San Luis Travel Guide

It's a beautiful and moving walk. I am not a Christian myself but this series of monuments to the last days of Jesus did move me.

This one mile walk rises to the top of a small hill overlooking San Luis. During important religous holidays the local townspeople (mainly Catholic) walk and sometimes crawl along the path in an important town tradition.

The 12 bronze statues depict the final days of the life of Christ. From the time that he is condemned to death, to his crucifiction and his rising.

This was my first stop in town. It was my first chance to try out my spanish skills on this trip.

I am taking Spanish at University. So I did and got by. The wonderful lady spoke English but I wanted to practice.

She told me about the town and a little of the history. I knew enough beforehand that this town has been drawing me for a while. The People's Ditch, the disputed land rights.

"How is that going in the courts?" I asked. In english for something that difficult.

"It's going well," she replied. "A younger couple bought the land and they have been very easy to work with."

The parcel of land near San Luis was established as a place for the community to share in the hunting and wood gathering. When the Anglos moved in they didn't recognize this land title that could not be documented. However, in the deed to the land the right of the citizens of San Luis to use the land for these purposes was included. Several years back a wealthy east coaster bought the land and refused to recognize those rights. Last I had read in the local media the case was going to the Colorado Supreme Court.

This new change is welcomed news.

This museum chronicles the history of San Luis and tells the story of the first hispanic settlers in the Valley. Admission is 2 dollars for adults.

It was dangerous and a gamble for the priests to come up from the spiritual centers of Santa Fe and Taos here to give mass.

Rather than let the community fall due to lack of religous leadership the locals founded a brotherhood of laymen called the Penitentes.
If I were to ask any old timer from Colorado they would almost certainly say that they were a secretive society holding ceremonies of self-flagellation.

Although this was true the brotherhood claims to have given this up. The Penitentes also did many oft-overlooked deeds that helped glue the community together.

It was the Penitentes who also led the community in building the Stations of the Cross Shrine that overlooks the village and ends at the Grotto of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

It's a nice little restuarant that serves Mexican and American dishes. Some of the tables look out over the main street and if you feel lke a drink afterwards Joe's Saloon is right next door.

Favorite Dish: I had the beef tamales with green chile. The chile and preperation was excellent.