Over the past several months I have been gathering information on special places that you’ll only find in New Mexico and are compelling enough for you to drive across the country to check them out. I eventually hope to turn this information into a book or at least a series of blog posts.
To begin, there are currently only 24 UNESCO recognized World Heritage Sites in the entire country. Three of them (Taos Pueblo, Chaco Canyon, and Carlsbad Caverns) are in New Mexico. Only California has as many, and one of those (Frank Lloyd Wright architecture) is shared with several other states. (Ironically, New Mexico does not have any Frank Lloyd Wright buildings.)
Since it had been many many years since I visited Carlsbad Caverns, I took a short road trip to correct that oversight last week.
And all I can say is WOW!!!!
For me personally, it was a mystical and almost spiritual experience. I don’t think that I have ever felt as connected to the majestic forces of creation and nature as I was during my descent into and walk through Carlsbad Caverns. When I left the caverns two and half hours after entering, there was a sense of energized peace and gratitude flowing through me, and even several hours later my entire body still felt calmly alive – almost a slight vibration! Or as the 14th-15th-century mystic Julian of Norwich said, “all shall be well, all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.”
If you’ve never been to Carlsbad, or if it has been some time, and if you have the time, means, and inclination, I can’t encourage you enough to check them out.