Jemez Springs - II

 

I really love the contrast of the golden leaves and the dark bark of the aspens this time of year (November). It brings a new life to the otherwise mostly monochrome hills.

Jemez Springs

We decided to drive north to Jemez Springs and have a look about. This is on the southern side of the crater of the ancient volcano on which Los Alamos sits on the northern side.

More Petroglyphs in Piedras Marcadas Canyon

The trails are well marked and roped off from the petroglyphs and the wild desert. As a result, we cannot get close to the stones to see these in any detail or from better angles.

Piedras Marcadas Canyon

In addition to the park along the Rio Grande you saw yesterday, there are places north and west of the central city where one can enjoy the desert. On such place is Piedras Marcadas Canyon where there are hundreds of dark stones that are etched with native american drawings.

Rio Grande State Park

North of downtown is a state park in Albuquerque that straddles the Rio Grande river and provides a quiet place for humans and other animals to gather, rest, and enjoy what nature has to offer. It is a delightful place with the Sandia Mountains in the background.

Just a Few Sights in Old Town

We found it a nice way to get out the house to drive to Old Town for a short stroll and cup of coffee.

Things Seen in Madrid

Not everything in Madrid is converted to a store for selling things or a home for living in. Somethings are simply bits of a bygone era that sit and slowly decay.

Madrid, NM

A trip to Albuquerque is not complete with a drive to Madrid to see all the funky art, clothes, and jewelry. On this visit, there was a bubble machine in front of one of the stores and I managed to catch one resting in a bush.

National Museum of Nuclear Science and Technology - II

One of the exhibits here was a large set of drawings by a soldier, Charles J. Miller. Above is a drawing of the Enola Gay, the airplane that carried the first bomb to Japan.

National Museum of Nuclear Science and Technology

This was a really nice museum, fittingly located in Albuquerque. I suppose it might be better sited in Los Alamos, but Albuquerque is a much more visited city and sitting on the edge of Kirtland Air force Base is also a plus for the museum. It contains lots of exhibits of the history of the US atomic bomb development in New Mexico, the science behind it, and the people and places that dropped it during the war.

There were three star exhibits: reconstructions of the first three atomic bombs. Above the the 'gadget' detonated at the Trinity site near Almagordo as a proof of concept.

Santuario de Chimayo - III

This Chimayo chilli seller is closed for the season. I think it would be interesting to visit when he's open, don't you?

Santuario de Chimayo - II

Photographs inside the sanctuary are not permitted but I believe the more compelling images are found outside anyway. Inside are people intent on their prayers and a small chapel with few decorations. And that decorations and iconography there is, it is largely primitive. Worth seeing but not really something I can turn into a photograph very easily. Certainly not without disturbing the people who take this serious.

In the sunny afternoon, the B&W images begin to take on some of the textures one finds in images from Ansel Adams, Edward Weston, and Georgia O'Keefe. not that I am in any way trying to claim that my images are as good as theirs; certainly not. Just that the appearance of stucco walls under the New Mexican sun looks similar to what one finds in those images. Add to this the strong contrast, the ability to manipulate the light and dark colors in a B&W image and you get a hint of what is going on in a real art image from a true artist. Too bad I'm not a true artist.

There is an old house near the church that has a drawing/faded painting on the side. You can see it just under the balcony. there is something about this old house and its current state that I believe makes a compelling image.

The gingerbread quality of the stucco church set among the glowing aspens makes an image that might have come from a fairy tale or native folklore.

 

Santuario de Chimayo

The small village of Chamayo is known for two things: their chilli and the Santuario de Chimayo. Although we are here in the off season (God doesn't close shop but the locals do), you can still tell that the religious tourists also spend money on chilli as well.

San Felipe de Neri Church

Inside the church on the square in Old Town, we find some intense locations for veneration.

Things to See in Old Town, Albuquerque

In Old Town, there a buildings that are old and filled with character even if they are now filled with chachkies.

Sunset over Albuquerque

As the sun continued its daily journey across the sky, the mountains got redder and the color moved towards the top as the sun dipped below the hills to the west.

Albuquerque, New Mexico

After a couple weeks at home recharging our batteries, we hit the road again. This time, in our trusty Honda CR-V, we headed south and east from Snohomish to Albuquerque, NM. One of the first nights there, I checked out a place near the road where I could get a clear view of the Sandia mountains just before sunset. Above, you can see most of the range of mountains that lie to the east of town. The city center lies well to the right in the photo since we are to the north of town.

The View from our B&B

And so we leave our visit to the Lake Country with a few views of the big industry here (after tourism)...cows and sheep.

Parish Church of St. Andrew, Coniston

In Coniston, we find the Parish Church.

Onboard the Gondola Barrow

The ship we ride in a pretty complete rebuild of the original. While some parts of the original remain, the hull, superstructure and steam engine are all new.

On Coniston Water

The Gondola Barrow plies the serene Coniston Water with passenger rides up and down the lake.

The Hills of Lake Country

Between the larger lakes are small lakes/ponds that add charm to the countryside.

Afternoon and Evening in Coniston

The serenity of this place is addictive. Even looking at this image, I feel I could sit by this lake and be happy even it I never did anything else.

Driving Through Lake Country

I realize that these are out of order, but that shouldn't matter. Before we arrived in Stratford-upon-Avon, we visited Lake Country, as I'm sure all you faithful followers recall. I realized that I have not posted the photos of the drive to Coniston. Driving through Lake Country on a day with clouds floating overhead makes it clear why everyone is taken with this part of England.

Stratford-upon-Avon, Along the Streets

Yesterday you saw Shakespeare's birthplace as a curious building. Today I bring it to you as you might see it, without all the people. this is most likely much harder to get during the season when the crowds abound. Nevertheless, I stood or several minutes to get a view with no one in sight.

Stratford-upon-Avon

Wandering Stratford, I found a few things worth a snap or two. I through this contrast with the little bin with the discarded umbrella in front of the upscale jewelry store to be interesting.

Kenilworth Castle - The Gatehouse

The gatehouse was built by Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, that you read about yesterday in the long excerpt.

Kenilworth Castle - In the Gardens

There were several gardens here, some small such as this one, and some very large. In late summer, we missed most of the good stuff but there were still some flowers to be found.