Bring your Heart to White Sands

The first time I went to White Sands, NM it was the end of summer, and I was really amazed by this white desert. Although it is a desert and a 'moving one,'

some plants have succeeded in surviving. Yes it is moving, because as with any dune, the wind is a huge factor, and makes the landscape change and move, which of course becomes a big problem to maintain the paths and roads within this exceptional area.

Here, again, you are confronted with the immensity and the very long work of time through the landscape.

When in this desert, you are definitely inspired towards meditation and rejuvenation. If you are looking for some inspiration, it is a fabulous place to reconnect with nature and, by simply being in the moment, enjoying this unique site, immensity, and calm.

Even in the middle of the hottest summer days, when touching the sand, about ½ inch under, it is cold; the sand is such a pure white, that it deflects the sun heat.

So be careful, don't get lost and stay too late in this fascinating beauty, or the cold will get you at dusk...

White Sands' dune

The most renowned mystery of Santa Fe…. about to be unveiled.

Legend is often rooted in truth and truth in legend...

Before we enter into the chapel…we will read this sign. Everything you can read on it, is erroneous!

Loretto Chapel! No no no, but maybe “The Chapel of our Lady of Light” was a little bit too long to put on this sign. But that is its real name.
Built in 1873! Do you really think that such a sophisticate jewel could have been built in one single year? It took 5 to be completed, until 1878.

The best! Miraculous Stairway...

The legend goes… I won’t give you all the sleazy - flimsy details of the story.

But it is said that due to the murder of young Mouly, the architect of the chapel, the choir was left with no plans or drawings to figure out how access it!

The Loretto sisters begun to do what they knew best, they pray! And it worked!
After 9 days of prayers (called a novena) to St Joseph, the patron saint of the carpenters…a white bearded-man carrying a toolbox and traveling with a donkey, appear at the convent door, seeking for work… as a carpenter! What a great co incidence!

The sisters employed him immediately. The man built a two 360 degree spiral staircase, piece of art! And disappeared, without even asking to be paid for his labor!

Who wouldn’t want to know the name of such a model employee! Many begun to assure that Saint Joseph himself came to built the Miraculous Staircase, in Santa Fe!

And this... was the Legend.

And this is the object of the controversy.
What everyone agrees on, is that this is artistically evident that the 19th century craftsman who built the staircase in this chapel was a MASTER carpenter. From any angle you look at it, it’s simply magnificent

and perfect!
After many years of thorough research, Mary Straw Cook, the author of the book Loretto: The Sisters and Their Santa Fe Chapel could state with no doubts: Francois-Jean Rochas, was the talented carpenter.

The question now is: HOW did he build it? How this amazing stairway can stand withouta central axe and no nails? ...

Rochas, also known as ‘Frenchy’ seemed to have received training as a ‘compagnon’.

When I researched on the compagnon’s carpenter from his time, 19th century, these types of stairways were quiet common.

‘The compagnons du tour de France’, that’s their exact name, -

absolutely not related to the ‘actual tour de France’ that you might have heard

from - is a French organization of craftsmen and artisans dating from the Middle age, and still active today!

The young people who aspire to become a compagnon, have to take a two years course, where they learn the basic of their work, then they leave for a ‘Tour de France” which now can be all around the world, for three to five years, in different cities, and with different masters.

The knowledge is transmitted only verbally from masters to apprentice; it is kept secret because only those who deserve it can receive the knowledge.

It is not a technical knowledge only, but also the teaching of philosophy, the symbolic, and values: fraternity, equity, and appreciation of the well-done labor for the welfare of the community. Only those who can apply these values in their everyday life are worthy of the knowledge.

At the end of their ‘compagnonnage’, the student has to build a ‘model’ of EXCEPTION to show his abilities, before receiving the title of ‘compagnon’.

Even with a nice and well said legend, it’s the labor and chef d’oeuvre which really matter and which is admire centuries later. As a compagnon, I’m sure Rochas understood this. It was not about him, it was about doing something of exception for the benefice of the community. And for the little story, he did receive payment for his labor. (see pictures above from the museums of 'les compagnons du tour de France' of the 19th century.

As Benjamin Franklin said: “Well done is better than well said”.

The pure joy of one of the most beautiful world's wonders: White Sands

White Sands is the largest desert of gypsum in the world, but above all it is one of the world's great wonders! All this white gives you a sense of pure joy, euphoria (a mental and emotional state defined as a profound sense of well being).

