September 27, 2007

September 27, 2007

Today we explored Taos, NM. We first stopped at the visitor center to get some ideas. From there we went just north of town to the Taos Pueblo. It cost us $10 apiece to enter and $5 more for our camera. Taos Pueblo has been the site of an Indian village for some 1000 years. A young Indian girl gave us a quick tour of the small village and a short history. Taos Pueblo today is a strange combination of historical village, current living residences and Indian craft stores. At least for Aimee and me it doesn’t work. The homes are all made of traditional clay and straw adobe but with modern doors. The few residents living there are supposed to live without electricity or running water. Mostly we walked around visiting the scattered craft stores. They even disappointed us. Aimee found a beautiful beaded jacket she liked. It turned out to be a real Indian handicraft. That is, it was made in India. We left, with both of us thinking we had just made a donation to the local Native American tribe.

From the Pueblo we drove back into Taos proper and had lunch downtown. Afterwards we window-shopped for a few hours among the many craft shops and art galleries. I couldn’t convince Aimee to visit the Kit Carson home and museum. Kit is the favorite son of Taos. Originally born in Missouri he went west to be a mountain man fur trapper turned scout turned soldier.

Back at the RV, I got talking to our new neighbor. It is a small world as he turned out to be a former employee of Nalco too.