Bandelier, Santa Fe, Los Alamos and a Camel Rock

We stopped once more at Rio Grande del Norte National Monument as we left Taos, at the visitor's center this time. The river looks especially pretty with a flotilla of yellow leaves cascading downriver on the water's surface. We established ourselves at the Trailer Ranch RV Resort and ate an early dinner at a nearly restaurant, Tortilla Flats. We are staying for three nights, so we should have a chance to visit some favorite spots in the area before returning to Russ' parents home for the Thanksgiving Holiday.I'm beginning to feel a bit homesick, and I hope that seeing family will help keep the feeling at bay for a few more weeks.

Seeing the Visitor's Center after the park is not efficient.

R-Pod parking.

The Rio Grande del Norte.

Russ loves the green chile.

The next morning we drove north to Bandelier National Monument. We have both been to it before, but during warmer times of the year. It was really nice to see everything on a sunny day in late fall. We hiked the Main (Pueblo) Loop Trail and the Alcove House Trail. I was glad to see it again. I had not remembered the many petroglyphs.

The big Kiva.

Foundations from above.

Russ on the trail.

Several dwellings are accessed by ladder.

Petroglyph. Bats roosted above it, so they covered it with plexiglass.

Looking back.

Russ climbs to Alcove House.

They weren't afraid at all.

More cliff dwellings.

A view of Frijoles Canyon.

We left Bandelier and drove back to Santa Fe by way of Los Alamos (a bit of a detour). We ate lunch there at Pajarito Brewpub and Grill. The food was good, but the house-made lemonade was the best I have ever tasted. They added basil and mint, so it gave it mojito vibes. We were a bit tired, so we decided not to visit the museum in town and just drove back to the trailer. We did stop at Camel Rock for a few photos.

It was a good place.

We sat at the end of the bar.

A lemonade to remember.

Well said.

Impossible green chile burger with sweet potato waffle fries.

Camel Rock.

We spent one day in downtown Santa Fe. We walked the Plaza, visited the Loretto Chapel to see the famous staircase, ate lunch at Tomasita's, toured the New Mexico Art Museum, and had a drink on the balcony at the Thunderbird Bar and Grill. I drank my first legal tequila at that bar on my 21st birthday during Fiesta de la Santa Fe.

The Santa Fe River is down there somewhere.

Dressed for the season.

Tomasita's is a favorite.

Drinks to start.

The store was crazy. Lots of old doors and columns.

I loved this. I think this work was by Jaune Quick-to-See-Smith.

The New Mexico Art Museum inner courtyard.

The Palace of the Governors on the Santa Fe Plaza.

The Plaza from above.

Russ relaxes with his drink.

The Loretto Chapel.

Spiral Staircase with no central pillar.

The New Mexico State Capital Building. No dome.

The back side of the State Capital Building.

Art is endemic to Santa Fe.

We went to Walgreens to pick up a transferred prescription, and also bought a home COVID test kit. We wanted to be sure that we weren't carrying the virus back to Russ' parent's house.

Russ reads the instructions.

Not infected!