A Taste of Thai Spice (Colorado Springs, CO)

A Taste of Thai Spice

off B Street & S. Academy, 1609 LaShelle Way, Colorado Springs, Colorado
719.226.1999
A small hole-in-the-wall and kinda hard to get to, little Thai restaurant off Academy. Its worth the loop-arounds you have to drive to get to it. Quiet atmosphere, decorative, and extremely friendly staff. Pad Thai is pretty decent, and the Panang Curry is rather good. The Pad Khao King was good too. I haven’t tried many Thai restaurants in the Springs, but so far this is one of my favorites. Rated 4 stars out of 5.

Velarde, NM

Velarde, NM - Hwy 64, NM © 2005 technogypsie.com, click photo for larger view.

VELARDE On the Camino Real “Founded in 1875, this small farming community was first named “La Jolla”. It was once famous for finely woven blankets. Here the Camino Real left the Rio Grande and followed a canyon northeast to Embudo Creek where it began a climb over the mountains to Taos.” (monument highway marker sign)

San Geronimo Church (Taos Pueblo, NM)

The San Geronimo Church built in 1850 is a Registered National Historic Landmark. It is one of the youngest buildings in the village. It is an extroadinary example of the architectural achievements of the natives. As you enter, note the fine carved wooden beams of vigas and choir loft. The thickness of the adobe walls that the support the high ceiling offer the best natural insulation making the summers cool and the winters warm within the thick walls. The central altar figure or Santo is the Virgin Mary, along with other Santos that were brought by the early Spanish missionaries. The Virgin Mary within the native religion depicts the parallel of Mother Nature. The outfits that drape the saints are changed according to the seasons. The Natives incorporated their values into the altar to remind themselves of cultural values. To the right is a symbolic casket, which were placed in missions throughout the New World to convert the natives to Catholic funeral practices. Today about 3/4 of the population shares in some of the Catholic practices while the native rituals perseveres 100% in daily life. The Native religion is verbally passed down from generation to generation. The Kivas are just one of the sacred religious shrines. They are off limits to non-members. Mass is conducted each Sunday morning at 7 am by a priest that is shared with the catholic Church in the Town of Taos. The Taos Pueblo Governor’s Officials known as Fiscales maintain the Church. (Taos Pueblo introductory brochure)

San Geronimo Church, Taos Pueblo, NM © 2005 technogypsie.com, click photo for larger view.

San Geronimo Church, Taos Pueblo, NM © 2005 technogypsie.com, click photo for larger view.

The Red Willow Creek - Taos Pueblo, NM

“Red Willow Creek”
THE RIVER is named after the willows that grow along the banks and is considered the life source and sole source of drinking water for the natives of the Taos Pueblo. Water is carried to the home by pottery and/or water pails. It divids the Pueblo in the “North Side” and the “South Side”. You can cross the wooden foot-bridges to the North and South Sides. High above in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the crystal clear water flows from a sacred source known as Blue Lake. The Blue Lake and the surrounding wilderness are sacred sites, therrefore non-tribal members are not allowed to trek into these areas. Blue Lake and the River have long been a part of the legend of the Taos Pueblo people. (Taos Pueblo introductory brochure)

Red Willow Creek, Taos Pueblo, Taos, NM © 2005 technogypsie.com, click photo for larger view.

Red Willow Creek, Taos Pueblo, New Mexico © 2005 technogypsie.com, click photo for larger view.

The Taos Pueblo Cemetery (Taos, NM)

The Taos Pueblo Cemetery
The first location for the original San Geronimo Church that was built in 1619 by Spanish priests with Indian labor, where they forced the people of the Taos Pueblo into Catholicism and slavery in order to become “civilized”. This is what led into what is called the “Pueblo revolt of 1680″. The Taos Pueblo was the prominent headquarters for the revolt which was led by Pope. After the revolt, the Pueblo people of New Mexico lived freely until the re-conquest by the Spanish in the 1700s. By 1706 the church was reconstructed. (Taos Pueblo introductory brochure)

Pueblo buildings, Taos Pueblo, NM © 2005 technogypsie.com, click photo for larger view.

Taos Pueblo Cemetery, Taos, NM © 2005 technogypsie.com, click photo for larger view.

A hundred years later, conflicting new reign was upon the cultures of New Mexico with the increase of settlers, as well as, the US Government for the southwest. Charles Bent then governed the territory known today as New Mexico and Arizona. He represented the US Government for this area that was once presided over by Spanish and Mexican Governments. He dwelt in Taos during this time when the US War with Mexico was taking place. 1847 there was an effort to overthrow the US Government, the local town people, and a few natives slew Bent. In retaliation for his death, the US Army came to find those responsible for his death. They took several Taos Pueblo leaders to the town plaza and hung them. The US Troops destroyed the San Geronimo church leaving only the bell tower standing. Many lives were lost in the Church and that is when it became the cemetery. Miraculously, the Santos were gathered and safe housed in the inner core of the North House by native women. (Taos Pueblo introductory brochure)

Pueblo structures © 2005 technogypsie.com, click photo for larger view.

alleyway, Taos Pueblo, New Mexico © 2005 technogypsie.com, click photo for larger view.

