Blogs from New Mexico, United States, North America - page 83

July 3, Friday We were up a bit early again this morning, although the temps had been very nice the past two days I didn't know quite what to expect the coming day to be. I wasn't sure if we'd hold the elevation or drop down low into the desert temps again. I-40 to Flagstaff, then off the dreaded "Interstate" and on to what was marked as BIA 15. I think this stand for Bureau of Indian Affairs since we were on Navajo Indian Lands. This was a very nice, but very lonely several hundred miles of traveling, and it was all high desert so temps stayed nicely in the upper 80's. We stopped for coffee and a pastry in Dilkon at the Basha Grocery store, and wandered through a major flea market in Window Rock ... read more

Taos is an eating extravaganza, and our plans were no different. We had limited time and lots to do. 1st eating sopapillas at Michaels along with Huevos Rancheros and a fresh green chili sauce, then a walk around the plaza to look for either a coyote or kokopelli sculpture for the backyard like we saw about 20 years ago. Wonder why we couldn’t find it or the store carrying the plate that we wanted to buy more of? After walking off breakfast the sky was so beautiful we had to go down to St. Frances of Assisi’s and shoot some photos. I still haven’t done anything with my China photos so had to delete some photos from the camera card on the spot and make room for more photos. I’d forgotten to pack my poor old ... read more

So we headed to our state capital for a day of fun (it is always a beautiful drive leaving Albuquerque and the SANDIA MOUNTAINS behind). We just don't have that many days where we both are off. So off we went. Our first stop was the PALACE OF THE GOVERNORS. Apparently the oldest public building in the US, but don't hold me to that. All over the States it seems that whatever you see it is always the "biggest" or the "oldest". It's been turned into a museum now so not anything really special, but they did have a room with pictures taken from different periods/ decades from New Mexico and it was great seeing these pictures and being able to see how certain areas have developed over the years (for Christmas we bought a really ... read more

Today was a day trip up north to Bandelier National Monument, with its ruins of cliff-side Indian dwellings and some great hiking. Then, on to Los Alamos, where there is the famous U.S. Government nuclear research lab with origins from the Manhattan Project and mysterious things about the U.S. nuclear weapons program going on. Naturally, not much to see of a secret government weapons facility, but we did go to the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History and there is some great scenery along the way, including a great view of the Rio Grande from a high plateau in a nearby town.... read more

So July 6th was our magic day. It took months of preparation. Lots of laughs and tears. Who knew that a wedding can consume so much of your time. Many a time did we just want to elope. But in the end we got through it and made it to the big weekend. A lot of our friends live all over the place so it was good to get everyone together. Our bachelor and bachelorette parties were awesome. Golfing was awesome. And Nadal beat Federer at Wimbledon just a couple minutes before my bride was to walk down the isle. She looked stunning. The party was a blast and many people were way too generous with their gifts to help us start our new house. Thank you everybody. We are truly blessed and are looking forward ... read more