Last Day in Taos, and With Hot Air Balloons

This was our last day in New Mexico, we intended to make the best of it.

1^st an early morning at the mass ascension, the ascension of both larger and smaller balloons in the morning. 2^nd an evening for the balloon light up and Trick or Treating for the community.

The balloon festival is not as large as the Albuquerque Balloon Festival, but the Taos festival is fun and local. It is a topic that we heard about in the local restaurants and on the streets, the residents are proud of the festival. 

For the morning ascension we went to the spot recommended by the RV staff, on a nearby hill. We got there by 8 am but there were no balloons in sight. We then went down to where the balloons were launching and many balloons were just taking off. I was able to get photos of the balloons launching. We then drove around, we thought we’d go back up on the hill but saw where the balloons were landing, so drove over to that site and saw several land up close.

2 of our favorite balloons

After watching the balloons lift off and land, we found that we could drive straight to Ricky’s for breakfast. We didn’t feel bad about going to a local place; me with my dirty rubber boots and Dale with his worn-out hiking boots. We looked like the natives.

After a filling breakfast we went back to the RV, Dale to make sure the RV was ready to travel home and me to get the interior ready.

The afternoon was filled with last minute shopping then getting to the site of the balloon lighting. We didn’t know what to expect with this.

Balloons in the evening

We got to the site early so that we’d have a good parking place. After a bit the balloon teams started to arrive, as did the trick or treaters. Both kids and adults were dressed up in great costumes. By 6 pm there were lots of families, kids running around and balloons were starting to air up.

The balloon lighting consisted of the pilots igniting their burners which shot hot air into the balloons. The flames were so bright that they lit up the entire interior of the balloon; sometimes in a wave, sometimes all at the same time. As it got dark it was such a wonderful site, the balloons all lit up. And for a cold night, it was warm by the balloon baskets.

It was a fun time as the crowd was ready to have a good time, counting down for the various activities and kids running around.

After one last soul satisfying dinner at Orlando’s these 2 travelers were reluctantly ready to head west.

Balloons early morning

A really fun balloon

Taos, Notche de Altares

 We have still had problems with the heater so decided to skip travels in Utah. Camping in really cold weather without good heat is not an option. Hence, we decided to stay another 2 days in Taos.

I went to the campground office and asked if we could stay another 2 nights. Unfortunately, there were no sites with full hook-ups, we’d have to move to another side without a dump. We could do this easily.

The woman at the front desk told us that there was a Taos Hot Air Balloon festival that weekend, and if we looked out over the valley, we could still see some of the balloons in the air. We did look and saw a couple of balloons. She gave me the web site so that I could look up the events. She also gave me info on the best places to be for photos.

I went back to the RV and looked up site and things to do in Taos. Tonight, was a meet and greet for the ballooners but for us there was the Noche de Alteras. https://livetaos.com/events/noche-de-altares-night-of-altars/

We took time in the afternoon to shop in the Taos Plaza. We needed to finished buying Christmas presents for the grandkids, buy a new coffee grinder as we forgot ours, and buy more fabric for new cushions for the RV and fabric for table clothes. We shopped until the stores closed then sat down and watched the set up for the Noche de Alteras.

As people set up their individual altars, we walked and stopped and spoke with each of the individuals. A cousin gone too soon, a sister, beloved pets, mothers, grandparents and fathers. Having had 2 deaths in our own family recently, 1 a young person very recently, we could feel the pain.

The Noche de Alteras is a celebration of the Day of the Dead Altar. At about sunset there was a traditional ceremony to set up the flowers, there were traditional dances, some accompanied by drums, flutes and conches. The dances were so beautiful, so intricate, I wanted to learn the dances and participate.

Dancers

The altar of the organizer

A flower altar

After the dances the woman who was a main organizer gave a short talk about the altar and the way it is set. She explained and we understood. And, although, our altar is not set up correctly, it is our alter and our ancestors will understand.

Our Altar. Candles are lit to guide those who have gone before us, back.

A Day of Play in Santa Fe

 

Because we missed out on our meal at Maria’s, hot chocolate at Kakawa’s, a stop at the Santa Fe School of Cooking and a walk around the plaza, we decided to go to Santa Fe for the day. As the Taos Diner was open today, we stopped for breakfast before heading out.

For the drive down to Santa Fe we decided to take the high road, this road goes thru the mountains and we thought there might be some nice photo opts. Sure enough, we did find a couple of beautiful spots with views of the snow-covered mountains in the background. And for fun, my son Justin had loaned me his telephoto lens so I played with that as well.

We finally got to Santa Fe about 1pm so went straight for our chocolate drink fix. I always love the Aztec but this time opted for the chocolate with chili. Dale got the decadent rich chocolate drink. We bought to split later a spicy brownie, regular brownie, white chocolate covered macaroon and one covered with dark chocolate. We were trying to save what appetite we had for Maria’s.

A fun stop for us was at the plaza. We love plazas, be it in New Mexico or Italy, they are just nice places to walk thru or sit with a cup of coffee. The plaza in Santa Fe was decorated with long ristras giving it a festive look.

We had decided to get some items from the Native American’s selling around the Governor’s Palace and as we shopped decided to get all of the grandkids Christmas presents in New Mexico. I loved choosing items for several of the grandkids directly from the person who made the item. Hopefully, they will appreciate the items as well.

We ran out of time to shop at the Santa Fe School of Cooking but after a phone call, I was told that they did not have any of the bean pots. Mine developed cracks from high use so I’ll need to have one shipped. But this meant that we could go to Maria’s.

It was getting dark when we left Santa Fe which meant no photos. But we were fat and happy! And had a good start on Christmas shopping.

A Beautiful Day in Taos

 We woke up to a beautiful morning and were already to eat again. We’d eaten both breakfast and dinner out at our favorite places, but were ready to hit it again. But then we found that we had a new problem.

So, our poor RV is about 18 years old. We bought it in the “good ol’ days” of adjusting. You older adjusters know, the days where we had to bring printers, scanners, desk top computers, monitors; all things that took up lots of room. We’d replaced our smaller RV to accommodate all of this equipment plus a table and office chair.

Now we woke up to the heater running but no hot air coming out and it was about 25 F. Dale messed with the propane then we lost all propane inside the RV; no stove top, no heat, no nothing. We checked the tanks and they had ice on them.

We went to the place where they sell propane and parts but they were out of regulators. However, the guy helping us thought that maybe if we put the tanks out in the sun, they might be fine.

We came back to the RV, put the propane tanks out in the sun and went off to breakfast, well where we had hoped to eat. Our favorite place turned out to be closed on Tues and Wed. I found another recommended spot where they served gluten free, blue corn pancakes. YUM, until we got there and it was closed until Friday.

We started to drive and remembered that the person at the RV park recommended Ricky’s. We decided to go there and I’d just get whatever I could get. As it turned out, Ricky’s menu is nearly entirely gluten free. There are only 7 tables inside but we got one easily. Everyone knows each other and they wanted to know about us. It turned out to be another favorite place.

Breakfast at Ricky's

After an afternoon of shopping for chilis, chili powder and fabrics and just walking around the plaza it was time for more New Mexican food.