2013 2 4 T H - 2 7 T H JANUARY

ABOVE IS THE SUNSET LEFT IS SUNRISE THE NEXT DAY WE HEADED TO SIPAPU SKI AREA

WE MISSED RUFUS... THERE WAS A RUN CALL ROOFUS IS A VERY BASIC HILL WITH REALLY GOOD BURGERS!

MORE SKI ING

SKIING THE BLUES!

SIPAPU1. VERY AFFORDABLE

2. GREAT FOR FAMILIES THE KIDS FUN TO WATCH

3. QUAINT

4. GOOD SNOW

5. MAC AND GARY AND LINDA

TOAST TO GOOD FRIENDS

6. WE MET ALAN AND AMANDA FROM THE AREA

7. MAC HELPS KID GET BACK

TO HIS LESSON

THE LAST DAY IN TAOS LINDA TOURED THE TAOS PUEBLO OF THE RED WILLOW PEOPLE. THE PUEBLO BUILDING TO THE RIGHT IS OVER 1000 YEARS OLD.

JESSE WINTER THE TOUR GUIDE IS IN HIS 20’S AND VOLUNTEERS TO DO THE TOURS.

THIS IS THE OLDEST CONTINUOUS COMMUNITY IN THE NORTH AMERICA

THE RED WILLOW PEOPLE

Are named such because of the Red Willow Plant that grows on either side of the Red Willow

Creek that provides water for the pueblo. Everything is kept as it was a thousand years ago with the exception of propane. There

is no running water, all water is hauled from the river in traditional pots. There is no

electricity. The language and traditions are all oral, nothing is written. They practice

Catholicism as well as their native traditions. They have great reverence for all faiths.

THE SAN GERONIMO CHURCH BUILT IN 1850, IS THE YOUNGEST BUILDING OF THE PUEBLO. IT IS THE HOME OF THE “SANTO VIRGIN MARY”.

THE SMALL DOME SHAPE IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE

IS A BAKING OVEN CALLED A HORNO. THEY BAKE BREAD, PASTRIES, AND LARGE PORTIONS OF GAME, AND VEGGIES

FOR CELEBRATIONS.

THE SANGRE DE CHRISTO MOUNTAINS BEHIND THE PUEBLO ARE SACRED GROUNDS AND HOUSE THE BLUE LAKE WHICH IS THE SOURCE OF WILLOW CREEK. THIS LAND WAS RETURNED TO THE RED WILLOW PEOPLE AFTER 64 YEARS OF COURT BATTLES. THEY FINALLY WON THEIR SACRED LAND BACK

UNDER THE FREEDOM OF RELIGION ACT UNDER PRESIDENT NIXON.

THE ORIGINAL SAN GERONIMO CHURCH WAS BUILT IN 1619 BY SPANISH PRIESTS AND FORCED INDIAN LABOR. IT WAS DESTROYED IN 1690. IT WAS REBUILT IN 1706 AGAIN BY THE SPANISH AND NATIVES. IN 1847 THERE

WAS ANOTHER NATIVE REVOLT. THIS ONE WAS SUPPRESSED BUY THE US GOVERNMENT. MANY WOMAN AND CHILDREN HID IN THIS CHURCH WHICH WAS AGAIN DESTROYED ALL INSIDE DIED. IT THEN BECAME A GRAVE YARD.

THE R IO GRANDE

ABOVE THE RED WILLOWS

WE ARE LEAVING TAOS GOING BACK TO SANTA FE TO DROP OFF MAC