Drove to Santa Fe to be touristy and to see Loretto Chapel. This has been on my list for a long time. Don Krch expressed interest in it and the "Miraculous Stairs" so we made a point of going.
The building style of Old Santa Fe is the Adobe look. Actually it is a common style through out this area. Adobe is also the color of choice. Everything looks the same. Blocks of reddish brown buildings with rounded edges and flat roofs. Houses, condos, banks, stores, government buildings, rest stops, everything is the same style and color. My impression of Old Santa Fe is Old Town Auburn in reddish brown stucco and selling expensive jewelry instead of antiques.
Loretto Chapel is a couple blocks from central square behind a huge Santa Fe Inn (reddish Adobe style naturally). Almost miss it except it is different building style (it is a church). It is now privately owned and a small admission is charged. I will not go into the story of the stairs here. The story is easily researched. We took a number of pictures of the stairs and inside the chapel. Here are a few. The rest will be posted in a while.
The alter, etc.
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The stairs. Note lack of center support pole.
More stair picts.
The entire length of this building had Native Americans sitting every 5 feet selling crafts (jewelry, pottery, etc.) This was only place we saw actual artisans. All the stores were very upscale and expensive. The central square is to right off camera.
From Santa Fe we headed for Bandelier National Monument.
Bandelier is a preservation and partial restoration of ancient dwellings. We spent several hours and covered several miles in seeing many of the housing sites. Lots of fun to see. I will include a few pictures and add more decsription later.
Large Kiva (Cerimonial/community house/room)
Remains of Tyuonyi village. This was a whole community unit with over 400 rooms, central square, several kivas, storage, etc.
Here is what it looked like at its prime.
Other dwellings were in holes worn in the sides of canyon wall.
Inside of above dwelling looking out.
Exiting
Another village area consisted of several hundred yards of eroded 'caves' with two story stone structure built below and in front of them.
Line of holes in canyon wall mark level of first and second floor ceilings. Holes were support for wooden poles that structural basis of ceiling/floor.
Will post more later. Time for bed. Move in to Rally tomorrow.
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