Will not provide a running commentary, just a few pics of what we saw in the caves.
Well, we make it safely back to the surface. New Mexico looks kinda grim.
Next stop will be Roswell, but I think I was more excited about it than the boys, who had visions of hot springs dancing in their minds.
Couldn't believe the guys didn't want to hang around and visit with the locals.
We press on in search of hot water and find it Ojo Caliente. I had visited this place years ago, when it was a funky, new agey, run down oasis with lots and lots of hot water. since then some folks from Texas have purchased the place and it is all very upscale now.
Steeped in myth and legend, these ancient springs have been a gathering place and source of healing for hundreds, even thousands of years. The use of the waters can be traced back to the earliest human settlements in the region. Ancient people, believed to be the ancestors of today’s Native American Tewa tribes, built large pueblos and terraced gardens overlooking the springs. Posi or Poseuinge, “village at the place of the green bubbling hot springs” was home to thousands of people.
In the 1500’s the Spaniards, in their quest for gold and the Fountain of Youth, also discovered the Springs. One explorer’s record cites, “The greatest treasure that I found these strange people to possess, are hot springs which burst out at the foot of a mountain… so powerful are the chemicals contained in this water that the inhabitants have a belief that they were given to them by their gods. These springs I have named Ojo Caliente” (literally translated means “warm eye”, but more commonly known as “hot spring”).
In 1868, Mr. Joseph, now responsible for managing the family business, was also named the first Territorial Representative. It is at this time as well, that Mr. Joseph moved to Ojo Caliente, New Mexico, where he opened Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs as the first natural health spa in the country. Joseph’s Ojo became a hub of activity by providing overnight lodging, a Post Office, and a general store where historical ledgers show Kit Carson frequently purchased supplies.
At Ojo, Mr. Joseph built a sanitarium, which soon became known throughout the country as a place where thousands of invalids were annually cured. Many structures have been built since throughout the decades. The oldest building on record is the Co-ed Bathhouse built in the 1860s; later followed by the Historic Hotel, built in 1916, and the Adobe Round Barn in 1924. All three buildings have been lovingly restored and are listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.
The famous and the infamous have taken these waters. Volumes of testimonials filled with declarations of miracle cures abound. Whether unproven folklore or not, generations of the faithful continually make the pilgrimage back to these special waters. This remarkable combination of four different types of mineral waters: lithium, iron, soda and arsenic, over 100,000 gallons a day, still come steaming to the surface, revitalizing those who soak in these legendary waters. Pretty nice place now.
Ojo Caliente is the only hot springs in the world with a remarkable combination of four different types of mineral water: lithium, iron, soda and arsenic. Our ten pools are filled with different types and combinations of waters with temperatures ranging from 80-109 degrees.
The Lithia Spring is located at the heart of the springs. The historic pump has been dispensing this unique water since the nineteenth century. Lithium is believed to relieve depression and aid digestion. We took some of this water with us, adults only though!
The Iron Spring: A Native American legend tells that the giant rock in the iron pool guards the place where the ancient people of the mesa once received food and water during times of famine. The warm, iron-rich water bubbles up from the natural pebble floor, providing hot spots to discover in this mystical outdoor cliffside pool. Iron is considered to be beneficial to the blood and immune system.
The Soda Spring: The rock walls in the enclosed Soda ?..steam?.? pool create a soft echo providing a sense of calm and relaxation. Water from the Soda Spring is said to have been used to relieve digestive problems.
The Arsenic Spring: The arsenic water is believed to be beneficial for relief from arthritis, stomach ulcers and to heal a variety of skin conditions. Water from the iron and arsenic springs is blended in various pools throughout the property.
We sampled one of the private soaking areas. Ojo Caliente has created the perfect environment for those yearning to bathe under big blue skies by day, or on a stunning starlit night. The secluded Private Outdoor Pools come complete with kiva fireplaces so you can create your own Ojo experience. The boys became full members of the Confederation of Reformed and Presbyterian Soakers.
Can you say, aaaaaahhhhhh!
The boys burning off some energy doing a little climbing.
We took our evening meal here. It was very good. Well, time to hit the road again. We make it to Alamosa, Colorado late of an evening.
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