Our first stop was Madrid, New Mexico. With a population of 149, this town is an artists community with galleries lining Route 14. Originally a coal mining town, it still has remnants of its past with the Mineshaft Tavern and the Coal Mine Museum. The 2007 film Wild Hogs was set and filmed in the town.
Many unique art shops.
This one is an old train car.
Fabric art!
Maggie's Diner where Wild Hog was filmed. You can get anything in the store with Wild Hog on it.
Unfortunatly, we left with nothing.
Your remember Wild Hogs, with Tim Allen, John Travolta, Martin Lawrence, and William H Macy.
Our next stop the city of Santa Fe.
We started our tour at the San Miguel Mission Church, recognized as the oldest church in the United States.
The mission was built by Tlaxcalan Indians from Mexico in the early 1600s. During the Pueblo Indian rebellion of 1680, the roof was burned and destroyed. After resettling Santa Fe, in 1694 General Diego de Vargas had a new roof constructed and repairs continued until 1710.
A three-tier tower was constructed around 1830, and in 1887, a single facade tower was built, with massive stone buttresses added for support.
This is a good example of the type of architecture seen in Santa Fe. A lovely spa and hotel.
This is the Loretto Chapel constructed in the 1870s, is believed to be the first Gothic structure built west of the Mississippi. A design flaw existed in the chapel, as there was no way to get to the choir loft from the main floor. Many carpenters were consulted for a solution, but all of them felt that a traditional stairway would take up too much room. Most suggested that a ladder be used or the balcony be reconstructed.
The Sisters sought divine guidance, and on the ninth and final day of their Novena, a mysterious carpenter appeared who designed and constructed a circular stairway to the loft. His "miraculous stairway" contains 33 steps in two full 360-degree turns, with no center support, nor is it held from the sides. Also it was constructed with wood that was not native to the area. Upon completing the stairway, the carpenter disappeared without receiving payment for his work.
"miraculous stairway"
The Altar.
Beautiful stain glass.
This was a marker on the side of a building, it says, "This marks the route of the Santa Fe Trail, Kansas City to Santa Fe 1877 to 1880.
In the Plaza at Santa Fe, Indian artist sell their crafts. There were many wonderful jewelry stores, clothing stores and art galleries. For a shopper it was heaven. We visited the New Mexico History Museum and had a wonderful lunch at La Fonda Hotel.
Bob loved these Great Blue Herons, but hard to pack in our motorhome. Great tour, learned a lot, shopped a lot and came home tired ready for dinner and bed.
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