Friday, May 1, 2009
EL CAMINO REAL DE TIERRA ADENTRO
Time for another history lesson.
What is the El Camino Real? Spanish Royal Roads were well organized and maintained for use by military and civilians. These were public roads, guarded to ensure trade and safe travel. The El Camino Real played an important role in the establishment of what is now the southwestern United States.
For thousands of years, tribes in Mexico and North American traded on this Royal Road. In 1521, when the Spaniard Hernan Cortes conquered the Aztec capital and renamed it Mexico City, ative trade routes such as the El Camino Real, fell under Spanish military control. This route wound north from Mexico City 1500 miles to present-day Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo which is located north of Santa Fe.
Following this traditional route of the Mexicans and Indians, the Spanish began to spread northward, settling ranches and mining silver. Pioneers and Catholic missionaries went farther and farther north wanting to establish a lifestyle in the north, similar to the lives they knew in Spain and New Spain. The Spaniards also introduced horses, cattle, sheep, goats, chickens, gunpowder, and iron to North America. They had a impact on Native populations with the acequia system to water crops and they also introduced devastating European diseases.
The heritage center is located at the north end of the part of this trail known as Jornada del Muerto (the Dead Man's Journey) which is an unforgiving desert that claimed the lives of many men and beasts.
In 1598 Don Juan de Onate and his exhausted and hungry colonists traveled north from the Jornada del Muerto and arrived at a pueblo whose people offered friendship, food, and gifts. In gratitude, Onate named the place Socorro for the help his people received.
El Camino Real is only intermittently visible today, just ruts in the desert floor that lay parallel to the trail's modern successor: Interstate 25.
What is the El Camino Real? Spanish Royal Roads were well organized and maintained for use by military and civilians. These were public roads, guarded to ensure trade and safe travel. The El Camino Real played an important role in the establishment of what is now the southwestern United States.
For thousands of years, tribes in Mexico and North American traded on this Royal Road. In 1521, when the Spaniard Hernan Cortes conquered the Aztec capital and renamed it Mexico City, ative trade routes such as the El Camino Real, fell under Spanish military control. This route wound north from Mexico City 1500 miles to present-day Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo which is located north of Santa Fe.
Following this traditional route of the Mexicans and Indians, the Spanish began to spread northward, settling ranches and mining silver. Pioneers and Catholic missionaries went farther and farther north wanting to establish a lifestyle in the north, similar to the lives they knew in Spain and New Spain. The Spaniards also introduced horses, cattle, sheep, goats, chickens, gunpowder, and iron to North America. They had a impact on Native populations with the acequia system to water crops and they also introduced devastating European diseases.The heritage center is located at the north end of the part of this trail known as Jornada del Muerto (the Dead Man's Journey) which is an unforgiving desert that claimed the lives of many men and beasts.
In 1598 Don Juan de Onate and his exhausted and hungry colonists traveled north from the Jornada del Muerto and arrived at a pueblo whose people offered friendship, food, and gifts. In gratitude, Onate named the place Socorro for the help his people received.
El Camino Real is only intermittently visible today, just ruts in the desert floor that lay parallel to the trail's modern successor: Interstate 25.
EL CAMINO REAL INTERNATIONAL HERITAGE CENTER
This Heritage Center was spectacular. It rises from the desert landscape totally unique among other New Mexico state monuments. It represents and offers a deeper understanding of the people of Europe, Mexico and what is now the United States. It is located at the northern end of the most deadly section of the El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro trail. This center is a definite must for anyone who wants to know more about the history of the Southwestern USA and our relationships with the Spaniards and Indians.
DESERT DOG
Scooter loves to lay on the warm rocks out in the sun. Getting her to come in the house is almost impossible until she get soo hot she can't stand it. Now Skittlez wants to get her business done and get back in the house. She likes the warm weather but is definitely an indoor pup - like me.BEAUTIFUL NM SUNSET
Night after night after night we have these beautiful New Mexico sunsets. One of these days I'm going to have to get up early enough to see what the sunrises look like. Haven't made it up tat early yet so I guess I won't make any promises that I'll get any posted here.SKP SEGUARO - BENSON, AZ
This SKP (Escapees) park has unbelievable sites. They are 40 x 60 and are just amazingly large. Really friendly neighbors. We only got to spend one night here but we will definitely go back and spend at least a week next time.Most of the lots have these little casitas on them which they cannot live in but can use as an extra room for overnight company or just as a TV room.
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