Santa Fe

We found Santa Fe to be a very funky, friendly and fun place. There are a lot of young people around (always a good sign), art is everywhere and street musicians wander the streets and squares. Things are expensive but it doesn’t come across as elitist -- only for the few -- as it might in Palm Beach.

I liked this little crop of corn planted amidst the landscaping.

Believe it or not, there is a monument in the main square honoring the “heroes” who died fighting the Indians for the New Mexico territory. Not exactly politically correct these days, but history is history, and we may as well tell the story as people believe it to be and let the “truth” become obvious as time goes by. 

  Restaurant Pasquales had been recommended to us by several people so we headed over there for breakfast. After seeing the people waiting outside for 45 minutes to sit at large communal tables we went to a nearby Starbucks, deciding to check back at Pasquales for lunch. 

Next to Pasquales was the Santa Fe Hemp store, where John wanted his photo taken. This was the most authentic “hippy” store that I’ve seen in a long time. Buttons and bumper stickers that dare to express enlightening liberal ideas that go against the grain! Never saw a conservative counterpoint to this in Santa Fe. 

We wandered around enjoying the Sunday morning sunshine, art, music and people. The adobe, Southwestern architecture is new to our eyes. It feels very much like a different place. 

There is a Santa Fe street reserved for Native Americans to sell jewelry and crafts. I almost bought a beautiful silver bracelet from a friendly Indian who told me he had made it just or me. But I resisted. It didn’t feel right to be buying the first thing I saw! 

John was fascinated by the lovely wind sculptures around Santa Fe. I think that he thinks he can make one of these for us. 

We checked back at Pasquales at lunchtime and now the wait was 1 hour! So we went back to Tia’s Cocina, the authentic New Mexican restaurant located in the upstairs of the Hotel Chimayo. Food doesn’t get any better than this. John had tamales and I had a vegetable soup. Mine came with cornbread and John’s came with fry bread. Our table was on a balcony overlooking the street. We didn’t know how Pasquales could possibly be any better. Our waiter said that Pasqaules had good organic food and somehow just become the “trendy” place and people would rather wait be crowded together than discover the other places that were just as good. When I get home I’m going to give Tia Cocina’s some very good online reviews.

Here is the guy who delivers the red chilis!