Exploring Santa Fe - Meow Wolf - What An Experience

Meow Wolf

What does that heading even mean? Meow Wolf can't be explained easily. It can't be described easily. So what is it like?

For me it is an immersive mixture interactive performance art similar to Alex Jordans "House on the Rock" in Spring Green Wisconsin and and Rod Serlings "Twilight Zone" sprinkled with a dash of mystery and then ad in some pop art and a wee bit of carnival sideshow. Yeah I know. This is one of those things that you need to experience first hand.

You can purchase 3D glasses where you pay your entrance fee. Get them it's worth it.

You get to crawl under and over things while there so wear comfortable clothing. 

You also get to walk into a refrigerator

Give "Meow Wolf" a visit, it's a very unique and strange place.

Exploring - Tent Rock National Monument (Photo Rich)

Exploring New Mexico

Tent Rock National Monument  - Pueblo Cochiti, New Mexico

These rocks are known by the Native American people of the area as 

Kasha-Kutawe (Cosh-a  Kuta- way) Tent Rocks.  They are a geologic wonder.

We are staying at Cochiti Lake in Pena Blanca, NM.  Our campground rating is shown below after this blog entry.

Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument is (Cost information in the link) located over a mile above sea level on the Pajarito Plateau about an hour’s drive north of Albuquerque. The park is littered with rock shapes known as Hoodoos. Hoodoos, otherwise known as tent rocks are unique structures. In Kasha-Katuwe’s case, they started forming more than six million years ago when volcanoes in the Jemez Mountains began to rip themselves apart in extended series of eruptions that covered the region with almost a thousand feet of ash and pumice. In time, this volcanic debris compacted and hardened, and was eventually topped with a deposit of sandstone.

Through time, the tougher sandstone cap resisted erosion, but the softer layers of volcano rock below were slowly sculpted by the whims of wind and water, resulting in the odd, amazing cones that now occupy Kasha-Katuwe. The hoodoos, some almost 100 feet in height, curve, twist and contort their ways skyward, forming pillars that are fascinating to see. .

There are two walking trails at the monument. One is called the "Cave Loop" and the other one is an out and back trail that is called the "Slot Canyon" hike. The latter has a vertical rise of just over 600'.

We hiked the Cave Loop and it was beautiful.

Some of the views are "other worldly."

I hope you enjoyed our tour of the Tent Rocks. Please, if you'd like to comment please use the link at the bottom of the page.  

We are staying at Cochiti Lake in Pena Blanca, NM.  Our campground rating follows.

Cochiti Lake - C.O.E. Campground - 4/5

WIFI - No
AT&T - Yes, 2-3 bars and very slow
VERIZON - Yes, 4-5 bars and stable
SERVICES - 20/30/50 Amp plus improved boondocking sites

DISCOUNTS - Yes, All Access and Golden Access Pass rates for us $10 nightly with water available (across the road) and 50 AMP electric

REVIEW -  Pro's - The first (lowest loop) is boondocking and has water available. The next two loops have water and power. These loops almost brand new with nice bath house. Each site in the second two loops have it's own  casita and picnic table and power and water in those loops is at every site is at every campsite along with power. with level and mostly level sites.

Pick your site carefully to insure your rig will fit. We were on site 15 in the Juniper Loop. This area has not been renovated, the toilet/shower is not working but we drove to the other shower houses to shower each day so big deal.


Con's - Dog waste pick up stations don't have bags (there is a place for them) just a waste receptacle. Check in is a mystery, no attendants at the check in office with signs saying "Off Duty." The same applies to the visitors center, nobody home. How do you deal with it? Register online, pay online and come in and go to your site. The site placards are updated daily so if you have registered you will have a tag on your site with your name on it.


Thanks

Birthday Eve in Santa Fe

May 4, 2018.  Tomorrow I turn 55 on 5/5.  There must be some significance to that, but I am not sure what it is.  I started my birthday celebration early.  We took a trip to Santa Fe for the day.

First, I got a Zen Massage at Downtown Day Spa. A 75 minute massage complete with aromatherapy (lavender and sage, mmm), Tibetan Singing Bowls (no idea what they do, but it was kinda cool), and a little Chakra work (I probably could have used a lot of Chakra work).  My therapist, Ridge, did an awesome job.  I was in la la land for at least an hour or two afterwards.  Sorry, no spa photos, but it was everything a spa should be....relaxing and charming with  a definite Santa Fe décor.

After the massage, we went to Casa Chimayo for lunch.

We were a little apprehensive when we arrived at 12:30 and the restaurant was empty.  But perhaps the Santa Fe residents are waiting for Cinco de Mayo to hit the Mexican restaurants.  We ended up quite satisfied with our lunches.  I ordered the Chicken Tortilla Soup, which was a little bland, but perked up with a couple of spoonsful of salsa. AND, of course the house margarita (since happy hour starts at noon here). Chuck ordered the blue corn enchiladas (as featured on Diners, Dives and Drive-Ins).  Nice atmosphere, nice service, decent food.  Oh, and two thumbs up to Santa Fe restaurants.  They tell you what is gluten free on the menus!!!

After lunch, we decided to take a trip to the Harrel House Bug Museum. 

Nestled in the corner of a mall storefront (the rest of which was like a trip to the bazaar -- with rugs, jewelry, and clothing), the bug museum was a hodge podge collection of mounted beetles, bugs, and butterflies plus REAL LIVE lizards, fish, frogs, cockroaches, and tarantulas.  We were offered a chance to hold the bugs at the end of our tour, but we both declined.  Vehemently.  Their admission cost is $5 for seniors and $6 for general public.  Kids are $3, I think.

Reminded me of the Giant Spider Invasion

Soft shelled turtle

It's ALIVE!

Following the bug museum, we decided to try out the Second Street Brewery at the Railyard and do some beer tasting.  We shared samples of the 8 beers they currently have on tap.  Most were too bitter for us, but we did like a couple of them.

Tomorrow the celebration continues with a trip to the Tent Rocks National Monument and some sightseeing closer to the campground.  And of course, a steak dinner.