"Fantastic Skiing & Fascinating Cultural... " a Taos Travel Page by aussiedoug

Unfortunately we didn't spend enough time in the village of Taos itself as we only visited on the way through to Taos Ski Valley for a week's stay and then a morning on our way back through after the skiing.

I do know it is a fascinating cultural historical mix. This is what I find so interesting about the state of New Mexico. The hispanic influence from it's first European settlers, I think before the Mayflower etc up in New England. But even before that the interesting mix of both Peublo dwelling Native Americans and the proud different groups of Apaches.

Not to mention a bit of the old "Wild West". I loved the story of Kit Carson during the Civil War. How he got so fed up with the Union flag being torn down that he led a group to cut down a real tall tree then fixed the flag & organised guards around to ensure it stayed where he believed it belonged - flying over Taos!

Then of course we could move onto the writers & artists that have also helped keep this town in the public eye over its history.

So despite all that we basically just went skiing. That means I just have to come back one day & see all this real interesting stuff.........., and MAYBE, JUST MAYBE HAVE ANOTHER SKI AS WELL!

What a great name for a mountain range, that stretches north to meet the Great Rockies. "Sangre de Christos". The original Spanish name for the mountains around Taos (& Santa Fe too) which as stated above is literally translated as the Blood of Christ. This name was given apparently because of the sunsets over the mountains made the Spaniards think of just that. And we thought those Spaniards were just boring old Gold hungry conquistadors! No, that's real passion! What a great name for those mountains. And the amazing thing is that many of these old time Spaniards ultimatley became farmers in the Rio Grande valley.