Photos courtesy of Dr. John A. Cottrell, Jr., unless otherwise noted
Pull up a chair, my friend, and fix yourself a cup of coffee or tea. I’ve missed you and want to share not only what I’ve been up to for the last two weeks, but also some lessons I’ve learned while I was gone.
My husband and I just returned from visiting our daughter and her husband in Santa Fe, New Mexico. While there, we took a trip-within-a-trip, traveling south through the high desert from Santa Fe on I-25. For miles, we passed scraggly pinon and juniper scattered across the desert hills and mesas, dry arroyos, and occasional snake-like patterns of green where cottonwood trees lined the banks of the Rio Grande River, or emerald swatches where a farmer was irrigating. South of the town of Truth or Consequences, we exited west onto Route 152, winding our way up and through the pine forests and rugged volcanic rock of the Black Range and into Silver City, a quaint mining town in southern New Mexico.
We stayed two nights at the marvelous Bear Mountain Lodge, just outside of Silver City, where we were coddled and pampered by the hosts and entertained from their porch by more hummingbirds than I’ve ever seen at one time in my life. The lodge had been owned for ten years by the Nature Conservancy before its current owners, so everything about its design and layout and landscaping paid homage to the New Mexican terrain and scenery. Its current owners have brought the delightful addition of color and art into the interior and exterior decor.
After a good night’s sleep and delicious breakfast on the porch watching the birds, we headed north on Route 15, crossed the Continental Divide at about 7,100 feet, and stopped in Pinos Altos, New Mexico. We had eaten a delicious dinner the night before at the Buckhorn Saloon and Opera House, the still-thriving center of this mining ghost town. Even in broad daylight, it was like being in an old western movie set. I expected any minute to hear angry shouts and gunshots and see cowboys stumbling out of the weathered old building, ready for a street brawl.
Driving ever higher up into the Gila National Forest, we absorbed the raw beauty of America’s first designated wilderness area and stepped back even further in time as we hiked the steep trail up to the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, home to several families of ancient Mogollon (pronounced mo-go-YON) natives in the last few decades of the 13th century. The intricacy and detail of the carvings and structures inside these caves was made even more fascinating by the mystery surrounding the lives of these ancient people and why they only lived here for about 30 years before disappearing. There presence was so palpable, I was tempted to reach up to the black soot on the cave ceilings to see if they were still warm from the cooking fires.
After we got back to Santa Fe, we immersed ourselves in the laid-back flavor of that wonderful town, entertaining friends, enjoying our son-in-law’s grilled masterpieces, hanging out to rest and read while they were at work, and just in general, enjoying our time together. One afternoon, My daughter and I made peach jam from fruit off of their backyard tree, stirring forever before it got thick in Santa Fe’s high altitude (about 7200 feet). We happily remembered making applesauce and canning peaches together at home in Virginia when she was younger.
Evenings were surprisingly cool, and often we were reaching for a jacket or sweater. The lack of humidity was a delightful reprieve from the oppressive, damp heat we left behind in Virginia.
A trip to the Santa Fe Farmer’s Market was a highlight of the trip and something I try to do whenever I go. The colors, textures, sights, and smells of that bustling market are just some of the reasons of why visiting Santa Fe is such a treat.
So what did I learn while I was gone? For that, I’ll send you to another post: “7 Ways To Make Your Vacations More Soul-Nourishing.” I hope you’ll be encouraged and inspired by my hard-won wisdom.
To read more about our national parks during this 100th anniversary of the founding of the National Park System, CLICK HERE.
Did You Hear God’s Voice?
I love new mexico i am originaly from chich mexico mom and dad and my three brotheres emigrated to el paso one of my first books was about the native apaches and fell in love with NM my father and mother moved to las vegas nm back in 2006 i took them there when i was in high school a jesuit priest took us camping there and i took my parent there latter and they loved it so much they moved there lived there till two Years ago. Moved them to ok city ok with me and they did not last two yrs and passed away. I even took all my four kids there too and camped out in the same places i did as a kid and three yrs ago i took four of my grandchildren and they also loved it. I miss it went gula cliff and the montezuma castle in las vegas.
