For whatever reason, I’ve been thinking a lot about the beginning of the pandemic, just about three years ago now. I’d spent the weekend immediately prior to COVID’s arrival in New Mexico in the Abiquiu area. The day before I went up, I’d run into an old acquaintance who told me I should get the frito pie at Bode’s while I was there; the week after I returned, I saw the same friend and commented that, although the frito pie was tasty, it wasn’t very spicy.1 Life as usual, in other words.2
By the following weekend, everything had shut down and I was working from home … for the next three weeks, they said.3 I had spring fever and was so happy I’d gone up to Abiquiu during what turned out to be the last possible opportunity for many months.
As soon as I got there, I went to Plaza Blanca — The White Place, as Georgia O’Keeffe called it. It’s a dramatic and beautiful landscape owned by the Dar al Islam community. One of the first things I noticed was the dining set above and below.
The table and chairs were substantial. I have no idea how anyone managed to get the table up there; I doubt I could have managed even one of the chairs. They were so incongruent with the rugged landscape that I was compelled to take photo after photo of the scene.
I hiked through the little slot canyon at Plaza Blanca (below) a couple of times as well. Although I’ve been back to Abiquiu since then, that was the last time I visited Plaza Blanca. It closed down entirely for a while and since then, the gate has been locked. I understood you could make reservations to go there at one point,4 but it now appears that Plaza Blanca is closed to the public, perhaps permanently. I’m so glad I went when I could.
The Abiquiu area is chock-full of other interesting places and things, though, including the Rio Chama and the fascinating little square building with a dome below.
It’s gone through many incarnations over the years and I’ve never really understood what any of them were. The building’s been fenced and locked every time I’ve been there, and I’ve never seen any actual human beings about the place … so it remains a mystery.
There’s also a large area of public land a few miles north of Abiquiu where I’ve hiked numerous times. There are no official trails but it’s another fascinating and dramatic landscape, only with red rocks instead of white.5
Even though I’ve wandered around that area many times, I noticed the arch below for the first time during that trip three years ago. If I were a rock climber (and younger!), I might’ve been able to get up there, but a photo was the closest I could get.
Bode’s is the general store in Abiquiu, a New Mexican institution. Frito pie is a bowl of Fritos topped with red chile, lettuce, cheese, onions, and tomatoes.
The joke in those few halcyon days — after COVID had arrived in almost every other part of the US, but wasn’t yet in New Mexico — was that even COVID didn’t realize New Mexico was part of the US.
I retired a year and a half later, never having returned to my physical workplace.
Having to make reservations to hike in various areas is one of the big changes I’ve noticed post-pandemic.
The area is immediately across Highway 84 from the little rest stop overlooking Abiquiu Lake.
Such incredible terrain. And photos.
We love Abiqui & have not been to any of the nature areas in your pics. Bodes, of course! Thx for the pics!
Bev