Hi there . . . back in New Mexico. As I posted before, we took the Low Road to Taos because it was faster. One guidebook stated that it could take up to seven hours to do the High Road, so we started out from Taos in the morning.
Since it was October, the roads were pretty empty.
Las Trampas is a small, unincorporated town founded in 1751 and is known for the San José de Gracia Church, seen above. I was stuck by the simplicity of the adobe architecture.
The skies were even bluer than in California.
This seemed incongruous to me, but I liked the colors.
Another adobe church, Old Truchas Mission of Holy Rosary, built in 1764. Truchas, a community started by a land grant in 1754, sits at an elevation of 8000 feet (2438 m.)and offers gorgeous views of the Truchas Peaks:
The settlement was mentioned in Willa Cather’s Death Comes for the Archbishop, and The Milagro Beanfield War was filmed here. At one time the area became quite the artist’s colony, but sadly many of the galleries were shuttered. We were told the bad economy really hit this area hard. I imagine if all the galleries and shops had been open, the trip would have taken many more hours. It went pretty quickly for us.
This reminded me of the Alps so much.
The landscape was pretty varied.
I loved this old ramshackle building with the golden trees and blue sky.
Mountains everywhere.
More cottonwoods.
This is the church at Chimayó, the last surviving Spanish fortified plaza. Some believe the dirt from a back room of the church can heal physical and spiritual ills, and the site has become known as the “Lourdes of America.”
According to Wikipedia, up to 30,000 people visit the site during Holy Week.
The door to the gift shop and cafe where you can buy their famous heirloom chiles.
The Santuario de Nuestro Señor de Esquipulas, commonly known as El Santuario de Chimayó, was built in 1816. It was turned over to the Archdiocese of Santa Fe in 1929.
Near the town of Espanola there was a beautiful grove of cottonwoods.
I call this one “Golden Arches.”
Hope your week’s going well so far . . . .
{carole}
Pearls & Prose 
Ah, that one picture reminds me really of the Alps in Germany, uhhh just got homesick…..beautiful post!!!!
Thank you! I lived near the Bavarian Alps for two years and absolutely loved it. So beautiful there.
Ms. Pearl, every so often you come up with a tour de force. This is one. What a job! Kudos to you.
Aww, thanks!
What an incredible place….I can never get over the scale of America.
It really hits you in wide open spaces like this.
Oh this makes me miss home. The sky is that blue in Colorado. Might be time for a trip.
I love the skies in Colorado too, TBM. And those mountains!
Great images. Now I miss New Mexico even more!
Thanks for the visit and kind comment!
Beautiful landscapes. I really like those cottonwoods but the church with the redish trees in front is great too.
I just remembered that I got the movie you mnetioned somewhere here and haven’t watched it yet. And I’ve got that Willa Cather book too.
Thanks, Caroline. I have been meaning to read that book for years and really need to get cracking. I don’t remember the movie that well, so would enjoy seeing it again, now that I’ve visited the area.
The adobe buildings are so pleasing to the eye. I like the simplicity of the lines and colors. Are those churches still in use, or are they museums now?
I’m not sure about the others, but I know the one at Chimayo is still in use, Jackie.
Your rearview mirror shot is beautiful. Thanks for these stunning snapshots.
Thank you for the kind comment. I’ve really enjoyed reading your blog.