Do You Know the Way to Santa Fe?

David and I have made a lot of friends because of our little kitty, Luna Blue. We have enjoyed getting to know people because of a Facebook group we have discovered and have "met" people from all across the world. Late this summer,  we will have a meet-up with a couple coming to Santa Fe from Florida. We are looking forward to spending a bit of time with them and hope they enjoy our City Different. It's definitely an interesting place to visit so with that in mind,  I thought I'd put together a post of things to in Santa Fe and the area.

First off, they will be arriving when the city will be in the midst of the annual Fiesta Celebration. Fiesta de Santa Fe is a long standing tradition and has both religious and secular events, while it commemorates the Spanish return to New Mexico after the Pueblo Revolt. Without going into the historical, political and  other touchy aspects of the celebration, I'm going to talk about it briefly. It's been a continuous celebration reaching back about 300 years. You can read about it here and I'll touch on some of the highlights. 

On Friday the 4th is the big unofficial and definitely secular kick off of the Fiesta with the burning of Zozobra, also known Old Man Gloom, a 50 foot marionette who serves as the official scapegoat for all the gloom, sadness and anxiety and is burned away after a big ritual of dance, music and fire. It precedes Burning Man by at least 70 years and reminds me of the tradition of burning effigies such as Guy Fawkes or The Fallas in Valencia Spain. This year is the 91st official burning. In recent years, the folks involved with putting the program together, in conjunction with the city, have made it become a more family-friendly event. There is entertainment, food and a rock-concert energy as folks gather in the baseball field waiting for the big show. A spectacular fireworks show ends the night as the skeleton of Old Man Gloom burns.   Huffington Post just did a nice write up of Zozobra. 

Throughout the weekend, there are food booths lining the plaza, you can get fry bread, an ear of corn, frito pies or handheld burritos and other food and drinks. Some healthy, most not so much. There are arts and crafts stand booths as well, not to mention music and entertainment at the bandstand also keep up the festive spirit. 

There are a few events that are enjoyable. A couple of parades. The best one is the Children's Pet Parade. The other is the Historical/Hysterical Parade, but it's way too long now a days. Too many politicians participate, fewer and fewer fun floats and less and less historical entries make it a bit of a drag. But the Candlelight Procession from the Cathedral to the Cross of the Martyrs is truly a wonderful way to end the Fiesta. 

Of course, a trip to Santa Fe would not be complete without a visit to Canyon Road. Galleries, restaurants and shops line a good portion of the street.  There are quite a few galleries dotting the street that is famous for its arts and crafts. There are also large estates, with lush gardens and with trees. There are still artist colonies and there are residences like ours. We are probably one of the few families on lower Canyon Road who have continuously held onto ownership of the family property. We may be one of the very last families to own such a historic property. Many of the old families have sold their properties. Reasons vary, but often it was pure and simple economics that prompted them to sell. The homes are aging, need a lot of maintenance and property taxes are high and older, retired folks on fixed incomes cannot afford to keep them. Often when they pass away, their heirs want the money and they sell the properties. We are fortunate we have been able to hold onto and maintain our old family home. I hope one day we can pass it down to a new generation.

The museums in Santa Fe are exquisite. Museum Hill boasts four top-notch museums,  a nice cafe,  plus a lovely botanical garden. 

• Museum of International Folk Art
• Museum of Indian Arts and Culture
• Museum of Spanish Colonial Art
• Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian
• Santa Fe Botanical Garden

All around the city you will find events celebrating the "Summer of Color" with lectures, exhibitions and activities focused on that theme. 

There are several museums downtown that are definitely worth visiting. The New Mexico History Museum is the newest museum and its main focus is on New Mexico's 400+ year history. The Palace of the Governors is the oldest used public building in the US. The New Mexico Museum of Art is in the area and houses fine arts from a diverse group of artists and has a very lovely gift shop. On Friday nights, the museums are open in the evenings and host activities and are free between 5-8 p.m.

If you like Georgia O'Keeffe, there is a museum devoted to her art work, there are gallery talks, lectures and activities going on throughout the summer. Take a drive up to Abiquiu, roughly 40 miles north, you'll find her home, studio and more. 

There is a great Farmer's Market on Tuesdays and Saturday mornings in the Railyard District. There you will find galleries, the depot where the Rail Runner arrives and departs, a movie theatre, outdoor events, a park and some eateries. 

Speaking of food, here you can find New Mexican, Mexican, Indian, lots of Italian and French bistros,  a few Spanish eateries, with Flamenco dinner shows, and a lot of fine dining. Most places offer Vegetarian dishes, Gluten Free and a lot of organic foods. 

Relaxation abounds here in Santa Fe. There is Ten Thousand Waves is a Japanese Spa where you can be treated to a massage, a dip in public or private spas and a feast. Many of the hotels in town offer spa services and treatments. An hour away is Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs and Spa, where you can get the luxury spa treatment as well. 

There are ghost tours, downtown walking tours, the Audubon center and numerous hiking, biking and outdoor activities. There are old churches and other historical places to visit. Day trip possibilities include Taos, which has lovely art galleries, historic stops, the Taos Pueblo, skiing in winter and the Taos Gorge bridge is another fun stop. It's a steel, deck arch bridge that spans the Rio Grande. It's the 7th highest bridge in the country. 

The Valles Caldera and the Town of Jemez Springs is another nice stop. Chimayo is also another day trip.

This is getting dense and lengthy, but hopefully it serves as a good primer to Santa Fe in the Fall. Check out the Santa Fe Blog for current information. 

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A few things to note. Drink lots of water, always wear sunscreen and bring a light jacket. Nights can get chilly, especially if we've had a rainy day. The humidity is generally low, even after it's rained, so it's not a humid cold, but it is chilly if you're not used to a desert climate.  Visitors from lower elevations often feel effects from the altitude so by staying hydrated and nourished, they may alleviate these effects.  I've noticed when people don't drink enough water-- replenish electrolytes is a must-- they feel dizzy or lethargic. 

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