Albuquerque to Sedona

On the way to Sedona, Arizona, we stopped in the Painted Desert/Petrified Forest National Park for a hike. Most people drive through the park and take short, marked trails through designated areas. The park ranger informed us that we were free to hike down into the "painted desert" area and simply wander. Since we had both seen the Desert from the strategically placed look-out points, this was a great way to experience the colors, textures and sounds of the desert and the petrified wood.

We drove south from Flagstaff, Arizona amongst the pine trees and cool air, through Oak Creek Canyon a bit before sunset. The quality of light reflecting off the red cliffs and the rock itself was amazing. Arriving in Sedona at sunset is something that everyone should experience.

We spent the next two days with friends who work for Pink Jeep Tours. They got us a tour to Native American cliff dwelling ruins and took us out in their own jeep for some awesome, near vertical 4-wheelin' on the red rock of the Broken Arrow trail. Very exciting!

We also did a couple of hikes in this gorgeous area to a natural rock bridge and through formations. We never did manage to feel the energy that the New Age (what do you call these people??? practitioners? believers? wackos?) folks talk about in relation to certain rock formations. They believe that at special "vortices", there is either an up- or a down-flow of energy, which they classify as male or female. The whole idea came about as the "brain-child" of a woman who visited the area about 30 years ago. Apparently, she is now finding vortices all over the US. New Age centers are everywhere and there is no shortage of companies making a buck on the spiritual experience in Sedona. Here's just one example: Sedona New Age Center

Northern New Mexico and Albuquerque

We took (yet another)scenic drive through high, snow-covered mountain passes to cross the state border into Chama, New Mexico. Sheri lived in New Mexico for 6 years and had heard much about this area and its historic steam train, so it was lucky that she made a wrong turn and we ended up getting to see it.

Our drive took us past the Rio Grande Gorge and into Taos for a spin around the historic plaza and a visit to the mission church made famous by Georgia O'Keeffe's paintings. We tried to do the same in Santa Fe, but Sheri couldn't figure out how to get to the plaza with all the construction....no matter....one New Mexican historic plaza is much the same as the others. We decided to hit Albuquerque's plaza, instead.

We spent the next couple of days in Albuquerque staying with friends, driving around a city that was no longer recognizable to Sheri (so much development and a completely re-done downtown area), and doing a little hike in hip-deep snow (well, hip-deep for Sheri - knee deep for Michiel) on the top of Sandia Crest.

Of course, the trip was made complete by a full New Mexican meal of green chile chicken blue-corn enchilada, posole, sopaipillas and margaritas. Ole!