We shook off our winter blues and headed up north on Good Friday. From I-25 we could see the magnificent skies over northern New Mexico. Swirls of gray and bright white were separated by striations of darker hues. It looked like snow may be falling. You never know in New Mexico.
Our annual pilgrimage to Chimayo normally takes us the back way - through Española. This year we decided to go via County Road 76 (also known as the High Road to Taos.) Despite the route taken into the Santuario, the Good Friday pilgrimage to Chimayo is unequaled. Anywhere. High mesas, mountains, piñón, hand crafted crosses, snow, rain, and, dedicated walkers make it spectacular and uniquely New Mexican.
One doesn't need to be a person of faith to walk. One only needs the desire, the dedication, and, the heart to do it. We saw walkers with physical challenges, in wheelchairs, carrying large crosses and in shoes that didn't fit. We saw runners. We saw hope.
Good Friday morning I heard that 30,000 pilgrims were expected in Chimayo. I don't know if the estimate was accurate. If so, that was a lot of hearts. It was beautiful.
On the High Road to Taos there are many places of personal devotion. Classic New Mexico.
A high mesa just before the light snow.
A distant dusting.
Walkers lined the roadway. The cars had pilgrims, too.
Along the way.
Santuario.
Waiting to get in.
I never tire of taking shots of the devotional candles.
For those present and past.
My favorite alter.
Time for renewal, spring has sprung, Aztecah dancers were also in line to enter the santuario.
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