Route 66 - Day #12
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
On our way to Santa Fe, we stopped to visit Pecos National Historical Park.
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From ChatGPT:
Pecos National Historical Park preserves the ruins of Pecos Pueblo, once a major trading center between Plains tribes and Spanish settlers. Visitors can explore ancient adobe structures, mission church remains, and scenic trails with sweeping views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The site also commemorates the Civil War Battle of Glorieta Pass, often called the “Gettysburg of the West,” making it a place where cultures and histories intersect.
While walking around the park we saw yet another first. A woman pushing a billy goat in a baby stroller. The goat was sitting on a bed of hay and was wearing a onesie. You can’t make this stuff up!!! A photo really wasn’t possible - it kind of happened fast; but even the park Ranger admitted it was a first for them as well
Tree cholla.
This is the insdise of kiva.
From ChatGPT:
A kiva is a ceremonial, often circular, underground or semi-subterranean chamber used by Ancestral Puebloan peoples for religious rituals, community gatherings, and political meetings. Typically entered through a roof ladder, kivas feature elements like a fire pit and a sipapu, symbolizing emergence. Sites such as Pecos Pueblo preserve examples of these sacred spaces.
When she kicked him out of the trailer, he decided to take everything that he could fit in the truck, including the power pole!
This has absolutely nothing to do with Route 66 other than being yet another bit of strangeness seen on the route.
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The rest of today was spent touring around Santa Fe, NM. The architecture was fantastic and the art scene was the best we have ever seen anywhere.
This is the Loretto Chapel.
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The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi.
From ChatGPT:
Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi is a Romanesque Revival landmark built between 1869 and 1886. Its twin towers, rose window, and adobe-colored stone contrast with surrounding architecture, symbolizing the enduring presence of Catholic heritage in northern New Mexico.
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Santa Fe had so much art, so many fun colors and just such a great vibe. We would definitely come back here again in the future.
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These red chilis in all kinds of different hanging forms are ubiquitous around the city.
In case your home decor just isn’t complete without a cow skull…. well, never fear, they have many to choose from.
They had one shop that was entirely dedicated to selling all kinds of cacti. This was our favorite, but they had so many types that it was mind boggling.
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More of the wonderful and colorful architecture that Santa Fe is known for.
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Peppers hanging everywhere!
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From ChatGPT:
Lensic Performing Arts Center opened in 1931 as a movie palace and vaudeville venue. Restored in the 1990s, it now hosts concerts, films, theater, and dance, serving as a vibrant cultural hub in downtown Santa Fe.
