Getting to Taos - Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, Earthships, Church

 We decide to take the high road to Taos (long but good views).  We had meant to stop along the way a couple times but ended up having a little trouble.  We missed signs and started following this truck (lower right hand corner) on this dirt road past houses and farms.  It's really hard to see but on top of the truck that dark spot right on the mountain is a dog!  He jumped right up from the back of the pickup onto the top of the cab as the truck was driving and just stayed there!!  Speaking of dogs, we also thought we were going to be attacked by random savage dogs.  You would try to drive by one and it would run out in front of the car and start jumping and barking.  It was crazy!  Finally the driver the truck pulled over and motioned us forward to tell us we were going in the wrong direction.  Needless to say, we took the shorter low road home and thought the views were just fine!

 Rio Grande River - we saw the river at various places all throughout the trip

 Here we are at the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge - longest suspension bridge in the US (or something like that)

 Earthship...you too can buy one of these babies for $400,000.  There are populations of earthships all over the US but the largest one is here in New Mexico.  We got to see it.  Unfortunately, we couldn't take a tour of one because the visitor's center was closed for a conference.

Electricity: from sun and wind.
Water: from rain and snow.
Sewage:sanitary treatment.
Heating and Cooling:
from the sun and the earth.
Food: grow inside and outside.
Building with Natural and Recyled Materials

 Church made famous by Georgia O'Keefe - apparently she painted in a way that no other had done before her.  We made it a few minutes before the supposed 4pm last showing of a video and a painting where an image appears out of nowhere...but when we got there the doors were locked and other visitors couldn't get in either....hmmm...we'll save that mystery for another time.

 A random textiled sheep in Taos

One of the murals in Taos.  Huge artist community here founded after a guy broke his wagon wheel and was awed and inspired by the indians and beauty at Taos Pueblo.