Santa Fe, New MexicoSanta Fe, was founded in 1607, and is the capital of the state of New Mexico in the US. With an elevation of 7000 feet, it is not only the United States' oldest state capital but its the highest.
Santa Fe is a mecca for cultural diversity, and extraordinary concentration of arts, music and fine dining.
Bandelier National Park
Kiva-A room used for religious purposes by the ancient puebloans.
Frijoles Canyon: Has been created by Frijoles Creek, eroding through thick deposits of volcanic rock.
The (Tyuoni village) tribe built 400 rooms but only a 100 lived in them. They used most of the rooms to store food and turkey's.
A living quarter carved out by the Anasazi tribe (Jemez mountains). The Anasazi were an ancient civilization that settled in the area and are the direct decedents of the more modern day Pueblo people.
Window
Ancient hieroglyph.
Bear sighting on the Frey trail.
Valle Grande: Is a wide circular caldera, a sunken volcano formed by the collapse of volcanic domes after two massive eruptions about a million years ago. The basin is some 3,000 ft (915 m) deep, measured from the surrounding rim, which encircles several lava-dome mountains.
This place goes on for miles and miles and it is peaceful and serene.
Next stop Puye Cliffs.....
In the Tewa language Puye means "pueblo ruin where the rabbits assemble or meet." I think they still do to this day. This area was home for more than 1500 pueblo indians who built villages, farmed, and hunted game. They believed to have left when drought caused springs to dry up and crops to fail.
Ancient pueblos
Kiva: Place of worship
Sun hole
Moon hole
Inside the ancient pueblo
View of the canyon
Walking down the irrigation canal that was carved by the ancient indians.
Hiking down in flip flops not a good idea.
Beautiful view of the canyon
Time to hike up...
End of the tour
