Story by Milli Thornton. Photos Copyright © Milli Thornton & Steve Nazelrod.
IN A PERFECT WORLD, and for continuity’s sake, this post would have come less than a week after my Goodbye, Ohio story, consecutively showing the place we left behind (Youngstown, Ohio) and the old, familiar place we’ve just moved back to (Taos, New Mexico).
However, accommodation challenges have meant that, two weeks after driving into NM with our chock-full Penske truck, we still haven’t moved into our new place. We’ve done the motel thing (meh) and now we’re staying with a friend until our rental house is dewinterized.
I finally got organized and took some photos for you here in Taos. But first . . . do you like the feature photo of me on the border of Colorado and New Mexico doing the Vanna White hand flutters under the “Welcome to New Mexico” sign? I had fantasized about capturing that exact scene and our friend Steve (who valiantly drove the moving van for us) complied beautifully.
During the same roadside stop, Steve took this picture of an Official Scenic Historical Marker covered in graffiti. Very New Mexico.
Graffiti on the historical marker near the Welcome to New Mexico sign
Courtesy Steve Nazelrod
Here’s an iconic scene: an adobe house on the hill above town. In Taos, you have the choice between living in an adobe or a trailer. (It’s a little more complex than that, but locals would laugh and nod knowingly.)
Adobe house up on Blueberry Hill Road, overlooking the town of Taos
Future posts will feature the many moods of Taos Mountain, as well as addressing the question of whether the mountain can spit you out (yep, you read that right). But for now let’s focus in the opposite direction: towards Picuris Mountain seen at the south end of town.
My husband Brian has made many journeys up Picuris to apply his engineering skills to the solar panels and transmitting equipment for solar radio station KTAOS.
Picuris Mountain, seen across the sagebrush from a sparsely populated part of Taos
You can’t talk about Taos without mentioning the restaurants and the cuisine. We’ve been revisiting old haunts (and mourning the loss of certain restaurants) and today we had a late breakfast at Michael’s Kitchen, which hit a spot that can only be fulfilled at Michael’s. Comfort food, great roasted green or red chile for your burrito or omelette and the same staff that have been there for years.
Betty Boop-style waitress offering donuts in the window of Michael’s Kitchen
Just to add some extra color to this somewhat snowy post, here’s a pic I took during a visit to Taos last summer. Brian and I had lunch with friends at Orlando’s, a restaurant in El Prado (suburb of Taos) that specializes in Northern New Mexico cuisine. I had my favorite, Los Colores: “Three rolled blue corn enchiladas, one chicken with green chile, one beef with red chile, and one cheese with chile caribe. Served with beans and posole.”
Orlando’s Restaurant
When I lived here before (1998-2004 and again for six months in 2005) I did not have a travel blog. Now that I’m back, I’ll be making up for lost time by doing lots of Taos and New Mexico posts. Since everyone always wants to hear about NM (and are often surprised to have some of their personal myths overturned), I don’t think my readers will be too disgusted with me for indulging my NM whims. ;~)
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Milli Thornton (aka Milliver) is the author of Fear of Writing . . . putting the fun back into writing!. She is owner of the Fear of Writing Online Course and Unleash Your Writing!, where her mission is to put the fun back into writing. Milli blogs at Screenwriting in the Boonies, hosts 10K Day for Writers and coaches writers at Writer’s Muse.
I’ve only made glancing trips through New Mexico on our way to/from Colorado when we lived there, so I’ll be looking forward to your posts! Although, it makes me a little sad that you’re so much farther away from Maine…I will hope to visit the southwest soon (I am absolutely ecstatic thinking about Orlando’s Los Colores! YUM!! Congrats on the move, and hope you get settled in soon!
I know!! I too am sad that we’re further away from one another. I would still love to do the meet-up in Maine with you and Annie. 🙂
Saying that you’ll be looking forward to my NM posts whets my appetite even MORE to write about/photograph this gorgeous place. And, Julia, if you DO plan a trip to the Southwest, please let me know. I would love to have you as my guest!
Milli,
Great intro to NM! I have only gone through NM on a train going to Cal. So your articles will enlighten me to the area. It looks beautiful in your photos!.. I am looking forward to them all.
So glad you made the trip safely and Hope you can get settled in ASAP!
Betsy, the train trip to California sounds interesting. Would love to hear more about that. 🙂
Glad you liked the intro to NM. More to come!
Yes, definitely looking forward to more NM articles, glad you’ll be making up for lost time!
I really like the pictures you chose here, especially the snowy Picuris Mountain. You’ll have to hike up there and give us a view back to this spot 😉
Estrella, so glad you liked my photo of Picuris. Hiking it would require me to be mega-light years fitter than I am now. 😀 Brian said he did it once (from about 1/3 of the way up) — that was when he was young and fit and even then he didn’t reach the peak to pitch his tent until nightfall. But I’ve been up there with Brian by 4-wheel drive and the view from the top is AMAZING.
The Los Colores sounds delicious! I was in New Mexico briefly once and I remember eating some great food! Jeannine
Jeannine, I hope your brief visit to NM whet your appetite for more! If you ever come to Taos, drop me a line (or a blog comment) and I’ll show you around. 🙂
~ Milli
P.S. Did you capture any gardens with your lens when you were here?
I lived in NM as a child, but never got to Taos. I’ve heard it is a true gem of the Enchantment State and I can’t wait to hear more…..especially the restaurants!
You’ve all given me carte blanche, so look out!! NM posts galore. 😀
You may have told me already but please refresh my memory. Where in NM did you live as a child? I’m so curious.
Thanks for the offer! No, my visit was well before I starting blogging! I’m sure there are beautiful gardens in Taos. Jeannine
So glad to hear that you made it to New Mexico safe and sound.
My husband lived in Albuquerque, NM for many, many years. It is where he feels he is from (his father was in the Army while my husband was young). Every once in a while, my spouse gets a hankerin’ (when talking about the southwest, one must always use the word, hankerin’) for green chile. Now I have a source!!
I have never been to Taos but it’s on my list. Keep the letters and cards coming!!
Cathie, I can definitely be your woman-on-the-ground for shipments of green chile when you need them. Our friend Steve, mentioned in this post, kept us supplied while we lived in OH.
Taos is on your list? You know who to call on for tour guide. 🙂
I’m so selfishly happy to have Milli and Brian back in New Mexico. Yes, Vanna, it looks like you just turned each letter of the “Welcome to New Mexico” sign. Do I win the trip to St. Croix?
A lot has changed but the world feels a bit more “right” with my friends back in town. Milli was my very first friend in Taos. It was love at first sight when we worked together back in 1998! I, too mourn the loss of places like The Burrito Wagon (#7, chicken burrito with green chile, sour cream and avocado, I salute you), Fred’s, The Apple Tree, Amigos Co-op, Ranchos Coffee Company (the scene of so much fun writing and coffee drinking!), and The Bean.
When we had that fun lunch together that summer at Orlando’s, I never dreamed you were really moving back to Taos. Saints be praised. Los Colores is nice, but what about Los Primos: Chile relleno, pork tamale, Navidad, beans, posole and a warm tortilla. Que Viva Taos.
Leigh,
Thank you for listing those old favorites that we still mourn among the restaurant greats of Taos. To think of Lambert’s being where the Apple Tree used to be Just Isn’t Right.
OK, so you’ve thrown down the glove for an Orlando’s duel of the best dish. You’re on! I can feel myself gaining pounds already, as it will no doubt take many visits to engage in sword thrusts with the various dishes. 😀