Getting to know the peoples of our past

After warming up and being well rested, we headed outside of the town of Santa Fe to find a “circle” of Native American pueblos in the area.   

We bought a book several months ago that was full of highlights to see in the Great Southwest.  We finally sat down and marked in this book and our big road atlas, the things we really waned to do while in New Mexico.  We had narrowed it down to some the more historic non-touristy type things in the northern part of the state.  Coincidentally, while on the road and looking through my genealogy app for info on my grandfather, I discovered that both his and my grandmother’s ancestors came from some of the very areas were would be touring.  To say it gave the sightseeing more meaning is an understatement.  

We started with searching for the Santa Clara Pueblo.  If you have never been off the beaten path and are only used to more traditional tourist attractions around the country you may not be aware, as we weren’t, that a Pueblo is not necessarily a building or an exact location - but a community.  IT is the GROUP of Native American families who still live traditionally as their ancestors did in one particular area.  We followed our map and few directional signs to Santa Clara Pueblo and the main historical structure that we came upon was a church and its adjacent grave yard.    The guide books had said there were gift shops and local artisans in the area… where was this mysterious “shopping” spot?  As we drove through the pueblo style buildings surrounding the church we noticed signs for credit card payment and a few homemade signs that said pottery.  We came across one dwelling that had an OPEN sign in the doorway.  We knocked.  Out came a very friendly girl who asked if were looking for pottery to buy.  She took us to a little workshop behind her house that turned out to be a small gallery displaying her and her family’s works.  This sweet lady took the time to explain the pottery making method to us with pictures and examples and then chatted with us as we chose some pieces that we were drawn to.  It was such a different “buying” experience than we have ever had, but not in a bad way… it was reassuring to meet the artist and hear the stories of her family.  

We felt this gave these “souvenirs” much more heart - and we would appreciate them all the more.  

We moved on next to the Puye Cliff Dwellings nearby.  These ruins were the remains of the former home of the Santa Clara Pueblo people.  IT was cold and slightly windy so there were not many visitors and we were lucky enough to get our tour guide all to ourselves.  This gentleman was a descendant  of the very culture and community that he was describing to us along the way.  The one hour tour went by much more quickly than we imagined but we got a real sense of the structure and people that once occupied this mountainside and farmed the Valley below.

Bandelier National Monument was next and another National Park to check off the list.  This park was not overrun with tourists (like Arches had been) and we opted for the self guided tour so we could explore at our own pace.  The cliff dwellings here were a different period historically but the same Native American tribe that had inhabited the Puye Dwellings.  These hillside abodes were similar in the main aspects but a bit more communal than Puye.  It was still another way to be a part of and touch history firsthand.  Loved it!

While we were at Puye, we saw snowflakes, it was still cold most of the day and as we drove back toward town we checked the weather report for our campground.  Not only was it snowing even more, its was predicted into the night.   We decided that since our plan for tomorrow was a day of touring history in another town, even father north, we would just drive up and find a place to stay there.  Todd found a historic (built in the 1920’s) pueblo style motel with traditional fireplaces in the rooms.  YES, PLEASE!

So we grabbed some salads and local beers at the grocery store and checked into  the Sagebrush Inn.  We started a fire and planned our next day’s adventures eating our salads on a blanket on the floor in front of it.  Todd was sweet enough to get up and put wood on to keep that fire going all night long.  

5 STARS from me!