Why Hikes with an Expert?

When Rio Grande del Norte was nominated a National Monument I felt an incredible excitement. This amazing natural area undoubtedly deserved to be forever protected. And thanks to many people and organizations who did everything possible to make it happen, it happened!

The area included in the national monument encompasses some of the most spectacular lands in all of New Mexico and has one of the greaest migratory routes in the world. Wildlife is abundant, the whole area of the Taos Gorge offers a variety of trails up and down its slopes, with a surprise at every turn.

I also happened to meet some extraordinary people who knew every corner of this new National Monument practically by heart, with great respect and love. I learned so much from them and their enthusiasm!
I realized, one more time, how important is the role of an expert guide to get to the heart of a region and to understand in a profound way all that makes a place that particular place.

So, thanks to this National Monument I conceived Adventures with an Expert to offer a new way to understand the country one visits. By foot. Flying over a beautiful  area may marvel the lucky ones who can afford a helicopter flight but it will never give the same intimate relationship like stepping over the land, learning about its geology and history and feeling one with nature.

Since there are many other places in New Mexico I have been in love with since I first discovered them I started adding some of these beloved sites to the hikes.Chaco Culture National Historical Park, as an example, requires a particular - almost sacred - approach that only a walk can offer. Slowly one reaches the ruins, walks through them listening to the guide talking about the Chacoan people, and quietly immerse oneself in their culture, times, and mysteries.

As I wrote on the website

By hiking with an expert into these settings you become profoundly and intimately connected to the land, its spirit and soul. Our expert can share with you their knowledge and passion for the place they walk upon, love and protect and bring you on a journey you won't forget for a very long time.

I hope you will want to be a hiker with us and then tell us if I was was right in saying it's a very different way to feel the spirit of a place.

My two auction experiences

Somehow I got myself involved in two different situations that despite the anxiety they gave me at the time became part of my collection of fun memories.

From London, where I lived at the time, I went to Vancouver to meet carvers and local artists and buy for my gallery, P&A Collection. I traveled from North to South on Vancouver Island, visited all the museums I could possibly find, met wonderful people and then by chance I found a gallery dedicated to Inuit art. It is the most exquisite form of "art" one can imagine, carvings, masks and prints alike. I think I spent hours there, bought a few things and learned a lot.












Suddenly I found a group of amazing prints. But unfortunately they were going to be auctioned the day I was flying to come to Santa Fe. No worries, I was told, because I could bid by phone. Ehm...yes... but I couldn't make it anyway as I was going to be up in the sky and at that point I wanted to be among the first bidders! No worries, again. "You can call us from the phone attached to the seat in front of you, madam"!!! To make a long and exciting story short, I made the call from 10,000ft or more, shaking like never in my life. And I made it, I got the print I wanted.
I just made a search and ta-da there it was!

Seagulls chasing fish by Luke Anguhadluq

When I was living in London the important auction houses had regular shows of Native American Antique Art. I would always get the catalogues to feel I too was part of that world but I didn't have the courage to attend any of them. Until I saw a magnificent Zuni pot. I knew that a friend and art dealer in Santa Fe would love to have it, so why wait? I called him and he asked me to bid for him. Who...me????
I was sitting among famous and established international dealers wondering how to behave. I was so scared to move my hand in a way that could be interpreted as a bid or not raise it in time. When should I begin bidding? Should I show I was serious from the start or wait until the price was closer to what I was given as a limit?
I then noticed sitting two chairs away from me a very famous dealer and I thought I would never be able to beat him. Why not? I don't know, but that's the way I was feeling. Things were moving fast, my hand started going up, and up, and up...I got it at the right price!

Unfortunately I don't have a picture of THAT pot, but here are some others that give you an idea of what it was, although it may have been very different!

This ended my bidding experiences!