Taos, New Mexico

I've been in New Mexico for over 3 weeks and my internship is over so I'm headed up to Colorado next. 

When I got to New Mexico my first stop was to see my good friend Lupita. Her and her family hosted me over the 4th of July holiday and we had smores around the a fire while I told stories. Then Lupita and I went horseback riding around her village the next day. 

Lupita in her element

Lucky and me riding around Canones

I had the weekends off during my internship so I made sure to see as much as possible and check out the sites of Taos. My main priority was to hike the tallest mountain in New Mexico. So one Sunday some friends and I drove up to Taos Ski Valley and hiked up Wheeler Peak (13,159ft). It was a gorgeous hike and the elevation didn't bother me as much as I expected. There was still some snow in patches and we even slid down some to bypass a section of the trail. 

William Lake

Marmots were everywhere!

On the tallest mountain in New Mexico

At the top!

On the way down

Snow that we slid down

Checking out the local hot springs was another must-do in the area. We went to two different spots along the Rio Grande: Manby and Black Rock Hot Springs. After a long day of work, soaking in the hot springs was a well deserved treat.

Julia, Sami, and me at Manby Hot Springs

Roomies at Black Rock Hot Springs

The Hot Springs are right beside the Rio Grande

Saturdays were farmer's market days and on one Saturday the town was celebrating Fiestas de Taos.  We walked around the plaza looking at jewelry (I got a beautiful turquoise ring), drinking agua frescas, and listening to bands play. 

Me, Sumedha, and Sami at Fiestas de Taos

Colorful Agua Frescas

When I'm in new towns I enjoy checking out the local breweries and restaurants. While in Taos I went to Taos Mesa Brewing, Eske's Brewpub, Orlando's, Adobe Bar, KTAOS (solar radio station and bar), Taos Cow, and the Coffee Spot Cafe. 

Nicole, me, and Sami at Taos Mesa Brewing

Sumedha and Julia at KTAOS

All the roomies at the Adobe Bar

I also went on a bike ride along the Rio Grande Gorge one day. It was a nice flat ride on the mesa next to the gorge. On the way back I came across a mama big horn sheep and her baby. I stood and watched them for awhile eating fairly close to me.

Rio Grande Gorge Bridge

Mama Big Horn Sheep and her baby beside the Rio Grande Gorge

This past weekend my friend Lupita came to visit as I checked out of my Earthship at the end of my internship. I took her to the hot springs and we camped in Carson National Forest. We hiked Wheeler Peak (again for me) and ended the visit with a tasty smoothie in Arroyo Seco. 

Our camping spot

Lupita and me at the summit of Wheeler Peak

And here are some more pictures from Earthship sites:

Packing a tire with dirt

Yannick and Julia working on a strawbale house

Glass bottle brick making

Climbing the pyramid

Sami and me admiring our work

Intern's last potluck

I've got two weeks until I go to Salida, Colorado, to work on an Earthship build. So for the next two weeks I'll be traveling around, camping, and visiting friends.