Thursday (5/21)  We went up to Taos, NM for the day.   We took a very scenic ride to Taos via the High Road.   Along the way we saw many historic adobe homes and buildings (see picture.)  

We toured the Taos Pueblo (town) which has about a dozen families living in it consisting of approximately 70 people.   The adobe homes in the pueblo are 1,000 years old and are passed down from generation to generation.  They do not sell their homes and consider it a privilege to live in them.  These homes have no electricity, no water and no plumbing.  They use gas lanterns, get their water from the stream that runs through the pueblo and use porta potties.   They have very efficient fireplaces in them but most now supplement that heat with gas heaters.  The homes are very small and require constant maintenance.  The outside layer of adobe (earth, straw and water mixed together) that covers the clay bricks has to be reapplied every year.  Just think, that process has been done for 1,000 years!!!  Most of the people of the village make their living by selling jewelry and art to tourist.  The live style there is very primitive.  

Near Taos is the second longest suspension bridge in the United States (see picture.)  The Rio Grande Gorge Suspension Bridge is 1,200 feet long, 650 feet above the Rio Grande and was built in 1965.  The gorge that it crosses is an impressive site, especially when you realize that it was created by running water.   It is one of those things that you just can't imagine until you actually see it.

Taos also has a Plaza that is steeped in its history and its people.   Tradition and heritage are very strong here.  The Plaza has many nice shops for the tourists.

We drove back to Santa Fe along the Rio Grande which is a never ending display of beautiful scenery.