NEW
MEXICO TRAVEL INFORMATION
Many trails criss-cross
the state of New Mexico. For centuries, the Camino Real was witness
to a legion of Spanish caravans, while later, the Santa Fe Trail
carried an even greater migration from the East. Millions of years
ago, before most of New Mexico's land area had completely risen
above a prehistoric sea, herds of dinosaurs tracked their footsteps
along nowvanished sandy beaches, forming the first of many trails
leading to the Land of Enchantment.
Millions of years after the dinosaurs vanished and the thick sheets
of glacier ice that engraved New Mexico's striking topography had
melted, the Clovis-Paleo Indians discovered the eastern plains of
New Mexico around 10,000 B.C. As the millennia passed, flourishing
waves of the Americas' endemic people spread across New Mexico,
forming city-like settlements at Chaco, Bandelier and Puye, to name
only a few.
The
Anasazi in the northwest and Mogoll6n. in the southwest established.
advanced agrarian-based societies by A.D. 1,000. While the Mogoll6n.
seen-tingly vanished, the Anasazi eventually abandoned their settlements
to establish similar societies along the banks of the Rio Grande.
The last wave of Native Americans arrived shortly before the Spanish
and included the Athapascan people, namely, the Apache and Navajo
tribes. No amount of time could have prepared any tribe or Pueblo
for the clash of cultures that came with the Spanish colonization.
Spanish
explorer Francisco Vasquez de Coronado was one of the first Europeans
to trek through New Mexico in 1540. Coronado came in search of the
Seven Cities of Cibola, a fabled society encrusted in gold. Needless
to say, Coronado must have been quite disappointed to find -only
adobe pueblos, which from afar glittered in the New Mexican sun.
The
first attempt at colonizing New Mexico was bestowed upon Don Juan
de Onate by the Spanish Crown. Traveling with a caravan more than
four miles long, Onate arrived in 1598 and established New Mexico's
first capital at San Gabriel, right outside of present-day Espanola.
While Onate's endeavor ultimately proved to be a financial failure
that would leave him bankrupt, the Spanish colonists who accompanied
him were immediately enamored with northern New Mexico, which reminded
them of their native Spain. The colonists planted deep roots and
shortly thereafter, Don Pedro de Peralta founded Santa Fe as the
capital in 1607.
The
New World's effect on the Native Americans was jarring. The Spanish
firmly upheld the tenets of Christianity and embarked upon a massive
conversion crusade. While some Indians accepted Christianity peacefully,
most did not and slowly plotted a revolt. Led by a courageous San
Juan Pueblo man named Pope and his legendary runners who would cover
long distances by foot to coordinate an attack, the Indian people
revolted in 1680 and drove the Spanish south to El Paso, Texas.
The Spanish returned 12 years later, and led by Don Diego DeVargas,
managed a peaceful reconquest.
Over
the next century, the Spanish way of life became firmly ingrained
although the area suffered an historical isolation from both Spain
and Mexico. Left to virtually fend for themselves, the Spanish Mexicans
modified their culture to suit their way of life. The dance of Los
Matachines and the singular way in which los hermanos penitentes
came to dominate New Mexican colonial life exemplify the cultural
adaptation.
A
crucial turning point in New Mexico's history developed from Mexico's
war of independence from Spain, which ended in 1821. Once freed
from Spain's crown, Mexico opened its trading doors with the U.S.
and Americans of every type flocked in via the Santa Fe Trail to
seek their fortune. U.S. Gen. Stephen Watts Kearny declared New
Mexico an American territory in 1848, an offshot of the United States'
war with Mexico. During the Civil War, New Mexicans loyally defended
against a Confederate invasion at Apache Pass to keep New Mexico
a free territory.
The
introduction of the train to New Mexico ignited a secondary explosion
of commerce in the 1880s. The southeastern plains of the state were
seemingly transformed into bustling cattle kingdoms overnight, and
jealousy and envy between entrepreneurs sparked bloody grudge matches
such as the Lincoln County War, which turned Billy the Kid into
an American icon The Chiricahua Apaches led by Cochfse, Mangas Coloradas,
Victorio and the mighty Geronimo ravaged over Sonora, Mexico, southern
Arizona and southwestern New Mexico with a furious vengeance borne
of the injustices done to them. Thousands of U.S. Cavalry troops
were ultimately brought in to deal with a small number of renegade
Apaches until Geronimo's surrender in 1886.
