"South of the Border" .... New Mexico, that is!

Heading down to Chama, NM

Se Senor ~ we are in New Mexico!

The train depot in Chama.

The lost art of the telegraph!

... . . ...

A real coal burning engine.  This is a 7 hour scenic train ride.  We started with the "do you really want to go", "I don't care, do you"

We didn't go.................LOL

 On the way out of Chama we discovered this beautiful establishment.  Patsy's Restaurant.

Note the two trailers under a pole barn...........don't you just know that the trailer in the back is the kitchen.

Fine dining at it's best...............Darn it's closed this early in the morning.

Alas, we must pass up this golden opportunity!

Miles of a view. 

The terrain can change every time you round a bend.

Landscape change.

There are rock formations everywhere out here.

It really does look like an amphitheater, doesn't it?

Hazy from the smoke but still beautiful.

You never know when you might find a creek or river but you can tell there is water because the vegetation around it is green.

Loretto Chapel in Santa Fe

Two mysteries surround the spiral staircase in the Loretto Chapel: the identity of its builder and the physics of its construction.

 The staircase has two 360 degree turns and no visible means of support. Also, it is said that the staircase was built without nails—only wooden pegs.

 Legend says that to find a solution to the seating problem, the Sisters of the Chapel made a novena to St. Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters. On the ninth and final day of prayer, a man appeared at the Chapel with a donkey and a toolbox looking for work. Months later, the elegant circular staircase was completed, and the carpenter disappeared without pay or thanks. After searching for the man (an ad even ran in the local newspaper) and finding no trace of him, some concluded that he was St. Joseph himself, having come in answer to the sisters' prayers.

Ok, now is that cool or what?  

Plus a little history lesson to boot!

The walls are really made of adobe.  You can see the grass and mud!  Pretty amazing.

There was actually a service going on so we did not go in.

So many buildings are made from adobe.  Imagine if they had to deal with Tropical Storms and Hurricanes.

The Cross of The Martyrs entrance.

Ok can I be a Martyr ....................uphill, about 115 degrees, and a country mile!

It was H O T!

 Yes, it is steel!  A little disappointing because we thought it would be a very old wooden cross.  Plus who knew there were Mexican martyrs?  

Joan of Arc, Peter, Paul,  come to mind!!