I travel and see trees growing in the strangest places, and wonder how and why they grow where they do. So this is the first of what I call "Finding your Place". Believing that we all have "Our Place" the secret is finding it. This is a photograph taken in Gallup New Mexico along the road to Church Rock.

Click on any image to enlarge















Santa Fe limits buildings to 6 stories high, and almost all conform to the adobe style of construction. To blend-in, one must become part of the community, as seen here by IHOP, Home Depot and McDonald stores. Everyone except Walmart!! The motel, or court, reminds Deinna of when she was a child and on vacation with her mother.

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The ever-present turquoise compliments any house.

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The oldest house in the U.S.

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Just a typical Santa Fe sight!

Built in 1610 by the Tiaxcalan Indians from Mexico, under the direction of Franciscan Padres.

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Interior, the altar has received white coats of paint 5 different times in history. Shown now, currently restored.

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The rear of the church. The original abode has been covered with stucco to preserve the outer surface. The rock buttresses are original.

Shopping is just wonderful!!





















Deinna found a little trinket to bring home!

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Bronze statues are everywhere.

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Made of stainless steel wire and screen. Approximately 30 inches high, requiring 150 hours of work, and valued at $29,000.

Made by the artist Escoto (below).





















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Elaborate pieces of pottery abound.

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This group of statues is located in a park next to the Santa Fe river. Carved of wood, they are the artists conception of certain saints.









































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OK, he got carried away - this ain't no saint.

Street sights of The Plaza in Old Santa Fe.
People sure love their chilies - they're hanging everywhere.





















































































































Jewelry stores around every corner. Spend as much as you like!
This is sooo beautiful, and SOOOOOOOO expensive!!!



































Art galleries of all kinds: Sculptures, oil paintings, watercolors, bronze and silver statues, and different artist mediums I never knew existed. I've seen more things with turquoise stuck in them than you can shake a stick at!

In 1852 the Sisters of Loretto responded to a plea from the Bishop of Santa Fe. His plea was for priests, brothers and nuns to preach and teach. The nuns opened the Academy of Our Lady of Light (Loretto) in 1853. It was decided that the Academy needed a chapel. In 1873, work began on Loretto Chapel. The stained glass journeyed from DuBois studio in Paris and made its journey to New Orleans by sailing vessel, and then by paddle boat to St. Louis MO. It was then taken by covered wagon over the old Santa Fe Trail to the Loretto Chapel.





















When the chapel was built, it had no staircase. The sisters prayed a Novena for 9 days, and on the ninth day their prayers were answered. A workman appeared outside with a burro laden with carpenter tools. He announced he could provide a suitable means of access to the loft, requiring only permission and a couple of water tubs to soak the wood in. When the staircase was finished, the sisters were overjoyed and planned to honor the carpenter, but he could not be found. No one knew where he lived. Nearby lumber yards had sold him no wood. Surely, said the devout, it was St. Joseph himself who had built the stairs.
















The miraculous staircase, was built sometime between 1877 and 1881. It has two complete 360 degree turns, with no visible means of support. It rests solely on its base and against the choir loft. It has 33 steps, all the same height. It is constructed with some extinct wood species, and is held together with only square wooden pegs, without glue.

We are now in Santa Fe, New Mexico - the center of heritage and culture of the Southwest. Here, no house can be over two stories, and no building can be over six stories. The majority of architecture is in pueblo style. You should see the Wal-Mart! People really get into this theme. If you see a house like ours, it sticks out like a sore thumb.

We got up Sunday morning and went to church at the Cathedral. It's located in a beautiful plaza in Old Town Santa Fe, located between the Palace of Governors and the Loretto Chapel.





































Baptismal Font- located in the center aisle of the church, midway between the front door and the altar.














These doors lead from the vestibule to inside the church.





















Main altar. At the consecration, there were 12 chalices of wine across the front of the altar.




















St. Francis of Assisi cross, located high atop the arch.







































If you double click to enlarge this picture, the banner will say:
Love One Another Constantly




















When the organ plays low notes, you can feel the reverberation as you touch the wooden pews.















This stained glass piece must be 20-25 feet in diameter - in the choir loft.




















There are eight of these tall stained glass windows - 5 feet wide by 15 feet tall.




















One of the Stations of the Cross.








































Our Lady of Guadalupe made of tile on the outside walls of one of the church buildings.




















The entrance to the church. Stained glass above door is the choir loft.




















Church left side.

After arriving in Santa Fe Skies RV park Friday the 10th. We went to the plaza dowtown where a car show was held. Toured the Governors Mansion and more gift shops.

Our welcome to Gallup New Mexico!
A full service gas station.

Running low on fuel on I-40, I stopped for gas, the price was $3.89! I bought only $20.00 (5 gals) and drove on into Gallup thinking that there had to be cheaper prices than that in town. As we approached the pump inside Gallup, this gentleman came to the truck and not only pumped the gas, but cleaned the windshield! He was very nice. I was so taken aback. I did not know if he worked there or was a street person. Later in the day, we did find out that there were two places that provided this service. One stopped, so now this Shell station is the only ONE! I think it has been 20 years since I received full service at a gas station.

For you younger people, ask your parents to tell you what a REAL full service gas station was - they will remember when gas prices were less than $1.00 per gallon - some can remember prices at $.25 a gallon.

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Local residents told us not to miss going to the El Rancho Hotel and Motel in downtown Gallup. Opened in 1937, the hotel became a temporary home for Hollywood celebrities who worked on many western movies in the area. Designated a National Historic Site, today's El Rancho still offers accomodations to travelers. It was built by movie producer, D.W. Griffin to house his stars. The hotel abounds with pictures of times past - Mae West, Paulette Goddard, Jack Benny, Marx Brothers, Errol Flynn, Susan Hayward, Stewart Granger, William Bendix, Betty Hutton, etc., etc., etc!

http://www.elranchohotel.com/

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El Rancho lobby is decorated in Old West Rustic style. Constructed of original brick, ash tar stone and huge wooden beams with a pitched wood shale roof.










































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Picture taken from Red Rocks Park of Church Rock.















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Deinna buying Indian Fry Bread from a local vendor at the side of the road.





























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Nightly in Gallup, one of the sights are the native dancers who perform at 7 pm in front of courthouse.














































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There are 110 trading posts, shops and galleries in Gallup, making the town the undisputed Southwestern center for original Native American art. Many building display beautiful murals on their walls outside. Gallup is a very colorful and surprisingly clean city.










































































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