We spent a week in Gallup visiting our friends Bob and Beth McCoy. We had a great week even though Beth had to work all week. Jerry managed to go golfing with Bob a couple of days and I understand did pretty good, although I wasn't there to witness this. :)
While there we took a day trip to El Moro National Monument.
This is a sandstone formation. Travelers from years past stopped there because there was a source of water in a pool at the base of the mountain. As they passed by many of the travelers from the ancient times (about 2000 years ago) to the recent past (about 1920’s) carved evidence in the rock of their passage. It was quite interesting. Jerry and I hiked to the top to a pueblo that was built around 1400 by the Zuni. It was an interesting day.On the weekend we all took a drive to see the First Mesa. This is a village on top of a Mesa that has been occupied for over 1100 years. It is over 300 feet above the valley. There are no pictures of this as they would not allow photos. :( This group of Indians did dry farming of corn low in the valley below. They walked up and down this Mesa several times a day. The Hopi Indians still inhabit many of the homes and still do dry farming. On the far end of the Mesa there is still no electricity, no water, and no indoor toilets. The other portion of the Mesa is more modern with toilets, power and water. Some of the people had Kachina dolls, pottery and bread called Pita. One woman invited us in and we purchased bread from her. It is quite unusual, very flat, thin and very flaky. Very strange bread. They make all this from their ovens outside so we had to try it.
Well we moved on to Santa Fe. Jerry had never been there. We had to see the Capitol of this state.
It was a very plain round building. This was to imitate the shape of the Sun. It was not very old, built in 1966, but did have some nice art work inside.We ate at a great restaurant, Marias, twice. We walked all through the town, visiting the Loretto Chapel that was built in 1870. They say that this Chapel was built with a design flaw.
There was no way for the choir to get to the loft. This was not unusual back then because the men usually had a ladder to get up and down. The problem with this was that this was operated by Sisters and they could not get to the top. The way the story goes is that many carpenters were called in but because the loft was so high a staircase would take up too much room in the chapel below. They said either rebuild the balcony or use a ladder. It seems that the Sisters asked guidance from Saint Joseph the carpenter. Well, as the legend goes on the ninth day a mysterious carpenter arrived to design a circular staircase. He only had a saw, square, hammer and tub to soak the wood in. When the staircase was completed the carpenter disappeared without payment. Today that staircase stands 33 steps to the top and 2 full 360 degree turns. It has no center support and it is not held by the sides. Initially built without railing. I understand that many carpenters today do not know how this is possible.We also saw the Basilica of St. Francis a beautiful church built in 1886,
and the oldest church in the United States built in 1610.
The following day we took a drive to Chimayo. The church in this town is considered holy by many of the residents.
There is a “sacred sand pit" that continues to have dirt no matter how much is removed. Many people have claimed to have been cured of diseases, infirmities and unhappiness. Well we could have spent more time here but we moved on to Texas to get our drivers license. After spending a couple of day there we breezed in and out of Oklahoma City.
We arrived at 5 PM as I was talked to my friend Denise. She said you should go see my Nephew he plays Blues and has a gig tonight.
We settled in quickly went and had a Johnnies burger (yum) then drove to her moms house before we went to the concert. Wow! Garrett is great. I am so glad we went event though we were beat from driving all day. Denise’s mom is a gem and we loved her sister and brother-in-law.The following day we went to the Oklahoma City Fair. This was nice and we spent our share of money needed for the economy in this area.
Finally we went to the Capitol. The roads are by far the worse in the country but the Capitol is one of the top three.
The building was beautiful as was all the art work. The Capitol was built in 1917 but the dome on top was not completed until 2002. I feel like we have been on a roller coaster here. Our last visit was to the Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial.
It was done very nice. We tore through the museum because we needed to be out of our RV site by noon. We really need to go back and spend a couple of weeks here. It is a nice city and a lot to see. More to follow after our next stop.
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