North of Albuquerque

After a day to rest and recuperate, we spent a day sightseeing, driving north on New Mexico SR 4, stopping to appreciate the museum at the Pueblo of Jemez Visitor Center, and its excellent photo essay exhibit of raising children in the pueblo. Following the road northwards, we stopped at one of the fishing/picnic areas to enjoy the sight of red rocks and spring green cottonwoods under blue skies. 

The road climbed and soon we were among evergreens and aspen, then crossing an ancient volcano crater (Valles Caldera National Preserve) before skirting Bandelier National Monument and heading home via Santa Fe. We had an excellent New Mexican lunch in Santa Fe, wandered around the old town center for a bit, and visited the Georgia O'Keefe museum.

O'Keefe's painting, Back of Marie's #4 -- which reminded me of the rocks and the cottonwoods we saw that morning.

Another O'Keefe. Took me awhile to figure out that what looks like a rift in the red background with stars shining through was actually just a reflection of the room's ceiling lights.

O'Keefe's Bella Donna