This is such a fascinating area, it seems that everyone entering this amazing place, leave any sadness at the entrance. Just like the snow often bring excitement, white sands give you joy and excitement, without the cold. You can play for hours in this immense 'sandbox' until sunset....then it turn itself as such a beauty, you'll be in awe! What was blue and white so far turn multicolored, with pink, orange, red colors, it is simply fascinating to watch and hard to turn away from it.

Early morning and late afternoon are definitely the best time to witness this pure beauty and immerse yourself into this inspiring desert. The shadows of the dunes gives you more relief.

If you go with your kids, (or just want to retrieve your inner child...) bring or purchase a luge (a small one- or two-person sled) and enjoy the play area...

Treasure Hunt in Santa Fe, NM

We celebrated Thanksgiving with a lot of fun around the heart of Santa Fe (the Santa Fe plaza’s surname as many discovered) discovering its history, stories and beauties, as well as how cold Santa Fe can be!

The Santa Fe Trail...On the road to our roots

The Santa Fe Trail was one of the first commercial roads trough the West and played a huge role in the development of the Wild West. The first wagons began to head west in 1821 and the traffic increased steadily until 1879. When the Railroad reached the area it became easier, faster and more secure to travel west.

The Santa Fe Trail started in Franklin, Missouri and ended in Santa Fe, New Mexico; it went through Kansas, Colorado (the Mountain route) or Oklahoma (the Cimarron route) and New Mexico.

Spanning 900 miles between Franklin, MO and Santa Fe, NM the trail brought tog ether diverse cultures that cooperated most of the times and clashed sometimes. One sure thing is that it changed forever the life of the Indian people from the Plains.

If early encounters were peaceful, it changed rapidly with the increase of traffic.

The trail was a vital trading route for commercial goods and later military supplies.

Textile and hardware were the main products brought to the West while silver and mules were heading East.

Santa Fe's history treasure hunt!

Celebrate Thanksgiving with your family or friends in Santa Fe, NM, treasure hunting!

Thursday november 25th, from 9am to 12pm, each tean (your friends or family) will be looking for clues about Santa Fe's past in a fun and friendly environment. It's an opportunity for families and friends to share quality time, have fun, learn about Santa Fe's rich history and make new friends.

• Team up for the fun and to learn more about Santa Fe!
• Make new friends
• Discover the symbols hiding within Santa Fe's walls
• Learn the stories behind the History

Register here to participate: Contact@travelheart.net

Price: Family - $100

Individuals - $35

Celebrate your life!

When I look around me, I feel blessed and grateful for everything I have, the friends who are in my life, for my daughter and husband, and for all the wonderful opportunities to travel, to experience life, and to witness beauty through incredible landscape.
This year I worked closely with a mentor who guided me to look deep into myself. Honestly, this was a tough road and I didn’t always like what I discovered.
It required a lot of work, discipline and efforts to change. But it also showed me that I have strength and courage I didn’t suspect. It helped me to find resources within myself, to acknowledge all the wonders around me in my everyday life. And most important I became more sensitive to my surroundings. I discovered that during the three days I was around Gallup, Window Rock and Canyon de Chelly. We went to few sacred sites, and I could feel the energy of the sites, which was an amazing experience.
When confronted to these sites, I can feel an immense respect for it, a deep peace in front of their beauty and all the past history; I felt a deep connection with this environment.


It’s really important to live each moment of our life as a gift, I’m sure you are familiar with Eleanor Roosevelt’s quote: “ Yesterday is history, tomorrow is mystery, today is a gift,that’s why we call it present!”
We tend too often to rush, and be anxious about the future or for things that have not yet happen. How many ‘precious moments’ in our life do we let pass by, and miss because we are not fully present in the instant?

How many people do I cross hiking, who are rushing towards the destination.

“Too often we are so preoccupied with the destination, we forget the journey.” We should savor each moment of our life. The best way to enjoy the most of it is to become aware of our surroundings, notice the animals we encounter, the elements we come across, wind/air, earth, fire, and water.

Water is an incredible natural element that can make us change our plans…when it’s pouring rain for instance!
During the three days I spent in the Navajo country, I never saw so much water! Yes for New Mexico and Arizona it’s pretty unusual. I was really amazed to witness that. All the Native Americans people I met consider this as a real blessing (which it is!), because water is the symbol of life.

In New Mexico and especially around Santa Fe (more specifically in Santa Clara and San Ildefonso’s Pueblos) you find many potteries that are decorated with ‘Avanyu’. This design is used often, because it symbolizes the importance of the water in this high desert altitude. ‘Avanyu’ is most of the time represented with its tongue as an arrow, which represent the lightning.
And lightning represent the power of nature, something we should never forget about!

Rain or Sun we should enjoy every day, because everyday is a journey!