Enchanted in the land of Enchantment

June 06, 2013

Enchanted in the land of Enchantment

It's hard to believe (well hard for us to believe), but Donna has never been to Santa Fe, New Mexico, and neither of us have been to Taos, New Mexico. So we remedy that situation with a four day trip to northern New Mexico. We are visiting Fred and Marilyn Minshall, who live in White Rock, New Mexico, which is right next to Los Alamos, New Mexico - home to the Los Alamos National Lab and the birthplace of the atomic bomb. Marilyn job shared with Donna for about 5 years back about 25 years ago. Marilyn and Fred retired around 1989, and moved back to northern New Mexico where they built a solar adobe house together (8500 adobe bricks hand laid, etc. - an impressive feat). Fred grew up in Los Alamos, and Marilyn lived there with her first husband, so they both have roots in the area. Among their many talents, in addition to house building, Fred is a wood carver, and Marilyn is a quilter.

We've stayed in touch via Christmas cards, but finally are getting together after all these years. And glad that we did, because Marilyn and Fred are fascinating people and Taos, Santa Fe and Los Alamos are all very interesting places. We did a drive by at Taos, eating dinner there on the way to Los Alamos - will have to come back, much to explore there. We spent one day in Santa Fe, knocking around the central plaza and touring the Museum of folk art. Another day we went to Bandolier National Monument, only 20 minutes from Fred and Marilyn's and also toured the Bradbury science museum in Los Alamos. Bandolier has ancient cliff dwellings, a bit like the better known Mesa Verde - in fact it is believed that the Anastazi came to Bandolier after they abandoned Mesa Verde. The Bradbury science museum was well done - history of the secret project developing the atomic bomb, and also what the lab is doing now.

Three great mexican (new Mexican) meals (Taco Bell this isn't!), so great eats too - and four mile walks with Fred along the Rio Grande canyon rim every morning, which is just blocks from Fred and Marilyn's house.

We came away enchanted with the land of enchantment and hope to return for some more exploring again.