After leaving Taos and the Taos Pueblo we decided to do a drive called the 90 mile loop in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains (for those of you that do not speak Spanish it means "Blood of Christ"). This drive is basically a loop and along the way there are a few sights of interest, but since we had not researched this at all we most likely missed a few or more than a few. We drove the loop in a counter-clock wise direction.
(c) www.taosrealestatebrokers.com
This drive is also called New Mexico's Enchanted Circle http://www.onroute.com/drives/drives_enchantedcir.html
The link below is of driving tours in and out of Taos and the surrounding area.
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/taos/0154010025.html
The first area one comes up to is the town of Angel Fire famous for the ski resort of Angel Fire. Since our trip was in the month of July we didn't pack any skies, believing the temperatures would surely have turned any snow into water at this time of the year; we were right, but during the proper time of the year this is a much sought after ski area.
http://www.angelfireresort.com/
You may choose to follow the Angel Fire blog: http://angelfireblog.com/
And a link to some nice pictures of the ski area with lots of snow:
http://www.gottagoitsnows.com/skiareas/1100pictures.html
A winter view down the mountain side to Angel Fire, the area covered in snow
is the area I mention above without any vegetation (c) www.destinations360.com
One would recommend that this you use this business to book your next ski vacation.
One would recommend that this you use this business to book your next ski vacation.
Just up the road a bit is the little village of Eagle Nest situated on a nice lake with mountains all around, very scenic indeed. One wonders were Hr. Hitler got the idea for the name of his strong hold in the Bavarian Mountains, could it have been from here?
I have taken the liberty of borrowing a few pictures, after obtaining permission from the owners of the varous photos, all photos can by doing a search on bing.
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| The entrance to Eagle Nest (c) www.angelfirehomes.com used with permission  A view of Eagle Nest Lake (c) www.angelfirehomes.com used with permission |
A very tranquil scene with the mountain, the lake and the bovine, an Alpine Meadow.
(c) www.flickr.com
The faithful Subaru Forester in front of Eagle Lake at Eagle Nest (my photo)
After Eagle Nest we continued through the communities of Red River, it would appear that one can fly fish, go white water rafting on the Red River as well as ski in the same area, though it is not recommended to do both in the same time period of the year.
The town of Red River has a website which will link to other sources about information regarding this particular community http://www.redriver.org/
The next town is Questa, originally named San Antonio del Rio Colorado, or Saint Anthony of the Red River http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Questa,_New_Mexico, again the photos are from the web. I regret not having done more research on these small towns, because they are worth a trip just dedicated to each. Questa is home to Saint Anthony Church http://www.laplaza.org/government/questa/
Unfortunately I never received the needed permission to use the photos of the church, so google "san antonio of the red river nm and you will find some photos.
After Questa come the town of Arroyo Hondo, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arroyo_Hondo,_New_Mexico
Arroyo Hondo was / is home to a large Pueblo, an important archeological site dating from the 14th century. Had we known this when we were there we would have stopped and investigated. Such is the result when one does not do one's home work. Again the photos are from the web and not my own.
Once again, after waiting patiently and repeated emails I have not recieved permission to use the photos available of the old pueblo ruin excavations. Again, do a google and you will find many photos and interesting reading.
The Elizabethtown (ghost town) is located between Angel Fire and Eagle Nest.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabethtown,_New_Mexico
It appears that the history is quite colorful http://www.legendsofamerica.com/nm-etown.html
http://www.texasescapes.com/NewMexico/Elizabethtown-New-Mexico.htm
Some very good photographs of the Old Elizabethtown can be found at
The town of Red River has a website which will link to other sources about information regarding this particular community http://www.redriver.org/
This photo is the property of (c) www.ehow.com
Unfortunately I never received the needed permission to use the photos of the church, so google "san antonio of the red river nm and you will find some photos.
Arroyo Hondo was / is home to a large Pueblo, an important archeological site dating from the 14th century. Had we known this when we were there we would have stopped and investigated. Such is the result when one does not do one's home work. Again the photos are from the web and not my own.
Once again, after waiting patiently and repeated emails I have not recieved permission to use the photos available of the old pueblo ruin excavations. Again, do a google and you will find many photos and interesting reading.
In addition to the pueblo, it appears that in the latter part of the 1960's, Arroyo Hondo attracted
a number of those who opposed the corporate world, those who opposed the Vietnam War and those who basically had enough with the "keeping up with the Jones's" society. Some made their way to Arroyo Hondo and established a "commune" there. For some odd reason I missed that commune when I was camping in the area in late 1968 or early 1969, decompressing from the war.
Making adobe bricks and building main house at New Buffalo Commune, Arroyo
Hondo, New Mexico 1967 © Lisa Law / http://flashingonthesixties.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabethtown,_New_Mexico
It appears that the history is quite colorful http://www.legendsofamerica.com/nm-etown.html
http://www.texasescapes.com/NewMexico/Elizabethtown-New-Mexico.htm
Some very good photographs of the Old Elizabethtown can be found at
Legends of America, http://www.legendsofamerica.com and the owner is a Kathy Weiser.
Go to all the links above for more information about the small villages.
On our way back through Taos and Santa Fe the sun is beginning to set in the mountains, and the shadows look interesting.
Day is done (almost) and shadows begin to fall.
Along the road was the river, and it seemed an appropriate time to sit and relax our backsides for just a bit before it really got dark. This is somewhere between near Questa, and the river, if memory serves me correctly, is the mighty Rio Grande.
There is still a bit of sunlight left in the day.
Thus ended another fine day with arrival back at our hotel in Santa Fe. Tomorrow we head out for the Four Corners area via Los Alamos, Aztec Ruins and will use Farmington as a base.
More to come in later posts and if the advertisers have anything to offer that interests you, please do click on their links.
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