Hello Taos!

It took 2 days to drive here from Austin. There’s no scenery to speak of after you get out of the Texas Hill Country. It’s only after you pass the New Mexico state line that the vast desert and mountains define the stark yet beautiful scenery.

We spent January in Arroyo Secco, a small community outside Taos, and located a 3 bedroom house in Ranchos De Taos to rent when we arrived this second time. We love the location. It’s 15 minutes from the square in Taos, 10 minutes to 3 grocery stores and yet out in the country away from the congestion. The picture above was taken from the street in front of our house.

The mountains are part of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains (Spanish for “Blood of Christ") which refers to the reddish hue displayed at sunrise and and sunset. The two peaks in the photo are Wheeler Peak (13,161 ft) and Later Peak (12,708 ft).

Looking northwest across the Rio Grande Gorge

Our rental’s back porch overlooks the plains that spread out past the Rio Grande Gorge. Although it may be difficult to see the outline of the Rio Grande in the distance, it’s about 3-4 miles from the houses very easily seen in the picture. Here’s a picture of the Rio Grande taken from the bridge that crosses it on the way out of town.

There’s so much beauty so close all around us everywhere. Rhonda picked up the book Taos Hiking Guide - 31 Hikes Near Taos by Cindy Brown this weekend and we’re really looking forward to starting some of the hikes later this month. Weather is starting to get warmer each day and is actually comfortable in the 40’s-50’s in the afternoons without the need for coats.