Santa Fe to Taos

Finally had the time to visit Taos.  Previous stops in Santa Fe were too short.  The drive is spectacular once you get past the commercial areas outside Santa Fe.  We are getting used to canyons and love the surprise of a gorge we did not know about:  

We learned too late that beyond Taos the canyon and gorge are even more spectacular and there is even a foot bridge across the gorge (I definitely would not be taking that path...).  The city of Taos is worth some time just walking around and soaking up the artistic atmosphere.  Of course there are shops and galleries and restaurants.  The first leather shop we went into had some handbags just like I had purchased in Morocco last year - the Taos price was NINETEEN times higher than the Moroccan.  Hmmm - sometimes made in the USA isn't worth it.  We had a lovely lunch and got rained on and filled our etes with art and then drove back to Santa Fe.

Anyone know what the big cactus-like plant is?

This reminded me of a giant sand castle at the beach!

On the way back to Santa Fe I was able to get a shot of Camel Rock.  The first time we passed it, I did not recognize what it was until we were passed it.  

He will probably go the way of New Hampshire's Old Man of the Mountain, but for now he looks good!