A Sacred Place - Chimayo and other New Mexico, NM Things to Do Tips

Chimayo is a small town in Northern New Mexico. The first settlers came here after the Pueblo Revolt (1680-1692) for the fertile farmland. The colonists worked the land with diligence, for there was not only the chance of becoming self sufficient through their labors, but the Spanish Crown might provide them with the title of hidalgo and all provide all the perks that becoming a nobleman would entail.

About a hundred years later, (~1810) a local friar was performing penance, and saw a light coming from the hillside. At the sight of the light, he dug a short way down and found a crucifix. Later named, Our Lord of Esquipulas, this crucifix was taken by a priest to another area. Three times the crucifix turned up missing. Three times the crucifix was found back in it's hole in Chimayo. By now, it was determined that El Senor Esquipulas didn't want to leave Chimayo, and a small chapel was built around his favorite spot. He was placed on the altar

Miracle healings began to occur in Chimayo, and pilgrims began to arrive in droves. Over time, the crucifix and it's healing power became overshadowed by the dirt in El Posito, the sacred sand pit.

Known as the Lourdes of North America pilgrims come from all over - especially at Easter. The Easter pilgrims arrive by foot ... walking from Taos (40 miles), Santa Fe (24 miles) and other part of of the region. The walk itself is seen as a devotion to El Senor Esquipulas .. in anticipation, or in gratitude for previous miracles.

Of course, the local native tribes and pueblos have stories of healing from this area that predate the European settlers. The water from stream and the sacred soil are still important to aboriginal healing in the region.

Chimayo estimates 300,000 visitors a year ..... 30,000 of them for Easter alone. It's a bit of a zoo then, but a worthy journey. It shouldn't surprise anyone who's visited New Mexico that where France has Lourdes and water .... New Mexico has Chimayo and dirt :) We are known for our dust afterall!

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Directions: From Espanola, take Hwy 76 5 miles to the Santuario

Keep an eye out for flyers and web postings to find little tiny festivals ... jewels of New Mexico can be found in unexpected places!

I find flyers posted all over the place, and just this week I found one from a little known group doing a Dia De Los Muertos Festival .... I love this time of year and the Day of the Dead is just one reason! When we arrived at the park on the flyer, it looked like a family picnic - but more energenic if that's at all possible :) There was a band, goats wandering about, one vendor, a potluck of vegan food that was amazing, a martial arts demonstration, folks were lounging about painting masks, wood panels and themselves too! The Aztec dancers were wonderful, I actually felt 'the spirit move' me as they called on the four traditional directions as well as the sky and earth. The full moon overhead, while the sun was still up added to our wonder.

Honestly, since this was a little event, I never, ever would have known about it if I hadn't taken time to actually READ a flyer in passing. So don't forget to do the same for yourself ... you never know just what you might find :)

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I have family in Questa, so wander up there every once in a while. The drive is about 3.5 hours northwest from Albuquerque .... you'll need to bypass Santa Fe and past Taos. The drive alone is filled with little New Mexico treasures .... Chimayo, Espanola, Rio Grande Gorge, and other local haunts. The landscape along the route is so wonderful and diverse .... desert, high desert, mountains, valleys, mesas and of course that wonderful red earth.

Questa itself is a tiny town north of Taos. There's a bar, gas station, convenience store - ya' know, all the basics. The wonder of Questa is in the landscape. Nestled in a valley between mountains and mesa the light is so inspiring! I have no words to properly describe how special the light, air and essence are, nor do I have the vocabulary to pass on to you just how spiritual this whole region feels and how it affects one's soul.

So all I can say is ... explore Taos, Taos Pueblo, Questa and those wonderful regions far from airports in northern New Mexico. You will then feel it too.

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While surfing the web, I came across this website. So far, all the info I've personally checked is accurate. I thought those of your browsing through VT and thinking about heading out to the American Southwest, MIGHT like a link to a page that gives more of an overview. For longer trips to this part of the world, there are also pages on nearby states and their attractions.

So click, browse, and enjoy :)

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Website: http://www.americansouthwest.net/sitemap_nm.html

The current itinerary for this tour is to take I40 west. ~45 minutes from albuquerque is Acoma Sky city - bypass the casino there and go to the old pueblo. I usually go to Sky city on the way back to Albuquerque myself .... but you make your own choices :)

After that, continue down I40 to Milan / Grants. From there head south on Hwy 53. On this route you can visit El Mapais Nat'l Park, Ice cave/Bandera volcano, El Morro old school gallery, El Morro Nat'l Monument, Candy Kitchen Wolf Rescue, Ramah Lake, Ramah Museum, Los Gigantes, and then Zuni Pueblo.

After leaving the pueblo, back track a few miles and take 602 north into Gallup to spend the night. The next day you can wander back the way you came to better explore the sights, or wander back towards ABQ on the next leg of the weekend tour ... This is a full itinerary for an overnight trip if you like to get out of your car and actually explore the park trails and such ..... you might need to pick and choose what you explore on Hwy 53, and wander the sights closer to I-40 on your way home on day two. That's why I usually leave Acoma Sky City for the return leg ... though if you are unfamiliar with the native cultures here, taking the tour just might be a better start to your journey.

Decisions, decisions ......

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Petroglyph National Monument is a patchwork quilt of areas surrounded by the suburbs of Albuquerque. These areas are divided into various canyons which have well maintained walking paths to take you to some of the best petroglyphs in the area.

Petroglyphs are ancient scratchings on the local basalt boulders that create designs that were important to the original inhabitants of this region. We can only guess as to the meaining of the work, and the action of performing this work. Was it ancient grafitti? From boredom? Part of spiritual ceremonies? Or a memory album?

