Orenda Ayashe

Minutes from my hotel on the outskirts of downtown Santa Fe is this amazing interactive art center. Here's the Youtube link to a great video posted by another visitor: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=coNMkLYvHns

Wouldn't want to meet this guy in a dark alley! This spider, a 20' red robot and a 15' wolf adorn the parking area, welcoming all who dare to enter.

These were part of a mastadon in a cave. Drumming the ribs makes music! A nice couple who were in there offered to take this pic. :)

This photo was taken on the second floor. There are 70 rooms & I'm not sure I saw them all. A reason to go back. (The nick name of this establishment is called the House of Eternal Return...)

Blocky colors captured my attention as I found this in one of the corners.

This room was done in a "creepy" 1930's theme.

Ahh, no hands! Perfect since he was pretty darned tall!

Black lights provided an other worldly glow to many of the spaces and hallways.

This part was made to look like a space station! I loved how light colors changed everywhere!

Lit shaped cut-outs in the space station walls. I want that! :)

I climbed through a hole and found myself here in a forest with pillowed floors!

Gotta love the pink. Cocktail lounge anyone?

You can't get more "Santa Fe" than this! After Meow Wolf I walked to Georgia O'Keefe museum a few blocks from the hotel. I admired the old buildings' details.

The shapes and colors are so much a part of the Earth yet basic. No frills on adobe style.

Santa Fe has many small welcoming gift shops, galleries and eateries. It's a sleepy, walkable little town.

This pic was outside the museum on my way in. Photos inside weren't permitted.

Saw this on my way to Chimayo, so I pulled over to shoot this pic.

A very old and beautiful chapel with large grounds.

I thought he belonged to the gift shop lady but later learned someone dropped off this dog with a lame back leg. It accompanied me from the chapel all the way to the Seven Crosses where we hung out together for a while.

Inside the chapel felt very soothing. I was honored to scoop up some "healing dirt". See video for more on that.

Yet another Texan couple offered to take a few pix. I met many people from Texas and New York who were either visiting or had transplanted themselves to the Land of Enchantment!

An artistic photo, one of my favorites.

Clouds and sun took turns out here and when the sun shown this way on the crosses it was perfect. Behind the crosses is a stream which runs along the back of the property.

Many visitors bring their rosaries to hang on the statues of the saints.

t sort of felt like walking in Heaven. Sanctuario de Chimayo is beautiful and feels good too.

There were statues devoted to Saints honored by other cultures which I think is awesome.

Back to Santa Fe I enjoyed watching the sky change.

Blue, green, tan, cream, gold. The landscape in New Mexico is very dynamic.

I saw this place earlier and liked the menu so returned for dinner and...you guessed it a Margarita!

I had al fresco all to my selfie, as a function was going on inside.

This was Adobo-grilled local pork tenderloin in a wonderful sauce with garbanzo. It came with a side of creamy chili-corn. This was Super!

Lavender Flan topped with popcorn. Paradise on a spoon folks! :)

The 2 places I wanted to visit were within a few miles of eachother. This was the first location.

A beautiful sight from the parking area and needs to be walked to.

This gorge is immense and deep! The bridge is VERY high. Heights don't bother me but bridges occasionally do!

So yeah, I opted out of trekking this. Not even a third of the way. As a truck zoomed across the bridge and vibrations shook it...nnno.:)

A leading community which builds planet-friendly homes in unique ways!

Tours around the still developing neighborhood ended when tourists inadvertently walked in on current residents.

Living in a house that has solar / wind and recycled everything. With an indoor green house to boot. This particular home looks like a movie set for sci-fi! Speaking of sci-fi I didn't detect the Taos Hum but here's a link explaining what that is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGHe7rdq0Ds&feature=youtube

I'm standing on the roof of the "model" structure. Next to me is the spire which is made partly of glass bottle bottoms. Sunlight filters through these creating colored light & heat indoors.

Stopped here for a meal on my way back to S.Fe & was delighted with a decent 4 courses for $15. Lovely place with live country western singer.

Enjoyed Deco salamanders on the lavatory doors! Classy and rustic!

Nice service, portions and presentation. Happy & full in a cozy welcoming atmosphere. I recommend Old Martina's when in Taos!

In New Mexico (and Arizona) I appreciate the art that is seen on the overpasses and along the side of highway infrastructure. It's a nice surprise and also calls out the pride these cities take in their local culture.