New
Mexico was granted its statehood on January 6, 1912. As the 20th
century progressed, New Mexicans contributed many notable achievements.
In particular, New Mexicans influenced the resolution of World War
11 in a variety of ways. The U.S. armed forces relied heavily upon
the Navajo "code talkers," who used their native tongue
as a code indecipherable to the Japanese. In addition, New Mexico
was home to the Manhattan Project. Research and development of the
atomic bomb took place at Los Alamos National Defense Laboratories
and the first atomic explosion was conducted at Trinity Site on
July 16, 1945. Shortly thereafter, the atomic bombs "Fat Man"
and "Little Boy" put an end to World War 11.
Today,
New Mexico continues to entice people with its enormous blue skies
and sun-filled days. The boundless landscapes encourage visitors
and New Mexicans alike to retrace the steps of New Mexico's deep
heritage as well as leave their own footprints on the surface.
Getting
Along
You won't find getting along in New Mexico a difficult task if you
remember a few simple things. First and foremost, slow down enough
to look carefully around you. An amazing sight, isn't it? New Mexico's
scenic beauty is so commonplace, it can sometimes be overlooked.
Now
that you have acclimated yourself to a New Mexican pace, take the
time to talk to New Mexicans about your interest in their state.
Traditional Spanish and Native American societies held the values
of respect and courtesy in high regard, and today many New Mexicans
still retain those ways. Getting along in New Mexico is as easy
as reciprocating these values to New Mexicans.
Remember
that the Pueblos and tribal reservations are indeed sovereign nations
and a distinct culture that use a different set of laws. In most
situations, the people around you can provide an example of appropriate
behavior. The following guidelines will also be helpful:
Each
tribe has its own government and visitors' policy. Such policies
value common sense, continuity and respect. Please obey all laws
when visiting reservation lands or Pueblos.
Tribes
highly value traditions, customs and religion. Some actions and/or
questions might be offensive. Tribal dances are religious ceremonies,
not performances put on for tourists. It is a privilege to be part
of a ceremony. Keep quiet, don't applaud or touch the dancers. When
asking questions, don't press for answers as you may be addressing
a sensitive issue or event.
The
reservation communities (Pueblos) are not theme parks. They are
homes and should be respected as such. Don't wander into homes without
invitations. During feast days, you may be welcomed into a home,
but use discretion. Don't linger. Give others the opportunity to
come inside, too.
Photography
is a particularly sensitive issue: fees and restrictions vary from
each Pueblo to tribe and at times from activity to activity. Check
for the tribe's policy before taking a camera out. Photographs are
for private use and are not to be reproduced or resold without written
permission from the tribe. Remember that a photo permit does not
give you permission to invade an individual's privacy nor to disrupt
an activity. Do not attempt to take photos, recordings or sketches
if not allowed, as the embarrassment of being caught is extreme.
Certain
areas of tribal communities are off limits. These may or may not
be posted. They include cemeteries, ceremonial buildings (kivas)
and private homes. Do not climb walls or other structures. Some
are several hundred years old and maynot be safe. Do not remove
artifacts, potts, shards or other tempting items. Do not bring alcohol
or drugs onto the reservation.
Cuisine
For New Mexicans, chile is its own food group. Many a New Mexican
will have fond memories of aromatic chile roasting in the autumn
air. New Mexicans celebrate their beloved chile with festivals,
countless chile cook-offs and even an annual convention. At any
given time, a New Mexican somewhere is probably eating chile, whether
it be salsa and chips, green chile finely diced in a sandwich or
burger, or a burrito smothered in red chile. You get the picture;
New Mexicans eat chile on just about everything.
New
Mexico's native grown chile gives its cuisine a flavor that distinguishes
it from Tex-Mex or Mexican dishes. Let's run down a typical New
Mexican's daily menu: Breakfast: 1) Breakfast burrito-scrambled
eggs, potatoes, cheese, and a choice of ham, bacon or spicy chorizo
(pork sausage) wrapped in a flour tortilla and either smothered
or filled with either red or green chile. 2) Huevos rancheros-corn
tortillas covered with fried eggs, pinto beans, chile and cheese.
