Seeing New Mexico: Chimayo to Taos

by Tim May

There are two ways to travel from Sante Fe to Taos. One is through the Rio Grande Gorge and the other is called the High Road. This collection of images was taken on a trip along the high road from Chimayo to Taos which travels through many small villages and wonderful vistas on the way to Taos. The collection of pictures starts out with pictures from Chimayo which is called the "Lourdes of America" because of the supposed healing power of the chapel in the plaza. Believers make an Easter weekend pilgrimage to this village. ... (more)

Santuario de Chimayo
This church is the center of the plaza in Chimayo. There is a room to...

Forms

Leona's Window
Right next to the chapel is an open air restaurant famous for its...

Chapel Steeple
This chapel is referred to as the "Lourdes" of the United States.

Under Eaves Mural
Across from the chapel gift shop and under the eaves of the room above...

Belfry Bird
On the Northern edge of the plaza is another chapel. This belfry is for that...

Nesting
I wonder if the birds fly out of the belfry when the bell rings?

Structures
This structure of walls is next to the smaller chapel.

Defacing Visitors
Some people need to leave a mark where they visit. My mother always said,...

Nature's Structure

La Virgen de Guadalupe
Chimayo's roots are with Mexico. Images of the Virgin of Guadelupe...

"Chimayo Holy Chili"
There are many stands and shops around the plaza. They are famous for their...

Furniture
This luscious blue gate opens to a shop.

Spans
Man-made and natural spans.

Bienvenidos
This wall welcomes you into the plaza.

Wheel of Patriotism

Off the Hub
I found this interestingly decorated house on a side street up from the plaza.

Madona in the Window
You are allowed to take pictures inside the Santuario de Chimayo, but...

Angles and Context
The hills in the background provide a context for the chapel.

Sentinel
Here, a bird watches over the sanctuary.

Belfry Detail
A close-up of the bell in the tower.

Landing and Takeoff

Destruction
One of the trees around the parking lot was being eaten by tent...

Sacred Sand
This sand is believed by many to have curative powers. It is in a small room...

Chapel Detail
There is, for me, a strong Native American motif to this cross.

Lourdes of America
Pilgrimages to the Santurio do Chimayó occur every Easter...

Our Lord of Esquipulas
A miraculous crucifix of Our Lord of Esquipulas was found in 1810. The...

Commercial Jesus
Sometimes it is hard to separate the religious from the commercial in the plaza.

Heartfelt
This roadside cross is on the high road to Taos.

Red, Yellow and Blue
The weeds are slowly winning back the land.

Peeping

Mission Church Steeple
This steeple is on a church in the village of Truchas.

Hollyhock
The curve of the shadow on the wall of the church creates a wonderful...

Sky and Steeple

Drama
A glorious New Mexico sky and lush sunflower.

Fencing
The Nuestra Señora del Sagrado Rosario Mission Church is framed...

Our Lady of the Rosary
The Nuestra Señora del Sagrado Rosario Mission Church is...

Entwined Glory

Nuestra Señora del Sagrado Rosario
The church sits behind the main street in the village. The village is...

For Rent
In Truchas we took a wrong turn and discovered this chapel. It is both...

Distant Acequia
A system of aqueducts was, and is, crucial to New Mexican life. This...

Water-Carrying Wood
I found myself wondering how long a log lasts as a pipe.

Sieze the Day
This plant has taken hold in the connection of the two logs.

Acequia's End
After bridging the ravine, the water enters the aqueduct on land.

Contrasting Support
A flower is created to be beautiful to attract the bees. In this case...

Purple Glory
I believe in seeing the macroscapes as well as the landscapes. This...

Weathered Beauty
The texture and color remain even as the flower starts to show its age.

Sphere
Paper umbrellas have fascinated me since I was young. Here they have...

Spout
A feature of the adobe structures is their extended drainpipes which I...

article published 3/21/2004

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Friend and critic
Your architectural compositions are getting better and better. You've turned into quite an artiste and it looks like you're having a great time.
— Jeanne Jusaitis, April 4, 2004

love this series, some of my favorites are Nesting, Sacred sand, Peeping and Spout. Lucky you to be able to travel in this wonderful state.
— monique jansen, March 23, 2004

The best of New Mexico
This article contains some of the most expressive images I've seen from you so far in this series of New Mexico articles. There is wonderful variety here -- architecture, nature, abstraction -- all working together to give us a sense of place. Human values are here as well -- although there are no people shown, we can feel their spirit, and savor their handiwork.
— Phil Douglis, March 22, 2004

very nice travel photos, and very presentable, high artistic value. Thanks for sharing.
— Erina, March 22, 2004