Jamie and Laura | Jamie and Laura | Travel Blog

North America » United States » New Mexico October 24th 2022

Today we spent the day exploring Santa Fe. We woke up to blue sky, but by the time we headed out of the B&B it was snowing! It alternated snow and sun all day; sometimes we would be sitting bright sunshine while the snow whirled around us in the perpetual wind. Despite the cold we enjoyed our day of exploring and shopping!... read more

Which is famous for its unlikely spiral staircase, which seems to be in place without a visible means of support. From what I understand it is an astonishing display of woodworking skill, built in 1877 with wooden pegs and rudimentary tools..

Our next stop was the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi.

In the center of the arch over the main door are four Hebrew letters spelling “Yahveh” or God. We were told that they were placed there by Jewish people who fled Inquisition Spain to New Mexico, ostensibly Catholic to avoid a gruesome death, but still

Texas Trip Day 23 Pecos National Historical Park, Santa Fe

North America » United States » New Mexico October 23rd 2022

This is the view from our breakfast stop today!

Jamie and Laura

Today we spent our morning at Pecos National Historical Park, and then went on to Santa Fe, where we wandered around Old Town for a while before heading for our B&B for the night. Santa Fe sure is a beautiful city!... read more

Texas Trip Day 22 Wichita Falls, Palo Duro Canyon State Park

North America » United States » Texas October 22nd 2022

In Wichita Falls we stopped at Lucy Wichita Falls Park

Jamie and Laura

When we sadly left our family, we headed for Wichita Falls and on to Amarillo, starting our way back home! We are now heading North and West, after three weeks of heading South and East. The home stretch!... read more

Texas Trip Day 21 Dinosaur Valley and Ron's Ranch

North America » United States » Texas October 21st 2022

Our first stop of the day: dinosaur footprints!

Jamie and Laura

Today we drove out to my uncle's ranch, stopping on the way at Dinosaur Valley State Park to check out the dinosaur footprints. Another great day of visiting with family that we haven't seen in a long time! Thank you so much for your hospitality and the fun at the ranch!... read more

This track was made by a two ooted animal called acrocanthosaurus, a type of carnosaur related to tyrannosaurs

Its feet had three clawed toes. From skeletons, scientists know it had razor-sharp teeth.

The Paluxy River water level is really low, so more footprints could be seen than usual.

Texas Trip Day 20 Jamie's birthday and visit with her sister and her family

North America » United States » Texas October 20th 2022

Jamie and Laura

No pictures today, because I am not posting pictures of folks other than Jamie and myself on this public blog, but Jamie had a fantastic birthday! Brunch with Ted, dinner with her nieces and their families, birthday cake with her sister. It was a delightful reunion!... read more

Texas Trip Day 19 Galveston

North America » United States » Texas October 19th 2022

All of the buildings are on stilts, and many are right on the water. There are areas where the houses are built on canals instead of roads.

Jamie and Laura

We spent the second day of our visit with Ted in Galveston, which is a completely flat barrier island full of interesting seabirds, buildings on stilts, and a fine line between land and sea.... read more

This being a barrier island, sea and land blend, just like the sea and homes blend.

This ship, the Elissa, was launched in 1877.

Texas Trip Day 18 San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, visit with Ted

North America » United States » Texas October 18th 2022

It was really interesting to learn more about the history of this area.

Jamie and Laura

Before we left San Antonio we spent the morning at San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, and then went on to visit with our friend Ted just outside of Houston. Spending time with friends and family on this trip is much better than seeing all the natural wonders!... read more

We chose to visit three of the missions in this park

We were told that all of these missions are still being actively used as churches.

Texas Trip Day 17 Pecos River, San Antonio Riverwalk

North America » United States » Texas October 17th 2022

When we left Big Bend we spent the night in a quaint stone cottage

Jamie and Laura

We left the wilderness of the remote desert to head for the bright lights and big city of San Antonio. It was quite a change of pace.... read more

Surrounded by some really funky buildings in both the property and neighborhood.

That night we got to experience a really wild hailstorm. Hailstones the size of a fingernail, not falling, but being violently flung sideways across the landscape. Torrential rain and lightning so frequent it was almost constant. The worst of the storm on

After we left the out-of-the-way place where we stayed the night, our next stop was the much-storied Pecos River.

Texas Trip Day 16 Fort Davis, Big Bend National Park

North America » United States » Texas October 16th 2022

We stopped for breakfast in a picnic area at the side of the road.

Jamie and Laura

Today was spent in the Chihuahuan Desert, which was a surprisingly vibrant place. I am not a desert person, but I definitely found beauty there.... read more

There was a historical marker there, which is really, really common in Texas. We see them every 15 or 20 minutes as we drove down the highway.

Our first scheduled stop of the day was at Fort Davis National Historic Site.

Here is what it is. It reminded me very much of Fort Worden in Port Townsend.

Texas Trip Day 15 Carlsbad Caverns, Guadalupe Mountains National Park

North America » United States » New Mexico October 15th 2022

We walked down to the Big Cave via the natural entrance

Jamie and Laura

Carlsbad Caverns turned out to be a highlight of this trip. It was awe inspiring. I realize that I have said this about every single one of our days on this trip, but really. On your next vacation, go to Carlsbad Caverns.... read more

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