Travelogue: America the beautiful
New Mexico's Santa Fe and Taos: Nature, Native American Art, and history
New Mexico's Santa Fe and Taos: Nature, Native American Art, and history
(From above) Earthships community buildings
near Taos; tepees for lodging in Taos
near Taos; tepees for lodging in Taos
its oldest neighborhoods. There were no major commercial chains within the city.
The Native American presence was very strong everywhere I looked. There were tons
of shops selling Native American jewelry, fine art, vases, clothing, musical instruments,
and many other things. Even the sidewalks were full of Native Americans selling their own
handmade jewelry and other crafts. When we visited the stately Cathedral-Basilica of St.
Francis of Assisi, we were greeted by a huge bronze statue on the left side of the courtyard,
depicting the first Native American saint, Kateri Tekakwitha. It was a reminder that the
Catholic influence among the Natives was very strong in New Mexico.
A similar sense -- and more -- was apparent when we reached Taos, a community of
more than 5,000 people, well-known as a place of inspiration for generations of artists,
writers, and thinkers. Like Santa Fe, Taos has maintained its historical look and barred big
corporations and commercial establishments from changing its landscape.
We went to Taos Pueblo, an ancient Native American settlement made of multi-storied
adobe buildings. It has been a center of Native American culture since the 17th century and
is a symbol of Indian resistance to external rule. However, today, there is a Catholic church
on the right side of the entry road which symbolizes how the “external” influence won in the
end. The arts & crafts shops surrounding the plaza cater to tourists and other visitors. I got
myself a turquoise necklace and a pair of earrings — my birthstone — for the first time in my
life! And they were specially handcrafted by Native Americans of Taos Pueblo! I also tasted
the delicious freshly baked-Native American bread made by a gracious “grandma” at the
Pueblo.
Driving through the roads of Taos is like driving through a work of art in itself. The
mountains, hills and valleys never looked the same every time we passed them by. The
changes were caused by the weather and various types of clouds that hovered over them
at various times of day. The wide expanse of plains and mountains surrounding the town
The Native American presence was very strong everywhere I looked. There were tons
of shops selling Native American jewelry, fine art, vases, clothing, musical instruments,
and many other things. Even the sidewalks were full of Native Americans selling their own
handmade jewelry and other crafts. When we visited the stately Cathedral-Basilica of St.
Francis of Assisi, we were greeted by a huge bronze statue on the left side of the courtyard,
depicting the first Native American saint, Kateri Tekakwitha. It was a reminder that the
Catholic influence among the Natives was very strong in New Mexico.
A similar sense -- and more -- was apparent when we reached Taos, a community of
more than 5,000 people, well-known as a place of inspiration for generations of artists,
writers, and thinkers. Like Santa Fe, Taos has maintained its historical look and barred big
corporations and commercial establishments from changing its landscape.
We went to Taos Pueblo, an ancient Native American settlement made of multi-storied
adobe buildings. It has been a center of Native American culture since the 17th century and
is a symbol of Indian resistance to external rule. However, today, there is a Catholic church
on the right side of the entry road which symbolizes how the “external” influence won in the
end. The arts & crafts shops surrounding the plaza cater to tourists and other visitors. I got
myself a turquoise necklace and a pair of earrings — my birthstone — for the first time in my
life! And they were specially handcrafted by Native Americans of Taos Pueblo! I also tasted
the delicious freshly baked-Native American bread made by a gracious “grandma” at the
Pueblo.
Driving through the roads of Taos is like driving through a work of art in itself. The
mountains, hills and valleys never looked the same every time we passed them by. The
changes were caused by the weather and various types of clouds that hovered over them
at various times of day. The wide expanse of plains and mountains surrounding the town
(Counterclockwise from top right) A beautiful
rainbow after a gentle rain in Taos; the Rio Grande
Gorge; a picturesque nature shot in Taos; Santa Fe’
s Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi; Taos
Pueblo church; Taos Pueblo multi-story building
serves as residence and shops
rainbow after a gentle rain in Taos; the Rio Grande
Gorge; a picturesque nature shot in Taos; Santa Fe’
s Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi; Taos
Pueblo church; Taos Pueblo multi-story building
serves as residence and shops
(Above left) A batik silk painting class; (left)
art shops/galleries in Taos; Native American
jewelry for sale along a sidewalk in Santa Fe
art shops/galleries in Taos; Native American
jewelry for sale along a sidewalk in Santa Fe
by Heidi M. Pascual
It was a simple visit to my youngest sister Nancy in
New Mexico last summer, primarily to personally spend
time with her, as we haven’t seen each other for nearly
two years. But this visit proved to be more than simple. I
was educated about many things and was awed by New
Mexico’s Santa Fe and Taos communities. It was a
memorable experience that I want to share with you.
Before going to Taos, we (with my sisters Nancy and
Liberty) stayed overnight in Santa Fe, famous not only for
being the oldest capital in the United States (1609) but also
for being the artists’ haven of the southwest. Art studios,
craftsmen’s shops, galleries and museums abound
particularly along Canyon Road, which was earlier
designated as a “Residential Arts & Crafts Zone.” Low-
roofed buildings and houses made of adobe also make
Santa Fe distinct from other American capitals. Its historic
look, I learned, has been protected by the 1957 Historic
Styles Ordinance which kept the traditional appearance of
It was a simple visit to my youngest sister Nancy in
New Mexico last summer, primarily to personally spend
time with her, as we haven’t seen each other for nearly
two years. But this visit proved to be more than simple. I
was educated about many things and was awed by New
Mexico’s Santa Fe and Taos communities. It was a
memorable experience that I want to share with you.
