Visiting Colorado

After New Mexico was a quick trip through a slice of southwestern Colorado. The last hour in New Mexico took us through remote winding mountain roads. Much of the surroundings were green and brown with snow in the distance. When we approached the Colorado boarder and read the "Welcome to Colorful Colorado" sign, we noticed what looked like purple and golden hues woven into the landscape and blue ponds in the distance. Something about the very edge of the state did look more colorful than where we had came from.

We met up with my aunt and uncle at the Pagosa Springs hot springs about an hour's drive into the state. Pagosa Springs is known for its natural mineral pools and from a couple of miles away, we could smell the sulphur. The 23 pools along the San Juan River were just like hot tubs, but filled with natural mineral water. The air temperature was a bit chilly (40s or 50s), but the sun was bright and the natural hot tubs were easy to warm to. With different temperatures in each pool, we tried an assortment and while it might have been the elevation changes, I found some were dizzyingly hot. As chilly as it was in the natural air, the pools we tried at 106 degrees fahrenheit and higher (highest was 110) could only be enjoyed for so long before braving the chilly air for a slightly cooler pool! 

As it grew dark, we enjoyed a nice dinner in downtown Durango and headed out early the next morning. Colorado was a bit chillier and snowier than New Mexico and the mountains had grown taller. It didn't take long to reach Utah. 

Visiting New Mexico

After visiting Portland, Oregon, I flew to Albuquerque, New Mexico to meet up with my friend Carol and begin a road trip that would take us through New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and Arizona. As the plane descended into Albuquerque, the state looked different from anywhere I had ever seen. Brown, but mountainous and even green and snowy in parts. 

 Carol and I were close growing up and in high school and she's lived in New Mexico off and on for the last six years. I'm so glad I made the trip out to see her there. From Albuquerque, we drove about an hour northeast to Santa Fe. After a tasty dinner of tacos and exploring Santa Fe, we stayed in a beautiful two-room casita (airbnb is the best!).  

The blue sky and sunshine was really wonderful in the high desert, a terrain I'd never experienced! The elevation took a day or two to get used to.

The plaza (or downtown) area of Santa Fe was small with lots of clay pueblo buildings, woven rugs sold on the streets, colorful art, and beautiful churches. New Mexico had a distinctly Mexican Catholic/Native American culture. 

On my short list of places to see in New Mexico (it was a busy trip!) was the Loretto Chapel in Santa Fe and it's miraculous spiral staircase. You can read more about the staircase here. The summary is that the sisters of the chapel needed a specific staircase to reach the high choir loft in the late nineteenth century and after days of prayer, a mysterious carpenter appeared, insisted on working alone, and then disappeared after creating a beautiful and stand-alone spiral staircase with two 360-degree curves. It's believed St. Joseph – the patron saint of carpentry...produced the staircase. Regardless of how the staircase was built, it was an extraordinary work of art. Outside the chapel, a small tree was filled with rosaries. 

We visited the state capital and found that gorgeous visual art by New Mexican artists decorated the interior of the building. We also found the state government gets started later in the day. We had the house chambers to ourselves! 

As we headed north towards Colorado, Carol had wanted to be sure we visited the El Santuario de Chimayo, and we were both SO HAPPY we did. El Santuario de Cimayo is the most popular Catholic pilgrimmage site in the U.S. Despite its many visitors, it felt so small, sacred, intimate and naturally beautiful. The small clay chapel (pictured top left) had an entirely gold and red and turquoise altar that in its own artistic style, felt more beautiful than the elaborate Catholic churches and altars elsewhere. The folk art inside and outdoors, the emphasis on pilgrims or visitors leaving crosses and flowers and the natural beauty of the mountains and the clear blue sky made this location so peaceful. 

A little bit farther north, we stopped at the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge for beautiful views of the Rio Grande River far below.  Our final hour or so in New Mexico included a quiet drive through the mountains, (no other cars were spotted!) views of pine trees and snow-capped mountains in the distance. 

Visiting Oregon

For as long as I can remember, I've had a love for travel. Not so much the act of getting from place to place, but the excitement of seeing somewhere new, seeing how others live, leaving my comfort zone and finding joy in new destinations beyond what I see and know. With a months-long work project wrapping up in late February, I knew travel should be put in order soon after. The West, for the friends and family I could visit and the landscapes unlike most in New England, felt like the obvious choice. The trip was planned for 11 days, longer than I'd traveled in some time. It began in Oregon and continued on to New Mexico where a road trip with a friend conquered four states. The first step: depart Boston at sunset.

I'd visited Oregon before in August 2007 and May 2010 when my brother was an undergraduate in Portland, but not since. Meeting my wonderful friend Allison while we both studied abroad in Scotland three years ago was the reason for the western trip to begin there, in her home city of Portland.

The three days we spent in Portland were relaxing. It was early spring there, and while cloudy and rainy at times, I LOVED how green everything was. The roses, rhododendrons, daffodils and blossoming trees were very welcome as well.  

The Columbia River Gorge (top right) and the nearby waterfalls only 20 or so miles outside of the city were beautiful! As were the opportunities to think, read, walk through green parks and eat delicious Asian food.

The best part of the trip though was catching up with Allison. While Portland is a fantastic destination for natural beauty, a creative food scene, roses, and plenty of hipsters and pioneer history, she was the main attraction for the visit! 

It is true though, Portland's a lovely place! I was struck by it's natural and vast beauty, creative energy and attention to social justice and environmental sustainability. 

Images of February

I love this blog. I love writing it and sharing it and thinking of posts. But it slips my mind often. Too often. I hoped, months ago, that a monthly photography post would remind me to post and would be simple as it wouldn't require too much writing (when forced, it can be scary). It wasn't as simple as I thought.

In this transition from winter to spring, February feels like ages ago, but it was fun to revisit these images, and they should be shared. February was a quick month (despite the leap day) focused on work and indoor pursuits. There wasn't much snow, nor particularly exciting adventures that come to mind.

I traveled to New York for work early in the month and loved the lights and color of the theater district. Future Goal: See Hamilton

Pretty morning at work.

A small cemetery in Meredith, New Hampshire. 

My Mom's baking skills, generosity, and creativity know no bounds.

Flowers that made me smile. 

Saturday morning blue sky behind the library. 

A road in Meredith, New Hampshire.

 Partially frozen stream.

Felt proud to vote in New Hampshire's presidential primary! How long ago it seems.

An ultra-cold weekend in the middle of the month re-froze Lake Waukewan.

On that ultra-cold weekend, re-united with a fantastic friend! Sun and chill were strong.