The Loretto Chapel is a former Roman Catholic church that is now used as a museum and wedding chapel. It is known for its unusual helix-shaped spiral staircase (the “Miraculous Stair”). As you can see from the picture the stairway appears to be floating. The handrails where added later at the request of nuns. In addition to the staircase, the museum is a beautiful representation of churches from the 1800’s.

Another beautiful church in the area is the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi originally built in 1610, but was destroyed and re-built in 1886.

The Palace of the Governors is an adobe structure located on Palace Avenue on the Plaza of Santa Fe, New Mexico within the Santa Fe Historic District and it served as the seat of government for the state of New Mexico for centuries. The Palace of the Governors is the oldest continuously occupied public building in the United States. Daily Native Americans sell their beautiful jewelry and pottery along the walls.

Sightseeing is hungry work. We opted for The Shed restaurant. It was awesome. Green Chilies are the best!!

Another great restaurant is Cowgirl. It has received accolades from many national newspapers and the Food Network. Get there for some great BBQ.

Los Alamos, meaning The Cottonwoods, is the birthplace of the first atomic bomb––the primary objective of the Manhattan Project by Los Alamos National Laboratory during World War II. In 1942, during World War II, the Department of War began looking for a remote location for the Manhattan Project. The War Department declared imminent domain of the existing Ranch School, a boys school for very elite families. Below is the old school which became a meeting place and dorm for members of the Manhattan Project. The pictures don’t capture the beautiful architecture of the school building. Notice unlike most log structures, these logs stand upright.

The Main Gate to Los Alamos during the Manhattan Project as well as the guard tower as you come to the main road into the city.

Our Nobel Prize