Bandelier National Monument New Mexico

    

While visiting Santa Fe we toured Bandier National Monument.

 

 

 

 

     It is located about a half to three quarters of an hour from Santa Fe . It is approximately 40 miles.  We were told to get there by 8 o’clock to be able to go in with our car, or you would need to take the shuttle. We did and that was a great tip as we had our picnic lunch and extra water with us, in the car, and didn’t have to carry it. The shuttles run very frequently. There was a nice picnic area at the visitors center.

 

 

This RV Park is near the entrance station near the shuttle pickup. It is a paved lot. Not sure of hookups or cost.  There is another campground in the park.  There are no hookups and it has 94 sites. I believe the cost is $12, 1/2  with the senior pass.

 

     We did a great hike, Main loop trail, before it got to hot, as the predicted high was around 95 degrees, and most of the hike was in full sun.  Part of the hike is wheelchair accessible. The Main loop trail to some of the cliff dwellings.

Bob leading the way on the lower flat trail.

A kiva

See the dwelling in the distance

Getting closer

A view on the way up the trail. Park road in distance.

Looking down on the village

Getting steep with many stairs.

Nobody home.

Linda looking down at Bob, before it get's very narrow.

Linda waiting for Bob to take the picture.

Map of the trail system.

Some of the petroglyph

Linda trying to get a little shade LOL. It was getting hot and there is no shuttle

Looking back

On level ground

A love story

Part of the falls trail, to hot to finish.

The Canyon

The desert in bloom

Santa Fe New Mexcio

Our next stop on our western trip was in Santa Fe New Mexico. What a great stop. We could have spent more time in this area. The friendly people, the architecture, and churches and the food, remember Bob doesn't like Mexican food. Well did he change his mind. It was hard to choose some photo's of the 100's we took. Here are just a few.

The architecture is great

Selling jewelry in from of the governor house.

 Narrow streets,  off the town square.

The great old hotel La Fonda

The Loretto Chapel

The Cathedral

Every town must have a flea market.

Don't ask, but unusual to say the least

100's pf decorated paint brushes.

A close up

 

The farmers market

So much to choose from,

 Even chickens, many different breeds.

The craft show in the town square with many beautiful items

 

 

This smiling face created a beautiful fountain he created we couldn't pass up. Until now we were gift free from our trip, other then memories.

 A vintage tour van

 The hotel where we had lunch

We saw a wedding from our second floor seats.

Bob with the winning bacon bloody Mary, from the bar competition.

 Inside the La Fonda hotel

Street art

We relied  on  Trip Advisor as a guide for finding restaurants. There were so many in Santa Fe, we  usually picked one's in the top ten and near our location while touring.

The Ranch House was very close to the RV Park we were staying at, was mostly  good old BBQ.

The Pantry was Mexican

 

 

Bob indulging in his first Mexican dish  

 Linda's pick

More Mexican, Bob is getting braver