Waiting--not really--in Taos, New Mexico Again

Julia Roberts -- publicity photo, not paparazzi!
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Here we are in Tres Orejas again (see Trip Date: Sep 24 '06)—writing about our Mexico (and beyond) adventures. Waiting in the lush weather of northern New Mexico’s late summer, early fall weather. No floods, hurricanes or other natural disasters, just nice, cool afternoon rains, greening up everything. My house, Casa Juan Galan, looks like a tropical paradise on this desert mesa.

The small community of Tres Orejas has grown a little. We have two natural building contractors here that help keep things going. Alternative energy abounds. My girlfriend recently got an old Mercedes that she runs on recycled vegetable oil—read French fries. As a matter of fact, it smells like fries when it’s running. This area is considered the solar capital of the world. Our local FM station, KTAO is solar powered (and available on the web at www.ktao.com).

(If you are) A paparazzi, several well-known folks call it home, including Julia Roberts

I have 4,500 gallons of rainwater catchment and the tanks are almost full. Life is good! We also have a community well (membership) going in down the road.

My house “remodeling” hasn’t progressed as far as I would like since my last report on this blog (Sept ’06). I injured my knee, which has slowed the work considerably. I still intend to finish the bathroom and beef up the solar electric system. Since I don’t live there full time, I will probably rent or sell it when finished. PLUG: It’s completely off the grid, an alternative energy house—solar (photovoltaic) panels, water from the sky, etc. It has 360 degree views with the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to the east. Pretty quiet. A great place to write! High speed Internet is available. Also, satellite TV (if you do that) is available. Phone service is cellular or VOIP (such as Skype). Look on Google for “Alternative Energy House for Sale near Taos, New Mexico” or on my website www.CasaJuanGalan.com .

As I mentioned in the other blog entry, there is a pretty tight Buddhist community here (scattered around—not a commune). See photos from Trip Date: Sep 28 '06 entry.

Tres Orejas is located about a half hour from Taos, New Mexico. Taos is also a very interesting place—something for everyone. If you are an artist or art lover, it is an art colony (art, including dance, writing, theater, film and much more). A ski bum—great skiing. Also rafting, ballooning and many more outdoor sports. If you are a liberal, you will find many friends here. A neo-con, Rumsfeld, has a house and property here. If you are a paparazzi, several well-known folks call it home, including Julia Roberts (also very active in the bio-diesel movement). D. H Lawrence had a place here and it’s been the stomping grounds of many famous artists and literati.

Festivals abound: arts, wool, film, balloon, and more.

And still…I’m looking to go somewhere else to write about. Go figure. My next trip will be back to Laguna Bacalar in December for the next Spirit of Travel Writing Workshop—see earlier blog entry (Trip Date: Mar 08 '07).

After that, tentatively, Central and South America. What if they had used Amerigo’s last name instead? We Vespucchians could travel from North Vespucchi to Central and South Vespucchi. Cool, eh.

Juan

JuanGalan(at)TresOrejas(dot)com