I love taking time to wander over here ... it is so close to home, yet feels so far away ....

If it is your first time - go to the visitor center for more information and free materials available to teach you more about the various walks included in this park.

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Phone: 505-899-0205
Directions: Take I-40, exit #154 (Unser) to the North. ~3 miles down on the left is the entrance to the visitor center.

This was an unexpected and wonderful half-day tour! When we were unable to fly our balloon this morning due to wind .... my car buddy and I decided to explore the area near our current launch site. We wandered dirt roads, marveled at quail, jack rabbits the size of my labrador at home, cotton tails, coyote and more .... we found Pinon at a lower elevation than we'd ever seen before ...... as we drove we were amazed at the life in the desert. The rare homestead was passed ...... at the end of the road was the real treat: a view unlike any I'd seen before ........

To find our route, take Southern or Northern out of Rio Rancho westbound. Turn right/north on Rainbow Blvd. Take it miles and miles down the dirt track. Once you get to the trees, slow a bit. Once it gets sandy, get ready for the view :)

To return, you can come straight back down Rainbow, or do as we did and take other dirt roads. The road that finally met up w/ pavement again has an unknown name to me.

As you are returning southbound, and after you pass the relic that used to be a car at the side of the road, look for a dirt road on your left w/ a stop sign. Take that along the power lines until you get to pavement. You're then on Unser. If you go north until it ends, you'll be at Northwest Corridor. Take a right turn, and when that ends, you'll be on 44/550 between San Ysidro and Bernalillo.

Enjoy this adventure :)

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The Balloon Fiesta is held during the first 2 weekends in October and includes the week in between - some years we have over a thousand balloons up in the air at once ..... a beautiful site to see (and photograph!)

By getting there early, and signing up in the crew tent/hut - you can help an out of town balloonist set up, fly, and take down their balloon. You can usually get a free flight out of it too! But to do that, you should agree to help them for a few days :) If you want to check out how to crew a balloon, check out my Balloon Crew travelogues.

I end up volunteering here a lot during Fiesta, between crewing and first aid duties I am exhausted by the end of fiesta and glad it is over! But during those 10 wonderful days of mixed up sleep patterns, I am in heaven. This event brings out my inner child as I gasp in wonder at the marvelous shapes taking flight, and clap my hands together in joy at the fireworks in the evening.

There are beautiful native american ruins, pueblos, nearby hotsprings, and Santa Fe is only an hour away. This is definitely a must see/ must do time to visit.....

BTW- for 2005 the Fiesta begins in September! Check out the website for details ... oh, another hint - weather can interfere and even cause the cancellation of some events. So, try to come for the first weekend if you have limited time. For some unknown reason, opening weekend has the lowest probability of weather related problems :)

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Website: http://www.aibf.org/

Acoma Sky City is a wonderful partial day trip, or a nice stop to or from somewhere else .......... At about an hour from Albuquerque, a little longer of a drive from Gallup ... and about 20-25 miles south of I-40 the location is easy to get to from either directon.

The drive down I-40 is beautiful, and a worthy way to spend the day ....... red bluffs, black boulders, and beautiful southwestern brush frame the freeway .......

You do have afew choices on how to approach Sky City ...... I understand exit 108 will take you down some dirt and rough roads / Exit 102 will drive you right by the Casino and hotel / Exit 96 takes you through some residential areas ..... your choice, but I usually take 102 so I can cruise by the firestation and wave :)

Acoma is beautiful - culturally AND artistically. The scenery is spiritually centering and awe-inspiring. I love taking the tour at least once a year - for each tour teaches me something different about this proud culture.

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Directions: About 50 miles east of Albuquerque on I-40. Take exit 102 (by the Sky City casino) and follow the signs to Sky City Visitor Center
Website: http://www.acomazuni.com/acoma.cfm

The people of Salinas Pueblo Missions left the area over 300 years ago. They where believed to be decendents of the Anasazi and the Mogollon .... native ancestors known to be in the region over 7000 years ago.

These pueblos were agricultural centers and became large cities of stone with large plazas which contained spiritual places of worship and ceremony known as Kivas. Hundred of apartment-like rooms contained the inhabitants of each pueblo.

Early exploration of the New Mexico region ocured during the 1500's. By the 1600's, the riches of New Mexico were considered largely legend. The nearby salt field was considered a great find - but this was not enough to maintain the presence of the Spanish military in the region. Pope Phillip II had charged the Spanish crown with Christianizing the New World natives ... so regional missions were built and maintained at the cost of the government of Spain.

Abuses in the mission system by the local government led to strained relationships between the Natives and the Spanish. Combined with attacks from neighboring Native cultures, and natural climactic changes, these forces combined to create the end of an era ..... these missions were abandoned.

This resettlement eventually led these people down to the El Paso region where the Salinas Natives were assimilated by the Native tribes of that region ... making the Salinas Native one of the few tribes of that era to completely loose their language, land and culture.

I learned all of this history as I scrambled about the ruins on a wonderful summer day. I had only heard about these ruins in the past year, and hadn't had a chance to explore them until this particular day. I loved wandering these old settlements while imagining the lives that were lived here .... I have an active imagination, so this was great fun. The beauty of the area added to the mystery and wonder of this little tour :)

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Phone: 505-847-2585
Address: Mountainair, New Mexico
Directions: The main visitor center for these ruins is located centrally within the triangle formed by their locations. So chances are, you will pass at least one of these ruins on your way to the center....
Website: www.nps.gov/sapu