Taos

While I was in New Mexico for training, the college arranged a visit to local sites – shopping for the most part but fortunately, there were some other options. I took the trip out the Indian village of Taos. It is another World Heritage site (we seem to find these all over the place). It’s completely built out of adobe and has been continuously inhabited for over 1000 years! I didn’t think there was anything that old in the states.
The buildings are completely made of adobe (earth mixed with straw and water and made in sun-dried bricks). The walls are really thick – 3 or 4 feet!! They did use some wood in the construction, particularly for the support of and the building of the roof. Originally there were no doors or windows so you had to climb in from the roof. The homes now have doors and windows installed and people still live in them, many with the inevitable collection of tourist wares to sell. The silver jewelry made by the people was very nice.