The Taos Pueblo (Taos, NM)

Taos Pueblo PO BOX 1846 Taos, NM 87571 505.758.1028 www.taospueblo.com “The Place of the Red Willows” Taos, New Mexico “The First Living World Heritage”. The original Taos Pueblo home and village. Many consider this Pueblo to be the oldest continuously inhabited community in the U.S. Seasonally there are events, ceremonies, and dances showing our history still active today. Many different arts and craft businesses out of each of the Pueblo homes. They still speak their native language of Tiwa which they claim will remain unwritten and unrecorded. The details of their traditional values they guard and will not divulge. They welcome visitors so a taste of their life can be seen by the visitors. The courtyard holds a small Adobe Catholic church. Each house have clay pit ovens. An intriguing cemetery off to the side around a desolate ruin surrounded by wooden crosses. A river running through the center of the plaza. Its worth a visit and to see, however, its a bit pricey, $10 entrance and $5 camera fee.

Pottery shop at the Taos Pueblo, Taos, NM © 2005 technogypsie.com, click photo for larger view.

Taos Pueblo Houses © 2005 technogypsie.com, click photo for larger view.

Taos Pueblo, Taos, NM © 2005 technogypsie.com, click photo for larger view.

Eagle Nest Lake, New Mexico

Eagle Nest Lake
Hwy 64, New Mexico
http://www.eaglenestlake.org/
A very large, beautiful man-made lake that was created by ranchers in 1918 for irrigation. It’s a 2200 acre lake that is conveniently located by the ski resorts of Angel Fire and the artistic community of Taos. Also very close to the rock climbing paradise in Cimarron Canyon. Well know for its Trout fishing, its also a great place to sight wildlife like Elk, Bear, Mule Deer, and Bald Eagles. I visited it mid-December of 2005, and it was a solid creaking, moaning, and enchanting lake of ice with spots where the waves were froze thrashing the shore. Beautiful.

Eagle Nest Lake (frozen), Hwy 64, NM © 2005 technogypsie.com, click photo for larger view.

Frozen waves and cracks of Eagle Nest Lake outside of Cimarron Canyon, New Mexico © 2005 technogypsie.com, click photo for larger view.

Eagle Nest Lake (frozen), Hwy 64, NM © 2005 technogypsie.com, click photo for larger view.

Eagle Nest Lake outside of Cimarron Canyon, New Mexico © 2005 technogypsie.com, click photo for larger view.

The Llama Foundation (Taos, New Mexico)

Llama Foundation
Llama, New Mexico
While visiting a friend’s place on what was described to me as the Llama foundation, the only thing I could find out about the lands was the Llama Deara Ranch which I assume is located there and gives an idea of the residents. The Llama Foundation lands are nearby Taos New Mexico and the Taos Pueblo. Located within the Enchanted Circle. The famous landscapes well known from the art of Georgia O’Keeffe. Its a peaceful retreat area for artists and writers, and is a rustic spiritual community located 8,600 feet in the Sangre Cristo Mountains, 20 miles north of Taos. Built on the side of the mountain in the early 70’s, Llama is a community of creative architecture, with large and small domes for worship, a sunken meditation room, and hermit cabins high on the mountain for solitary retreats. It’s a place where all spiritual paths are respected and treated equal. The Universal Dances of Peace hold alot of activities here. Nearby are also a Tibetan temple, a Sikh Community, Neem Karoli Baba Ashram, Saint Francis de Assisi Church, and the Taos Pueblo. I wish I had more time to have visited, but what I saw i was impressed with. Rated 5 stars out of 5.

Chili’s Off I270/Denver, Colorado

Chili’s Off I270/Denver, Colorado
265 S. Abilene St. * Aurora, CO 80012-1404 * Phone: 720-859-1192 * Chilis
You’re typical Chilis as far as the chain goes. Its right off the I-270 heading towards Colorado Springs from the Denver International Airport. Very festive and extremely friendly and fast staff. I was in and out with a smile on my face. The Babyback ribs were a bit pricey, but overall the experience was good. Rated 3 stars out of 5.

Tawon Thai (Seattle, WA)

Tawon Thai

3410 Fremont Ave N, Seattle Fremont
206-633-4545
Downtown Fremont, this artsy and very aesthetic thai palace will satiate your appetite. Spice not as hot as they should deliver, but the food is very good. Good service and good selections. Fine dining. Great places for dates. I had the Pad Thai and Spring Rolls - delicious. Thai Ice teas great as well. 4 1/2 stars out of 5.

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