Fe is the oldest and highest state capital in the US.

The stairs in Loretto Chapel after the railings were added.

 The stairs as they were originally constructed.

Learn more about Loretto Chapel.
 http://www.lorettochapel.com/history.html

 Altar at St. Francis Cathedral Basilica.

 St. Francis Cathedral Basilica.

Rio Grande River Gorge.