I have not visited Taos for a long time and, truthfully, thought my love affair with Taos since 1998 may have ended as we’d grown apart. The last couple of times I had been up there, the energy just felt “off”…not 200% magical like it used to be. It reminded me of what has happened to Sedona where humans have ruined it. But, Grandma Taos Mountain started pinging me again this past week or two. Taos started popping into my head or I’d see TAOS somewhere. An example is that I had to run over to the vet this past week to pick up more medication for Chakra (very worried about my almost 15 years old girl) and as I walked back to my car, noticed the street that intersected where I was parked was TAOS. Then, last night, I had a dream about Taos. When that stuff starts happening, I need to go for some reason.
I had to take out a loan to get gas in Espanola (exaggerating…but not much) and got chatting with these 2 guys from Northern California who felt the $4.59 price tag was a deal! I guess oil companies’ extortion is relative. I almost didn’t drive up to Taos due to the costs involved, but am so freaking bored and tired of Santa Fe, I had to go somewhere! I do need to find a travel buddy to split gas costs with, though.
Anyway, it was a beautiful day in Taos despite annoying as all get out road construction on Highway 68 from just north of Espanola to just south of Velarde, and then again all the way through Taos! I swear that road has been under construction for years and years. Get it done!!
Here are pictures of moi at the start of my road trip and along the Rio Grande south of my beloved Taos…with videos of Taos from afar along with my arrival in town.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/GNbterpiZ8fUZG2L6
Because I have a new work iPhone that takes much better pictures than my 3 year old, not top-of-the-line, cracked Android, I took a gazillion pictures of things I’ve photographed to death already…like the San Francisco de AsΓs Catholic Mission Church. (Also included are some buildings right next to the church.)
https://photos.app.goo.gl/fSUHJ1XrxDNMfRUE8
Here are some random Taos pictures as I strolled around. I walked down some small streets I’ve never explored before. I wish it was always this green and warm!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/v4zdfDrqT25iu76NA
Next came the gorgeous resort, El Monte Sagrado. One of these days I’m going to cough up the $$$ to stay there. Mary Kate (I think that was her name.) and Heath’s (I love the name Heath ever since Big Valley!) big wedding was being set up by the staff. I asked why I’d not been invited. LOL! Honestly, I want to LIVE at El Monte Sagrado.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/t83ZxT2P38azjuhs8
Here is a bunch of random Taos pictures, including Taos Plaza and me getting a great Old Fashioned at the Alley Cantina. π The 2 story house with stairs on the right-hand side is an Airbnb I stayed at in late June 2019 with some out of state friends. I had SO many wonderful conversations with locals today, including an owner of El Rincon where we bonded over Scotty the mechanic on YouTube and his love of Toyotas. LOL! The funny part was that the guy I was talking to mentioned this guy he knows who LOVES Toyotas, and Scotty Kilmer from YouTube popped into my head immediately. I asked, “Are you talking about Scotty?” He was shocked and said, “YES!” You’ve got to love a guy who disowned his son for damaging a Toyota Tacoma. Ha!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/QXUN68Y95RPvQbxZ7
Here is a place I love…the Mabel Dodge Luhan House. It was once owned by Dennis Hopper (1971-1975). He called it The Mud House. It is a wonderful property where retreats and such take place now. I ran into these two women who were wrapping up a creative retreat they led where people painted, etc.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/RQxyx2yXDfzhJsf67
Next is the Taos Art Museum at Fechin House where, once again, I got into a wonderful conversation that needed to happen with a woman who is about to retire from working there. Nothing super dramatic happened today, but lots of little magical moments occurred.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/vKzArPbxnN5PpKRr8
Here I am driving to go see Grandma Taos Mountain to have a talk, along with pictures of her and a video. A few times today, I was hit with strong emotion like what happened to me the first time I visited Taos in August 1998. I randomly felt my heart it and almost cried. Taos is in my soul.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/GNbterpiZ8fUZG2L6
Here is this video on Rumble:
https://rumble.com/v17ctqd-grandma-taos-mountain.html
On my way out of town, I veered off onto Highway 518 and made a left onto Espinoza Road to visit the cemetery where Taos lover Dennis Hopper is buried. Here are images of Dennis’ grave (Which has been redone since the last time I was there.) As I mention in the video, he told this guy I met who worked for him that Taos Mountain is a living being with a soul…like another mountain he fell in love with in Bolivia. I fully agree. There is a reason I’m not the only one who calls her Grandma Taos Mountain and has conversations with her.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/HjnmGv8JpvjP2EuE7
Now, the grave with the dog statue isn’t Dennis’ site…but seeing it made my heart sad. It just hit me and I had to take pictures of it. It is close to Dennis’ grave.
Here is this video on Rumble:
https://rumble.com/v17cudh-dennis-hoppers-ranchos-de-taos-grave.html
If you want to dig back years on my YouTube channel, you can find the original video I took when I first visited Dennis at his Ranchos de Taos resting place. Back then, while talking to him in spirit, I asked him what he’d like those of us down here to know…and his soul quickly said, “LIVE!” Today, while talking to his spirit again, I asked if he had anything to add to that, and heard, “LIVE and LEARN.” Good advice. These people (2 cars) were leaving the small cemetery today as I was arriving and this one couple said, “Are you looking for Dennis Hopper?” I told them that I come to chat with him occasionally and knew where his site is. I think I said, “Oh, we talk.” The couple chuckled and I said, “No, really, I’m a medium and we TALK.” The wife then asked, “What did he say?” I told her that when I asked him for life advice years ago his spirit said, “LIVE!” They both said that was great advice…yep.
Here is my Ruby with her new bling! I got her a new front plate and a Taos ET/UFO sticker. π https://photos.app.goo.gl/i7v69ZnEuHHdk1786
I have a feeling I forgot some pictures, so hereβs a link to all of them. https://photos.app.goo.gl/2sV1o33aeNuVWq2XA
Taos-ly yours,
Atheria