It has been quite a few day since I began writing this last instalment of
the journey "Go West
Young Man" but was stopped, if you will, by
technical issues with blogger, it seems that the photo upload function has
malfunctioned, much to the frustration of many bloggers'. Therefore the opening
below may be a bit dated by the time this is posted, but the sentiments are
still applicable. One will continue to check with blogger from time to time to
see if the problem has been corrected. Blogger is suggesting that one continues to compose in .html mode, but when I tried to work with the photos in that manner it was a disaster.
In the end, I have completed this instalment posting photos using .html which is rather tedious and fraught with hazards.
Now to this instalment of the blog as it was started.
It is a new year, so HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL - MAY IT BE A GOOD YEAR FOR YOU - FULL OF JOY AND HEALTH AND IF NEEDED, WEALTH in reasonable measures, FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
While we look back on memories of the past we also look forward to future adventures regardless of whether they are fishing trips, canoe trips, journeys of exploration in other places or simple camping excursions, or a combination thereof, perhaps even a simple step into the backyard to work in the vegetable garden.
May I remind those of you that read these posts to click on the advertisers to see what they offer, it is important to them - and may I add, also to me.
We are now going up to the town of Taos, New Mexico, particularly the Toas Pueblo which I first saw late in 1968 or early 1969 after I came out of the army, but that is an entirely different story.
The drive North from Santa Fe is an interesting drive and one of the "must" stops along the way is the little town of Chimayo, well know for its peppers, but really well know for the Santuario de Chimayo.
If you are interested in more information check out these links, perhaps get some seeds and grow your own, make your own salsa. Just make sure the fire department isn't too far away.
As I a deacon I was invited to assist at daily Mass, to concelebrate in the truest sense of the word, by a most gracious priest, Father James Suntum, SF who presided at the liturgy on this particular day. Here are some links to information about the Santuario de Chimayo and also some photos.
First the links;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Santuario_de_Chimayo
http://www.elsantuariodechimayo.us/ this is the Santuario's website and the Santuario looks really pretty with snow on the ground.
http://www.holychimayo.us/ this is also a parish based website. Click on the link at the right "Enter Holy Pilgrimages Website" as it has some interesting information about other churches between Chimayo and Taos as well as some very pretty music which begins when you first go the the link. We stopped at those churches but unfortunately found them all locked. I believe we have a photo of one of them, but didn't bother shooting the others since I could not get inside.
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2168,
http://americamagazine.org/node/148603,
http://www.igougo.com/review-r1373141-Oh_Blessed_Dirt.html, http://www.santafe.com/article/santuario-de-chimayo
I am sure that if you will do a Google search on the Santuario de Chimayo you may come up with a lot more information that is of interest.
Some of the photos on the links look an awful lot like the ones I took, but then those that developed the websites the links refer to will probably say that my photos look an awful lot like theirs, such is life.
As a small side note I should mention that we encountered two couples from the Houston area at the Mass which we participated in on this particular day; a couple and their children, from Sugarland and the other couple from the Woodlands, both couples were on pilgrimages to the Santuario.
Here are the photos;
The Santuario de Chimayo - such a scenic little church.
It brings to mind God's peace and tranquility - Shalom.
The beautiful hand carved wooden altar piece, made in Mexico City
and brought to Chimayo by wagon many, many years ago.
The outdoor Stations of the Cross.
For those of you who are not Catholics (Western or Roman, Eastern Rite, Orthodox, etc.) the Stations of the Cross are a way for people to walk a "spiritual" journey with Jesus during his last days and hours; from the time of his arrest, condemnation, conviction, the walk with the cross to Golgotha, the crucifixion, the gambling for his garments, etc.This devotion really came into its full form during the 4th century when it was difficult for people to travel to the Holy Land and walk the very steps that Jesus walked.
Here are some links that will provide you with much more information on The Stations of the Cross.
http://www.catholic.org/clife/prayers/station.php - on this particular link your have to click on each station and it will guide you to a prayer. Please ignore the political button on this link.
You are most certainly encouraged to peruse other sites with more information about this ancient devotion of the faithful..
The most gracious Father Suntum, SF, on the right, and yours truly on the left right after Mass.
Here we are just outside of the Santuario by the gate.
Norma is collecting some of the Miraculous "Dirt" from the hole in the side chapel
of El Santuario de Chimayo. This "dirt" is still in a container at the altar in our home.
Here we are at the entrance to the Santuario, one of the few occasions that when others take our picture, they didn't cut off our feet.
Norma in the area outside the Santuario on a little path.
One more shot of the Santuario with some wildflowers in the foreground, and my favorite flower standing by the bridge.
Next to the Santuario de Chimayo is another little church, this one dedicated to the "Santa Nino de Atocha". We had to stick our heads in there as well but did not take any photos. Here are some links to that particular devotion;
Then it was time for lunch and across the street from the Santuario de Chimayo was a small, simple restaurant obviously doing some good business with the pilgrims to the Santuario. They had very good burgers and nice cold drinks. The gate at the entrance was interesting, very much Southwest (Cowboy Country for those of you in the other parts of the world) flavor, and as I have stated before, I am fascinated by interesting doors, gates, windows, walls, etc., so obviously we had to have a picture of this one.
As an added note one should mention that in New Mexico, when one walks into a restaurant, among the first questions being asked by the staff is this "Red or Green". If one is not familiar with the custom it can be quite surprising, as in "red or green" what? The answer lies in the salsa served with the chips, red pepper salsa or green pepper salsa, both very spicy. As a result I have attached a couple of links to information about the salsa's, but have never purchased from any advertiser of salsa's nor have I tried the recipes but encourage you to do so.
Enjoy these concoctions, but be certain to have plenty of drinking liquid on hand if you are not accustomed to spicy stuff.
While at the restaurant we did buy a bag of dried Chimayo Peppers, very tasty, and I have used these peppers until I ran out about 2 years ago, so they lasted 4 years. If you are interested here is the name and telephone number of the seller, but keep in mind this information is 6 1/2 years old; C. M. Chiles - Chimayo, New Mexico 505-351-4824. Bon Apetit.
After Chimayo we headed North toward Toas, but along the way stopped at the small churches in Cordova (San Antonio) - Truchas (Nuestra Senora del Sagrado Rosario) - Las Trampas (San Jose de Gracia), but as mentioned earlier we found them locked, so only took a photo outside of one of them, and I can't remember which one, but this link, if you click on the holy pilgrimes tab will show photos of the inside of each little church on the map - http://www.holychimayo.us/
Here is the one photo I took.
The church at one of the small towns between Chimayo and Taos.
The New Mexico high dessert landscape.
Getting closer to Taos, there are now trees and other green stuff.
In the next instalment we will highlight Toas and the 90 mile circular drive.
The POSTSCRIPT - The good Trappist Friars at Chimay in Belgium make a very good beer.
Actually, they make more than one, as well as some very superb cheeses, and when the opportunity presents itself one should partake, in moderation of course, of their craft. What brought about the post script is the spelling - Chimay and Chimayo - probably having no connection at all, but I found it amusing.
This link is a most edifying link about the work of the Trappist Friar's at Chimay.
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