I recently was blessed to be able to take a vacation in New Mexico, which is called the Land of Enchantment. Enchantment means to charm greatly, or to captivate. I must admit that I am captivated by New Mexico's beauty! We decided to take the 6 hour drive to get there and the beauty of the land was well worth seeing. I live in Colorado, so when we made it over the Raton Pass, we drove down into some flatlands and soon after seeing the New Mexico welcome sign, our eyes were amazed by the open fields. The land itself opens wide with mountains on every side. As we drove south, the vistas appeared too, some red in color, others sand. The mountains presented themselves as majestic, with fields of sage, yucca plants, and carpets of wildflowers blooming pink and yellow.
Our final destination was Santa Fe and the closer we got, the more beautiful the texture of the land became. On all the hillsides you could see the adobe homes peaking out around the trees, but complimenting the land itself. We could not look in any direction and not see GOD'S hand in all of HIS creation there!
The people of Santa Fe are rich in their culture. There is a spirituality present, as well as a diversity of artists, many of whom received their inspiration from the land that surrounds them. Georgia O'Keeffe is one of the most famous of these artists who spent her life painting on her Ghost Ranch.
Native American culture abounds with eight Northern Pueblos some being inhabited for more than 1,000 years and cliff dwellings dating back to 1580AD. Museums are a must see, and many of them are brimming with Southwest art and history.
We stayed at the Buffalo Thunder Resort that was located on a reservation. The area that surrounded us was open with desert plants, and the air was cool and dry. I did see many small lizards as we walked the paths around the resort.
Driving into town, we were impressed by all the southwestern shops and art galleries. In the middle of town sat the beautiful Basicilla St. Francis of Assisi.
The beauty inside of the stained glass windows, old wooden pews, and altar were all a must see! There were many lighted candles in an area off the side of the altar. The glow was warm and comforting.
I left feeling enriched by all that I was able to see in the art and history museums that were plentiful in Santa Fe - there was so much to see I know we missed quite a bit, but that just makes me wanting to go back someday for more!
New Mexico is a land of enchantment in more ways than one. It is a feast for your eyes and a comfort for your soul. You will leave knowing GOD'S hand touched this wonderful country and you are left with giving HIM all the glory!
ISAIAH 52: 7 "HOW BEAUTIFUL ON THE MOUNTAINS ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS."
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