A Day in Taos

 Today we decided to drive from Santa Fe up to Taos. Taos is known as the home and burial place of Kit Carson but these days is more noted as an artist colony.  Artists began to gather here around 1900 and their successors form the economy of the community today.  The population is only about 5,000.

Right where we parked the car on the plaza there was an amazing rock and mineral shop.  We were both drawn immediately inside.  While their business is to sell things, the shop is almost a museum in the beauty of the rock and mineral specimens and the ways in which they are displayed.

On the other side of the plaza was the drum shop.  There were drums of every size in large numbers.  Again, though they were there to sell, the shop was like a museum itself.

About a mile above the center of town is Taos Pueblo.  This huge Pueblo settlement has been continuously occupied for nearly a thousand.  Unfortunately for us, their closed day is Monday, so, our visit there was cut short.