Before going to Taos, we (with my sisters Nancy and
Liberty) stayed overnight in Santa Fe, famous not only for
being the oldest capital in the United States (1609) but also
for being the artists’ haven of the southwest. Art studios,
craftsmen’s shops, galleries and museums abound
particularly along Canyon Road, which was earlier
designated as a “Residential Arts & Crafts Zone.” Low-
roofed buildings and houses made of adobe also make
Santa Fe distinct from other American capitals. Its historic
look, I learned, has been protected by the 1957 Historic
Styles Ordinance which kept the traditional appearance of
| A bronze statue of Kateri Tekakwitha (the first Native American saint) at St. Francis Cathedral |
was simply breathtaking. When we turned west across the great sagebrush-covered mesa,
we were greeted by the Rio Grande Gorge, whose depth, I learned, was 800 feet from the
Gorge Bridge where we stood and took photos. Below flows the Rio Grande River, which
starts at the snowcapped Rocky Mountains in Colorado and passes through New Mexico on its
journey to the Gulf of Mexico. Recreational activities abound in this canyon attracting many
people including rafters, hikers and of course, artists.
Just about a mile before the Rio Grande Bridge is the Earthship Community, and I was, and am
still, very fascinated by it. I saw structures or buildings that seemed buried halfway into the
ground, and considering the recycled materials used on them and mini-solar panels on the
roof, I thought environmentalists would be very happy to endorse the concept. The community
has demonstration buildings for visitors to explain the harmony among and between “solar
and wind power, thermal/solar heating, contained sewage treatment, natural and recycled
construction materials, water harvesting and food production.” I learned that the Earthship
Biotecture concept was pioneered by Taos native Michael Reynolds, who was, long time ago,
chided by an architecture professor as a disgrace to his field. (“Earthship Community,” by
Kevin Shank, taosnews.com/guide) Today, however, Reynolds’ idea has caught fire throughout
the world.
The last two days of my stay in New Mexico were spent in a class learning how to do batik
silk painting, visiting Taos Ski Resort, and relaxing in Ojo Caliente, a spa resort. Gary, our
batik painting instructor, originally came from Chicago and lived for a while in Madison, Wis. It
was such a blast talking to an extraordinary artist who is so familiar with Madison! He made it
clear, though, that he has found his calling and his new home in Taos, where artists reign
supreme!
At Ojo Caliente Resort, my body was pampered at the hot springs and at the massage
clinic. My skin felt perfectly smooth after a full-body mudpack and immersion in the soda pool.
Come to think of it, I have never gone to a place like this before. I truly thank my sister Nancy
for treating me to a day of fun and relaxation. She said I need pampering once in awhile to
rejuvenate my body and energize my soul.
After a week of fun activities in New Mexico, I was ready to face reality once again and get
back to work in Madison. It was a refreshing break and something I will never forget because
it was truly an educational experience and a sisterhood bonding moment at the same time. I
think I want to go back to New Mexico again … to relax and have fun with my sisters again,
and hopefully with my brothers, too!
we were greeted by the Rio Grande Gorge, whose depth, I learned, was 800 feet from the
Gorge Bridge where we stood and took photos. Below flows the Rio Grande River, which
starts at the snowcapped Rocky Mountains in Colorado and passes through New Mexico on its
journey to the Gulf of Mexico. Recreational activities abound in this canyon attracting many
people including rafters, hikers and of course, artists.
Just about a mile before the Rio Grande Bridge is the Earthship Community, and I was, and am
still, very fascinated by it. I saw structures or buildings that seemed buried halfway into the
ground, and considering the recycled materials used on them and mini-solar panels on the
roof, I thought environmentalists would be very happy to endorse the concept. The community
has demonstration buildings for visitors to explain the harmony among and between “solar
and wind power, thermal/solar heating, contained sewage treatment, natural and recycled
construction materials, water harvesting and food production.” I learned that the Earthship
Biotecture concept was pioneered by Taos native Michael Reynolds, who was, long time ago,
chided by an architecture professor as a disgrace to his field. (“Earthship Community,” by
Kevin Shank, taosnews.com/guide) Today, however, Reynolds’ idea has caught fire throughout
the world.
The last two days of my stay in New Mexico were spent in a class learning how to do batik
silk painting, visiting Taos Ski Resort, and relaxing in Ojo Caliente, a spa resort. Gary, our
batik painting instructor, originally came from Chicago and lived for a while in Madison, Wis. It
was such a blast talking to an extraordinary artist who is so familiar with Madison! He made it
clear, though, that he has found his calling and his new home in Taos, where artists reign
supreme!
At Ojo Caliente Resort, my body was pampered at the hot springs and at the massage
clinic. My skin felt perfectly smooth after a full-body mudpack and immersion in the soda pool.
Come to think of it, I have never gone to a place like this before. I truly thank my sister Nancy
for treating me to a day of fun and relaxation. She said I need pampering once in awhile to
rejuvenate my body and energize my soul.
After a week of fun activities in New Mexico, I was ready to face reality once again and get
back to work in Madison. It was a refreshing break and something I will never forget because
it was truly an educational experience and a sisterhood bonding moment at the same time. I
think I want to go back to New Mexico again … to relax and have fun with my sisters again,
and hopefully with my brothers, too!