Aug. 15 & 16

Thursday - massages!  Boy did they feel good, we promised ourselves one as we packed up, emptied the apartment & finished our jobs in July.  We picked up Ben & Kelsey and went downtown to the Basilica for the noon Assumption Mass.  St. Francis of Assisi, is a beautiful church.  Later we packed up chairs, table, wine & munchies for our opera tailgating party.  Kelsey & Lacey joined us & then we enjoyed the opera, "The Grand Duchess of Gerolstein".   Ben was a soldier and got to march, dance and exercise as part of the chorus - in wool uniforms!  This opera was more like musical theater in French.  Another great show!

Friday - picked up Ben & Kelsey and headed to Taos for the day.  Our first stop was in Chimayo, to the El Santuariò de Chimayó in New Mexico which is a place of pilgrimages and is called “the Lourdes of America” (after the famous French healing shrine).  A very beautiful, holy place.  We saw their priest, Fr. Roca.  He is 95 years old & celebrated his 70th anniversary of priesthood on Assumption Thursday.  On to Taos, had lunch at the Eske's Brewery.  We visited the Taos Pueblo and learned about the people still living there without electricity or running water.  It was a Hot day, but felt 10 degrees cooler every time we walked in to one of the adobe homes.  Also went to the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge.  It is 600 feet deep under the bridge out in the middle of the flat desert.  
That night Ben's host Mom had us over for supper.  Lois made Texas Brisket (to die for!), Ben made Zingerman's Mac & Cheese, and Samantha & Lacey made salad.  Lois spoiled us further with a chocolate dessert.  A fun evening.