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A WHITE CHRISTMAS IN TAOS

December 24 brings the Christmas Eve Procession at Taos Pueblo.  No where else on Earth can you experience this magical event. A stunning contrast between bonfires and the Procession of the Virgin is a pageant of beauty, heritage and awe inspiring imagery. Begins at sundown.

December 25 is the Taos Pueblo Deer or Matachines Dance at the Taos Pueblo.  These traditional Christmas day dances begin at 2 pm. (No cameras or cell phones allowed please.) 

New Year's Eve Celebration at Taos Ski Valley begins with the torchlight parade and fireworks display starting at 6 p.m. followed by festivities throughout the valley! 

January 1 begins the community-wide program of celebrating some of the adventuresome and spirited woman who have been drawn to Taos.  A century ago, special places like Taos were sought out by many strong, creative women. Two such iconic women who sought and found freedom in Taos were artists Agnes Martin and Beatrice Mandelman, both born in 1912.  To celebrate them, and dozens of other remarkable women, both historic and current, Taos will have a series of special events in 2012. Find a calendar at TAOS.org/women. 

THE BEAUTY OF CHRISTMAS IN SANTA FE

Santa Fe, the oldest capital in the United States is steeped in tradition and what better time to enjoy its beauty than at Christmas. There is so much to experience from the traditional Christmas Eve walk on Canyon Road to a weekend of Skiing!

Click here for more ideas of what to do in Santa Fe over the holidays.

View current ski conditions

SKI SEASON IS HERE!!!

December 15th 2011, is opening day for Angel Fire Resort's Ski Mountain!

There's a 31 inch base and they've been making snow nightly. Looking forward to a great season.

Don't forget to visit the new Nordic Center at the Angel Fire Resort Country Club.

Ask Katherine about the Resort's shuttle service when booking your ski condo stay with Kokopelli!

PHOTOGRAPHING SANTA FE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

According to Vic Schendel, Santa Fe reveals much of its beauty and charm during the holiday season and I would have to agree...

Santa Fe's Art, Charm Offer Refreshing Change of Pace

Photographing wildlife is incredibly exciting, and spending time in the wilderness with all that's wild is almost as good as it gets.

The key word is almost, because spending time with my lady is always better. Candi is wonderful to travel with. One of our favorite destinations between Thanksgiving and Christmas is Santa Fe, N. M. It's an incredibly romantic city with lots of fine dining, art galleries, shopping and beautiful scenery. The scent of burning pinyon pine and the spice of northern New Mexican cuisine wafts through the cool air and adds to the southwestern ambiance.

Most nights we walk the streets, stepping into the local cantinas for a margarita or two and listening to the sounds of Spanish guitars as they serenade the evening away.

You might be wondering what all this has to do with photography? Santa Fe offers a great deal of subject matter and gives me a needed break from elk, deer and climbing up and down the mountains in snowstorms. I also haven't found any ill-tempered moose in the streets of Santa Fe ready to charge.

Light in this part of the country is surreal and draws painters and photographers from all over the world who try to capture its magic. The sky is an azure blue and takes your breath away. Sunsets can be magnificent as they paint the adobe walls of the city in hues of coral and gold.

We always spend several hours walking through the old neighborhoods looking for alleyways that hide hand-hewn doors , gates and windows painted in turquoise and pink. The city celebrated its 400th anniversary this year and all those years reflect in its hidden corners.

On one side street we found a bright pink gateway adorned with all kinds of religious artifacts. On another, an aged door with chipped, faded blue paint and a large pumpkin at the side that made for wonderful contrasts in color. Take your time, be patient and look for everything unique. I try to use a short zoom lens that allows me to frame subjects easily.

We've been lucky enough to enjoy a dusting of snow on a couple of occasions. Canyon Road hosts tons of galleries and during the holiday season gallery doors and windows are decorated with chili wreaths and ristras. As the gentle snowflakes fall, they make for perfect postcard pictures.

In the late evening, look for luminarias along cobblestone walkways that adorn the city for the holiday season. The shadows of flickering candlelight in the brown paper bags can make for fascinating images.

I like to take pictures of sculptures covered in snow that adorn the courtyard of Saint Francis Cathedral on the east side of the plaza. Take your tripod and use long time exposures to capture them against the stone walls of the church.

Oh, and one last thing ... make sure to relax and breathe in the enchantment of this place with the one you love.

Vic Schendel

TAOS-MO-SIS: A RENEWED STATE OF BEING, ATTAINED THROUGH EXPERIENCES FOUND ONLY IN TAOS, NEW MEXICO.

Taos Ski Valley is now open Thursday-Sunday. Beginning December 15th the slopes wll be open daily!  Come ski our feather-light powder snow and go as steep as you dare or as gentle as you want in our world-famous winter wonderland.  Demo days are December 16th and 17th - try out the newest skis and snowboards on the market at no charge!  http://skitaos.org/

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ANGEL FIRE RESORT OPENS DECEMBER 15TH!

Angel Fire Resort opening day is December 15, 2011.  Many new things are around the corner and today's forecast shows some snow over the weekend.  Get ready to pull out your jackets, skis, snowboards and hit the slopes soon.

The Angel Fire Resort will be unveiling the new Nordic Center this season.  Offering 10 km of groomed, classic and skate cross-country ski trails with snowshoeing lanes and a family snow play hill for sledding near the golf course area.  Don't forget the great skiing and tubing that the resort offers as well—including the NASTAR race course above the base with recreational racing with a slalom format.  Night skiing will also return this year. 

More good news is that the Resort will be offering shuttle service on their new Condo Route.  This will be transportation service for the condo complexes near the Resort to the base.  Tickets will be $1 each and punch cards will be available for purchase for everyone in your group.  We will be confirming details as more unveils.

For more details, see www.angelfireresort.com

THE TRAIN TO SANTA FE

There was a time when train was the only way to travel. Richard Harris, renowned author of travel guides to the American Southwest, understood the romance of coming to Santa Fe on the rail. Click here to read more.

BUSINESS TRAVELERS OPT FOR HOMIER DIGS ON THE ROAD

With the holidays fast approaching, it can be a difficult time to be on the road. Many are looking for a place with homier comforts during their travels. Click here to read more.

RENT A HOME FOR YOUR VACATION

Here is a link to a great article about the affordability of staying in a vacation home.  This article states that on average vacation homes are about 50% less costly per square foot than a hotel not to mention that you can save on dining by cooking in a fully equipped kitchen.  More space + more value = an unforgettable vacation experience.

WHAT DO YOU MISS WHEN YOU DRIVE THROUGH SANTA FE?

Here is a link to a great article of how a woman came to love Santa Fe by never having the ability to explore the city as a child passing through.  She gives insight to her favorite galleries and shops as well.  Click here to read the whole article!