Lunch:
1) green chile cheeseburger-a true New Mexican staple. Every place
says theirs is the best, you decide. 2) green chile stew-vegetables,
meat and green chile, another favorite.
Dinner:
1) Carne adovada-cubes of pork marinated in red chile and baked
until tender. The best almost melts in your mouth. 2) Enchilada
platter-com tortillas either rolled up or stacked flat like pancakes
with any combination of beans, meats, red or green chile, or both
(Christmas), onions, lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, or guacamole.
There are many variations and enchiladas can usually be made to
suit each person's tastes. Insider's tip: Order a fried egg placed
over a flat enchilada.
A
true New Mexican favorite is the sopapilla. These pillow-shaped,
flour pastries are deep-fried in oil until they fill with air. They
are served at most New Mexican restaurants and are simply delicious
with honey. Many restaurants also serve sopaipillas stuffed with
beans and meat, and smothered with chile as entrees.
For
a truly New Mexican experience, sample Native American cuisine.
Try fresh-from-the-horno fry bread at a roadside stand. Indian tacos
are fresh lettuce, tomatoes, refried beans, guacamole, sour cream
and chile piled, open-faced, onto puffy tortillas or fry bread.
Paper-thin sheets of piki bread are excellent dipped in stew. They
are made from finely ground corn cooked in boiling water until it
turns to mush and then spread over a hot flat surface.
Geology
New Mexico's geology is a landscape of dramatic contrasts. The fifth-largest
state in the U.S., New Mexico is home to low-lying, desert plains
in the south, soaring mountain ranges in the north and some of the
most awesome natural wonders in between.
During the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, most of New
Mexico was covered by a prehistoric ocean that stopped short near
Clayton, in the extreme northeastern comer of the state, where packs
of dinosaurs tracked their feet in the mud and sand of the beaches.
The ocean dried up in the Cenozoic Period and as the Earth's tectonic
plates started to shift and buckle, the Rocky Mountains were pushed
upward with great force.
The
formation of the Rockies marked the beginning of a volcanic period
that literally pockmarked New Mexico and created striking natural
formations like Ship Rock. This volcanic neck rises more than 1,700
feet above the desert floor, and is actually the core of an eroded
volcano. One of the world's largest volcanic calderas can be found
in the Jemez Mountains. In fact, the explosion that created Valle
Grande was supposedly so violent, chunks of material have been found
as far away as Idaho. Today, Valle Grande is 176 square miles of
green pastures, wildflowers and grazing cattle.
A
relative newcomer to the scene was Little Black Peak in the Valley
of Fires National Recreation Area. When it erupted about 1,000 years
ago, Little Black Peak formed more than 44 miles of domes, tubes
and caves of thick and ropey pa hoe hoe lava flows, some of the
best examples of this type of lava flow in the continental U.S.
New
Mexico's pristine mountain ranges and especially the Rio Grande
Rift Valley were created by seismic activity. The Sandias, Manzanos
and Sacramento Mountain ranges are just a few that line up along
fault lines. Parallel fault lines created an enormous trough that
today is known as the Rio Grande Rift Valley
In
New Mexico, water is a precious and scarce resource. Nonetheless,
it remains a powerful force in the formation of some of New Mexico's
most beautiful features. As underground water circulates, it deposits
salt, gypsum and limestone to form intricate subterranean caves.
Carlsbad Caverns in southeastern New Mexico is famous for its extensive
system of caverns, one of the largest in the world.
If
the cavern roof is not stable, it usually collapses to form a sink
hole or a take. Although the name is an exaggeration because the
deepest lake is only about 90 feet, Bottomless Lakes State Park
was formed in this manner.
Lake
Lucero, on the other hand, has no water. That is actually a good
thing, given that water would dissolve the gypsum sand that the
wind blows into dunes 50 feet high to form White Sands National
Monument. Covering 275 square miles, White Sands is the world's
largest gypsum dune field.
For
more information contact:
New
Mexico Board of Tourism
491 Old Santa Fe Trail
Santa Fe, NM 87503
Phone:
(800) 733-6396
fax: (505) 827-7402
or
visit their web-site at:
http://www.newmexico.org
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