46.6/13 The High Road from Taos to Santa Fe

SAN FRANCISCO DE ASIS

We begin our journey on the “High Road” as opposed to the main Interstate highway, the “River Road”. At the edge of Taos is one of the most painted and/or photographed buildings in New Mexico, San Francisco de Assisi Church built in 1816 by the Rancho de Taos colony; it was made famous by Georgia O’Keeffe’s paintings and Ansel Adam’s photographs.


THE CHURCH IN THE MIDDLE OF A CLEAN-UP

Here is a puzzle. Which is the real San Francisco Church? We happened to come when the parishioners were replastering and repainting the Church. Fortunately the workers took a lunch break while we were there so we were able to get some shots. like the second picture.

THE REAL SAN FRANCISCO DE ASSISI CHURCH

Photoshop to the rescue! With a couple of hours of adjustments to the pixels of the original image we have the third picture.


THE REAR OF THE CHURCH

As you can see from the pictures, the Church has massive walls and buttresses which make for photographic fun, showing the hugh butt (tresses)…

LOOKING UP

and odd angles of the walls.

SAN JOSE DE GRACIA

The village of Las Trampas contains one of the finest surviving 18th century churches in New Mexico. Laurent Martrès says, "a masterpiece of adobe architecture built in 1776—a must for photographers."

SAN JOSE CHURCH IN LAS TRAMPAS

THE VILLAGE OF TRUCHAS AT 8,600 FEET

The High Road winds its way along and through the Sangre de Cristo Mountains at elevations up to 8,600 feet.

CHAMAYO VILLAGE WITH SNOWY SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS

THE SANTUARIO DE CHAMAYO

After a search through the alleys and byways of the spead out village of Chamayó, we found the Santuario de Chamayó.

THE SANTUARIO ATTRACTS PILGRIMS FROM AFAR

On certain feast days such as Good Friday, as many as 30,000 pilgrims gather in the tiny plaza in front of the Chapel. A room has the walls lined with castoff crutches and braces.

We spent the night at a BLM campground on Santa Cruz Lake near Chimayó and proceeded on to Santa Fe.

When we arrived in Santa Fe, we found another St. Francis of Assisi…(to be continued.)