The cold weather was on our heels, so our plan only had room for a quick stop in Taos. We thought we might grab a meal as we continued to sunshine and warmth. Then we found out their balloon festival was coming up, so of course we had to stay for that.
The festival was days away, and we needed a campsite. There are a few BLM campgrounds along the Rio Grande, with amenities ranging from full hook ups to just vault toilets, and very reasonable fees, too. As expected, the more primative campgrounds were essentially vacant, and we were able to pick a site right next to the river. This little spot was home for a while, and we had it all to ourselves for most of our stay.
Here is shot showing all of Arroyo Hondo Campground, taken from the pay station/vault potty area to give some perspective. It was one of the smallest spots, but since we are self-contained, we didn’t need much more than a flat place to park. The lack of neighbors meant it was very quiet, and there was no light pollution to interfere with the gorgeous night sky.
OK, home base had been established, and it was time to explore. There are so many cool little shops in and around town. Even on an overcast day, the colors were so vibrant! When we had our fill of window shopping, we stopped to grab a bit to eat, and we learned about Christmas chile sauce. That’s when you don’t have to choose between the red or the green sauce, and it is one of our favorite things! Everything is better with Christmas sauce. We have no photos of this culinary awesomeness, because it was too delicious, and we gobbled it up too fast.
We heard about amazing mineral springs in the area, and it didn’t take much to convince us to go for a soak in some hot water. We crossed the Rio Grande and headed over to the spa at Ojo Caliente, which has multiple hot springs with different mineral content, temperatures, and even a lovely mud spring. We happily paid our day use fee and enjoyed testing out each spring. We didn’t opt for renting a private area with our own spring, but could see how that would be a great way to unwind. Cameras were not allowed in there, and most of the spring areas did not allow talking, either. It was so great to just be in the moment.
One of the next stops on our exploring list was the Taos Pueblo. The families we met there had been living in these dwellings for over a thousand years. Some families had moved into more modern homes nearby, but quite a few were in their ancestral homes. Other than regular maintenance, and a few newer windows here and there, this community has not changed much. The stream that flows through the center of their village is the only source of water, and it was the clearest we’d seen in a very long time.
Understandably, tours are not allowed every day. The community is closed to outsiders when they have private events such as funerals, sacred ceremonies, and so forth. Photography of tribal members is not allowed without permission. However, the families we met were very welcoming, and we bought our fair share of snacks from them. A favorite was some cookies made from a very old family recipe, and baked in a traditional horno (domed adobe oven). They were almost like shortbread, but so much better.
Finally, the festival was ready to start. While it was still very cold out, the sun shone brightly, and the sight of all those balloons was amazing. At night, they put on another show lit up from the fires inside. What a great way to wrap up our visit! Here are a few of our favorite shots from that weekend: 
Traveling Team Fischer 