Taos

Vietnam veterans SP

Left the camper at the Black Creek Canyon site ($5/night) and took the spectacular ride to Taos with plans to stay overnight in a hotel in Taos.  We visited the Taos Pueblo and as Maryanne has said this is a somewhat sad place.  About ten Indian families continue to live in this site that has been continuously occupied since the 1200s.  There are one and two level adobe buildings with dirt floors.  We had an Indian tour guide who took us thru the site.  These people got the wrong end of everything from both the invading Spainards and the US.  They continue to try to hold on to their culture but it looks a losing proposition to me.  We saw the gorge and then visited Earthship a community living in housing that is entirely self sufficient.  It was interesting to see how these homes are set up to use only solar and wind power, recycle water and grow food year round.  They look like hobbit houses or something from Star Wars.  We really enjoyed the tour here.  I'm glad some people are working on issues like this even if this project may not be scalable.
Taos has a different feel than SF much smaller and more western surrounded by mountains.  We spent sometime in town walking and like SF lots of art galleries (mostly lost on us).  We had a great stay including dinner in the Sage Brush Inn an old Spanish hotel.
The next morning we drove the Enchanted Circle loop thru the mountains -        lots of Big horn sheep and stunning scenery.  Half way around this drive which is really on the way to nowhere is the most amazing state park - VietNam Veterans SP.  It's a small park that was originally a chapel set up as a memorial for a docotor’s son who was killed in Nam in 1968.  The doctor built the chapel with his own funds and thru sheer strengthof will evolved this memorial site into a place to honor all Nam vets. It contains all things VietNam and has a curiously anti-war interpretation of this war. It was an oddly moving experience in a beautiful setting.  Highly recommended if you come near Taos.  Pics to follow.