Three weeks in the West, part eight
On June 2, we left our camp near Santa Cruz Lake and visited Chimayo. The Catholic sanctuary in Chimayo has been a site of pilgrimage for at least 200 years, so I thought it would be interesting to check out.
I was mixed up about why people go there, though, thinking that it was because of the Virgin of Guadalupe shrine when, in fact, it was because of the soil. Many have avowed that the soil there can heal any ailment. A small room to the side of the church where the faithful go to gather this soil was adorned with offerings, old crutches, crucifixes, photos of children and relatives, and all manner of paintings and collages of Catholic saints and Christ. My Lady Friend brought back a film canister-ful for her parents.
The Guadalupana shrine I had in mind is in Santa Fe.
Anyhow, after our visit to Santuario de Chimayo -- and the adjoining cafe that served some mean vegetarian tamales -- we drove to Taos. There, we took a walking tour of Taos Pueblo and spent some time in the shops (which are also the homes) of the pueblo residents. This was my third trip up there, so I didn't feel a need to take photos.
On the way back to Santa Cruz Lake, we gathered some wood in the national forest ("a long-standing local tradition," my Lady Friend read with some amusement) and then we settled in for the evening.
Ah, yeah, there was also that UFO I saw along the way... still haven't checked with anyone about that. For the record, it was a seemingly stationary, very bright object (at least magnitude -5; it was comparable to Venus) low in southwest (~five degrees above the horizon) at 8:30 p.m. MDT on June 2. It wasn't Sirius, which had already set (and which wouldn't have been visible, even at our altitude). No apparent blinking or twinkling, and it seemed to stay in the same place for a duration of 10 minutes. Thin clouds slowly blew in over the mountains, and that was the last I saw of it.
Perhaps it was an Iridium flare...
1280px version
1280px version
Photos from day seven are here.
Go forward to days nine and ten.
I was mixed up about why people go there, though, thinking that it was because of the Virgin of Guadalupe shrine when, in fact, it was because of the soil. Many have avowed that the soil there can heal any ailment. A small room to the side of the church where the faithful go to gather this soil was adorned with offerings, old crutches, crucifixes, photos of children and relatives, and all manner of paintings and collages of Catholic saints and Christ. My Lady Friend brought back a film canister-ful for her parents.
The Guadalupana shrine I had in mind is in Santa Fe.
Anyhow, after our visit to Santuario de Chimayo -- and the adjoining cafe that served some mean vegetarian tamales -- we drove to Taos. There, we took a walking tour of Taos Pueblo and spent some time in the shops (which are also the homes) of the pueblo residents. This was my third trip up there, so I didn't feel a need to take photos.
On the way back to Santa Cruz Lake, we gathered some wood in the national forest ("a long-standing local tradition," my Lady Friend read with some amusement) and then we settled in for the evening.
Ah, yeah, there was also that UFO I saw along the way... still haven't checked with anyone about that. For the record, it was a seemingly stationary, very bright object (at least magnitude -5; it was comparable to Venus) low in southwest (~five degrees above the horizon) at 8:30 p.m. MDT on June 2. It wasn't Sirius, which had already set (and which wouldn't have been visible, even at our altitude). No apparent blinking or twinkling, and it seemed to stay in the same place for a duration of 10 minutes. Thin clouds slowly blew in over the mountains, and that was the last I saw of it.
Perhaps it was an Iridium flare...
1280px version
1280px version
Photos from day seven are here.
Go forward to days nine and ten.
Three weeks in the West, part eight
mr damon, 06:00
2 Comments:
wow your blog is neat.
I think I will need to check it out every day!
A happy accident how I stumbled upon it. (google search for something)
I once saw a UFO as well. It was over the state capitol here, it was long and neon blue. It stayed still and hovered for about 7 minutes and then proceeded to just RACE off into the horizon. It was shaped like a cigar, it was very large.
Anyway, I just wanted to share, seeing as how you just saw something odd in the sky...
I am so impressed with your website. Just wanted to tell ya.
You can come check out my blog if you like... lately it has been pretty pithy and dumb. In the beginning (archives) there are some original art pieces posted though. Well anyway, have a good rest of your trip, and regards to your Lady Friend!
Just wanted to say that this blog is extremely cool, just discovered it, and will check it out often.
Please keep sharing!!!
Best wishes,
MAD
www.nwowatcher.com
Post a Comment
<< 22 over 7