Oh my goodness, Juan, I’m so glad my post brought back so many memories for you, but I am sorry for the loss of your parents. But how wonderful that you could share your love for New Mexico (“Land of Enchantment”) with them. My husband and I go as often as we can to visit our daughter and her husband who live in Santa Fe. We try to take a side trip while we’re there to explore all the wonderful spots the state has to offer. A dear friend has given us a subscription to New Mexico magazine, and that makes us feel closer. https://www.newmexico.org/nmmagazine/. Thank you for taking the time to read and write this lovely comment.
Elizabeth,
I love your descriptions and photos. It takes me into my former home there, smelling the pinon logs on the fire, watching the snow fall, slathering cream on cracked skin and yet blessing the low humidity, watching the birds and putting out more food after the squirrels stuff their cheeks so full they might burst, visiting the market, working for the City to set up the Office for the Santa Fe 400th Anniversary celebration. Years of enjoying that “city different”. Thank you for bringing a touch of that back to me and thank you for sharing it with soulful mindfulness.
Oh, Pamela, I’m SO glad it brought back happy memories for you! Be sure to read the next post called “10 Ways To Make Your Vacations More Soul-Nourishing.” You’ll see that one of the items was inspired by you and your anniversary planning.
Thank you Elizabeth for including us in your thoughts about this way of grateful and mindful living.
Pamela, when you put good vibes out in the world—as you did with your love-based anniversary plans—they deserve to be noticed and shared. I was simply passing along the gift you gave to me when you gave me a glimpse into your plans. We all need to remember that these thoughtful, beautiful activities do not have to cost a lot of money. The currency of love, respect, and mindfulness is much more valuable!
Now you’re talking my language! After ten years in the Land of Enchantment, I recognize many of the pictures, places, and plants you mention here. What wonderful, colorful, and enchanting places are in New Mexico?! Hundreds of lovely places! I am glad you took in so much while you were there, E. I feel we have found a new dimension to our friendship – we have shared places, though not at the same time.
We have, indeed, Karen. It’s special to share a place like this with a friend and know they totally understand! New Mexico deserves its moniker “The Land of Enchantment.”
Indeed! And I am so glad I took time to travel throughout the state while I lived there.
Thanks for sharing your journey Elizabeth. It brought back the three times I have driven through some of the places you mentioned. The pictures are lovely so a thank you to John. I would love to go back someday, especially to Gila area.
Sherron, I’m so glad this brought back happy memories for you! Sometimes the memories of a good trip are almost as good as the trip itself — occasionally even better, since we tend to forget the glitches in our travel plans, the blisters, the heat, the indigestion, etc. 🙂
Thank you for sharing your experience. Well written and the photography was pretty neat too.
Thanks so much for reading and commenting, Barbara! So glad you enjoyed it and hope you felt like you taking an armchair trip along with me. 🙂
Sounds like a wonderful trip in the perfect time of the year. Made notes in case we decide to go in that direction!
Yes, it was wonderful! We can highly recommend all the things we did — we could easily have spent another day in Silver City, and of course, there’s Roswell and White Sands not too far away.
I’m so jealous, Elizabeth! That sounds like a wonderful trip. Two or three times now I’ve been in New Mexico with plans to explore the mountains. One year we were chased to the low elevations of the south by a serious snow storm and a couple of years later there were flash flood warnings everywhere. So I still have not been to Silver City nor have I seen the Gila cliff dwellings. I do have a friend in Truth or Consequences, though, so maybe I’ll see those mountains yet.
You would love them, Esther! There had been flash floods a day or two before we came through, because often we saw where muddy water had covered the road or where stream beds had been swollen and mashed down the vegetation. If we go back, we’ll make time for the Silver City Museum and stop at a couple more of the archeological digs in the park. Of course, I’d still love to go see White Sands, Las Cruces, Carlsbad Caverns, and Roswell, so there are lots of good reasons to go back south again.