Los Alamos never fails to sober me, not that such measures are often necessary.
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| Hans Bethe house. Please double-check this math for me. |
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| Typical Cold War provisions, I'm told. We made do with wooden school desks. |
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| Oppenheimer house. Still occupied, so only fence paparazzi are welcome. |
I asked the director of the Hans Bethe house to recommend the best starter book for the Manhattan Project; she suggested
109 East Palace: Robert Oppenheimer and the Secret City of Los Alamos, by Jennet Conant.
Leaving Los Alamos was much easier than getting in. Less than an hour later, we were indulging in cheap gasoline in Espanola.
We made the quick trip from Espanola, NM to the
Orilla Verde Recreation Area. Wolfgang mentioned that he had never realized camping was available down this canyon road, so now he knows. We chose the Pilar Campground for its easy parking and available electric sites.
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San Francisco de Asis Mission Church
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| San Francisco |
We did spend some time in downtown Taos, as one does, and then I suggested we escape to Arroyo Seco and the
Taos Cow.
Taos traffic severed my last nerve, and this is how the frenzy perpetuates. A crazed driver temporarily throws his body at his horn, and the recipient passes it on to the next hapless driver. I love Taos, but its intractable congestion is putting it out of the relaxation zone.
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| Swimming hole! |
The Rio Grande Canyon was beautiful, though, and at some point unknown to me becomes The Rio Grande Gorge.
Probably when it becomes gorgeous. Um. No. Wait. :D
ReplyDeleteThanks for these. Probably not getting up north til spring. <3
Ha! Yes, Taos is Gorge.
ReplyDeleteSpring is a lovely time to be here.
Lovely!!
ReplyDeleteIt really is, Pat. Beautiful part of the country!
ReplyDeleteIn the cleverly-named town of George, Washington is an entertainment venue called the Gorge. They say it's locally called "The Gorge in George".
ReplyDeleteHaha!I like it all. I propose a town slogan: "George, Washington. Slept here?"
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos of a beautiful area. Looks like perfect weather, too. :)
ReplyDelete109 East Palace is a fabulous book -- I've read it twice over the years, & is one I'll read again. Another that might be of interest to you is The Plutonium Files. Bigger book, some science-y type stuff, but fascinating to read about the very beginnings of the atomic age & how much was NOT known about radiation & it's effects. Very sobering.
ReplyDeleteRenee (Datil/North Ranch)
I finished a book that's partly in Taos and thinking that's where we need to spend next Fall - and these pics really add to that decision! That cloud reflection is beautiful, and I love the balancing Jester.
ReplyDeleteJodee, fall in Taos is yummy.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Renee, for confirming this recommendation. I've got it waiting for me at home when I return.
Very nice, Barb. You've stayed up there, probably?
Gorgeous pictures Rox. Love seeing you are out and about. Wish I could see you, at least in the pictures. Hate hearing that Taos-big on my bucket list-is overrun like everywhere else. Some how I thought it was above all that.
ReplyDeleteThis, THIS, is unconscionable!!! Ein Deutschlander NEVER admits s/he/it (sometimes run together so it sounds like the vernacular for feces with a drawl) doesn't know something!!
ReplyDeleteBut the Taos balloon fiesta is still a relatively small & intimate event. It's usually a week or so after the Southern Extravaganza.
Glad yer keepin' those tires in shape. Have you read *The Round-heeled Woman*?
I bet that "swimming hole" is a natural hot springs bubbling up out of the Rio Grande! Might be why it's "rocked off."
ReplyDeleteSharkey, you may be correct. I can't confirm, but maybe next time.
ReplyDeleteMike, this sounds true. Not good, but true. As I told you in email, I like the book and the term.
Sherry, Taos still holds magic. You just have to go the long way around to find it. It's worth it.