Los Alamos, Day 1, May 30

This area is beautiful--mesas, mountains and more. Excursion 1 was too Bandolier National Monument. More spectacular rocks and more ancient pueblo ruins, but in this case they were "cliff dwellers" using the caves in the cliffs as well as the more usual multi-story pueblo construction. We only climbed up to one of the caves (requiring a series of 4 ladders). The photo shows Henry starting up one of the ladders. The people who lived there farmed on top of the mesa--the three sisters (corn, squash and beans).

Excursion 2 was too Santa Fe, where we visited both the Museum of International Folk Art and the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture. The Museum of International Folk Art was mostly an interesting hodgepodge of figures and other stuff from around the world, but not organized in a discernable pattern. The pieces were top quality, but the quantity was overwhelming. To me, the more interesting exhibit was about New Mexican folk music, including a number of home-made violins, guitars, and mandolins. I just wish we could have heard what they sound like.

The Museum of Indian Arts & Culture had a spectacular display of modern glass art based on traditional arts. My favorite was a Tlingit totem that was completely glass, but there was a lot of competition for status as favorite.

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