We awake to a lovely day in Abiquiu, NM. We get ready to
face the day and walk to the Café for a nice breakfast. Amy has yogurt and
fruit with a side of toast. I have the New Mexico version of Eggs Benedict:
Corn Bread instead of English Muffins and Avocado & Pico de Gallo instead
of Hollandaise.
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| Wayne’s Breakfast |
After breakfast, we walk next door to take the tour of
Georgia O’Keefe’s winter home which is just up the road. We watch a short video
that explains how long it took her to purchase the property. We then pile in a
nice, small bus for the short ride to the home. It is an interesting
tour. She was an interesting woman. She was independent, and by the time her husband Stieglitz died and she moved full-time to New Mexico, she knew what she wanted.
The grounds are separated into the main house and an
out-building that served as a stable, which she converted to her office and
studio.
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| Main House on the Left, Studio on the Right/Back |
During the tour, our guide shows us selected pictures that
Ms. O’Keeffe painted in this studio. He then points out the portions of the
scenery, through the large window, that she was painting for each selection. The pictures aren’t identical
reproductions of the landscapes, but they are interpretations, what she feels
when she sees the landscapes. We are not allowed to take photos of the house’s interior, but
here is some of the view she had from her studio:
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| View East from the Studio |
One of the stories we hear on the tour is that Ms. O’Keeffe
wanted running water in her new home. She was rich enough, and cared enough about
her neighbors, that when she installed running water, she installed it in every
home in Abiquiu. In the courtyard of her home, the guide shows us the famous Black Door that Ms. O’Keeffe painted many times. It’s all starting to make some amount of sense.
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| We Are Enjoying the Tour |
We wholeheartedly recommend this tour to anyone who wants to
learn more about this great artist, or just wants to get a quick introduction
to her work.
After the tour, we decide to visit the Black Mesa Winery,
about 35 minutes away in Velarde. (I sampled their Merlot at dinner last night.) We taste some really good wine! The Tasting
was a blast as we shared the room with a group of 6 young and energetic
people who have come to this corner of the country to raft, taste wine and
enjoy themselves. We share experiences of the Grand Canyon. After they finish their tasting, we have the server to ourselves. We finish our tasting and buy a case of various varieties.
From the server, we also get a recommendation for lunch.
We drive down the road to El Paragua in Espanola. This appears to be more of a place for
locals than for us tourists. The restaurant is quite a building. The décor is
fun and appears authentic. The service is gracious, if not overly prompt. Amy
has the Grilled Chicken Breast Salad and I have the Chile Relleno and Chicken Taco
Combo. Delicious. We got a good recommendation!
Stuffed again, we head back through Espanola to Abiquiu. We
relax until dinnertime, which we eat on the patio at the Café, again. Amy has
the Chicken Piccata and I have Tomato Soup and the Noodle Salad. We have had a most enjoyable day. Both the tour and the tasting were great.
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