Komierowski Photography

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New Mexico, USA

New Mexico is truly an enchanted land filled with fascinating and fun places to explore. All Photos are COPYRIGHT and PROPERTY of Rafal K. Komierowski. June 2012

Picturesque Taos, gateway town to explore local Taos Publeo and fascinating lands of northern New Mexico

Taos Pueblo is an ancient pueblo belonging to a Taos (Northern Tiwa) speaking Native American tribe of Pueblo people

Taos Pueblo -UNESCO World Heritage Centre

Taos Pueblo -UNESCO World Heritage Centre

Taos located in a tributary valley off the Rio Grande, it is the most northern of the New Mexico pueblos

The long and proud history of the Town dates back to August 29, 1540 when Capitan Hernando Alvarado as part of the expedition of Francisco Vasquez de Coronado arrived in the Taos Valley for the first time...

Spectacular sunset, New Mexico

Famous Staircase of the Lorreto Chapel. The staircase has two 360 degree turns and no visible means of support. Santa Fee, New Mexico

Santa Fe –UNESCO Creative City- is the city well known as a center for arts that reflect the multicultural character… also the oldest capitol city in the United States.

Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, New Mexico, USA

Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, New Mexico, USA

Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, New Mexico, USA

Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, New Mexico, USA

Cochiti Dam is an earthen fill dam located on the Rio Grande River in Sandoval County, New Mexico approximately 50 miles (80.4 km) north of Albuquerque, New Mexico

View of camping and picnic area at Cochiti Dam on Rio Grande... primarily a flood control dam built to ameliorate the effects of heavy run off

Cochiti Dam by volume of material, it is the 23rd largest dam in the world, one of the ten largest such dams in the United States

Cochiti Dam - U.S. Army Corps of Engineers constructed Cochiti Dam and Reservoir. Construction began in 1965. Impoundment of water in Cochiti Lake began in 1973

It is generally believed that the growing village that was to become Albuquerque was named by the provincial governor Don Francisco Cuervo y Valdes in honor of Don Francisco Fernández de la Cueva y Enríquez de Cabrera, viceroy of New Spain from 1653-1660

Don Francisco Fernández de la Cueva y Enríquez de Cabrera included aristocratic titles was Duke of Alburquerque, referring to the Spanish town of Alburquerque

San Felipe de Neri Catholic Church, built in 1793, it is one of the oldest surviving buildings in the city, Old Town Albuquerque, New Mexico

Green garden next to San Felipe de Neri Catholic Church, Old Town Albuquerque, New Mexico

Petroglyph National Monument, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Petroglyph National Monument protects a variety of cultural and natural resources including five volcanic cones, hundreds of archeological sites and an estimated 24,000 images carved by Ancestral Pueblo peoples and early Spanish settlers. Albuquerque, New

Petroglyph National Monument, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Petroglyph National Monument, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Petroglyph National Monument, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Petroglyph National Monument stretches 17 miles (27 km) along Albuquerque, New Mexico s West Mesa, a volcanic basalt escarpment that dominates the city s western horizon.

Nuestra Senora de Dolores, Catholic church located in Manzano on the way to Quarai Ruins, New Mexico, USA

Official Scenic Historic Marker on the Highway 55 New Mexico with regards to the 17th century pueblos in the Salinas area including the three surviving ruins in the National Monument: Quarai, Abo, and Gran Quivira

The Spanish Franciscan mission church of La Purisima Concepcion (1630) is the most complete remaining example of the larger Salina churches.Located about 8 miles north of Mountainair (Hwy 55), at about 6650 feet (2026 m) above sea level

Shaffer Hotel and Restaurant in Mountainair is a gem of the Old West. This was our overnight stay...Something to treasure and enjoy!!!

While touring and exploring enchanted New Mexico, we found some real gem of the Old West. Mountainair is a little town south of Albuquerque along Hwy 55. This route is mostly known for visiting Franciscans Pueblo Missions of Salinas Basin.

Shaffer Hotel. Take a step back into the beginning of 20 Century! As you walk through the front door you are greeted by New Mexico history at its best. You will enjoy interesting and colorful local art, tales of the old west.

This great hotel is a gem; every item is authentic and original. The owners are very friendly, warmly welcoming visitors. Prices are very, very reasonable. We were offered negotiable price for the most beautiful room.

Shaffer Hotel, in Mountainair. Rooms furnished with authentic western style of the period are large and clean.

Shaffer Hotel and Restaurant in Mountainair is a gem of the Old West. WIFI access is another plus for travelers like us who would like stay in touch with outside world.

Shaffer Hotel in Mountainair is a gem of the Old West.

Shaffer Hotel in Mountainair is a gem of the Old West. Local art on the 2nd floor.

Shaffer Hotel in Mountainair. Main floor restaurant with great food and separate bar area is another story to tell and enjoy.

Shaffer Hotel in Mountainair. This amazing hotel was already discovered by the Hollywood ("My One and Only," with Renee Zellweger.) !

Shaffer Hotel in Mountainair is a gem of the Old West. Stone Fence built by the original owner.

Shaffer Hotel in Mountainair is a gem of the Old West. This amazing hotel was already discovered by the Hollywood ("My One and Only," with Renee Zellweger.) !

Old Garage Tomahawk Service Station ( not in service!) seen across Main Street from Shaffer Hotel Mountainair.

Old Murals seen across Main Street from Shaffer Hotel Mountainair.

El Paso Gas Pipeline Right of Way through Salinas Basin, New Mexico, USA

Farm Art at Connell Ranch along Highway No., 55 south of Mountainair, New Mexico, USA

Gran Quivira, largest of the Salinas pueblos, it was occupied for nearly nine centuries, 800 A.D. to 1672 A.D. Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument, New Mexico, USA

Gran Quivira, the Spanish gave this Anasazi village the name of Pueblo de Las Humanas (a thriving pueblo) when Oñate first approached it in 1598 to accept the oath of allegiance to Spain

Documents from the 1600s tell of strife between missionaries and the encomenderos, who complained that the friars kept the Indians so busy studying Christianity & building churches that the encomenderos could neither use Indian labor nor collect their tax

Park Ranger performing every morning Rattlesnake Round-up Tour...Gran Quivira, New Mexico

Prairie Rattlers, the Diamondbacks and the Bull Snakes all like to sunbathe along the trails...Gran Quivira, New Mexico

Kivas...were used for sacred ceremonies and rituals. Long ago, these kivas were covered with a timber roof, and included a hole to allow smoke to escape, and Native Americans to climb in

The San Buenaventura Church was completed in 1636. Best estimates suggest that Las Humanas Pueblo in the 1620s had an Indian population of two to three thousand; the numbers dropped to a thousand before it was abandoned in the early 1670s

However.....

Gran Quivira, New Mexico

Gran Quivira....from the recovered pottery it is quite clear that the Gran Quivira Indians were not only skilled craftsmen, but artists as well

View of high plateau from the grounds of Gran Quivira, New Mexico

Highway 55 across high elevation plateau, New Mexico, USA

Sign at Entrance Gate to McKibben farm along Hwy. 55, New Mexico

Mountainous land of few trees and even less water ... the Apaches and the Navajos, also called the high desert plateau home, scenery seen from the Hwy. 55, New Mexico