the vortex or paseo paseo
last
Wednesday
I flew from Newark to Atlanta to meet my friend Mary
and
connect to a flight to Albuquerque
apparently ABQ is considered an international airport
but
you cant get there from here
without
a connection
actually
I think its better to have two short-ish flights
than one really long one
okay moving along
when we picked up our rental car
there was a shortage of compact cars
to save time
the agent 'borrowed' one from another company
apparently
3 companies are owned by the same megacompany
we got a Chevy
oy and vey
no pick up
would be an
understatement
nevertheless it got us where we wanted to go
We were driving along on 25
(not sure if it was a route or an interstate)
when we spied our first sign of New Mexico's
'enchantment'
a dust devil
it was so weird
alas
no photo because
(a) camera was still packed in carry on
(b) we'd gotten some momentum up and didnt want to lose it
we did stop at Santa Domingo Pueblo
where the local Indians sell crafts and tamales
I got some of both
and
possibly
a touch of the 'Santa Domingo Cleanse'
a distant relation of Montezuma's Revenge
The exit we were to take off 25 was closed for repairs
so we drove to the next exit
where
I believe
we entered
the
vortex
every left was actually a right
every right actually a left
all roads
seemed
to lead to
Paseo de Peralta
(I renamed it Paseo Paseo because it kept repeating)
after some U turns we drove into Santa Fe
as soon as we drove past these
I yelled
STOP
Mary did
I hopped out to get my first shots
Santa Fe Railyards are now a hub for both the
Railrunner
and
Santa Fe Southern Railway
lots of shops
restaurants
and
the weekend Farmer's Market
(this train photo is for Suldog)
this is our hotel
The Chimayo
on Washington Street
this is the lobby
this is the walkway to the little casitas and loft rooms
we had a loft room
it had a sweet little terracita
(with two small tables and 6 chairs)
after we unpacked
we headed out to get the lay of the land
St Francis Cathedral
where we stopped to rest
as
do many birds and flying insects
(I missed a great shot of a hummingbird because I was so astonished to see one I froze!)
after more walking window shopping we looked in on La Casa Sena
it looked so nice we did some more wandering before returning for some refreshing drinks and some delicious 'small bites'
(that's the vegetarian sampler)
While we were relaxing
Mary leaned back
thinking her chair was going to tip
she grabbed the table
it started to topple over
I grabbed it on my end
saving my camera and wine
but
her margarita went sloshing
everywhere
suddenly
three men were there righting the table
cleaning up the spill
laughing with us
that's how we came to meet Richard and his two partners
and
were invited to attend Thursday evening's Diva Night
our plan for that evening
(Wednesday)
was
to drive out to the
Opera House
and
get some sunset photos
because
those early clouds boded well for a colorful sunset
well, the best laid plans dont always work out
waiting for the sun to begin to set we decided to grab an hour's nap
no we didnt over sleep
we got up refreshed
drove out to the Opera House and got lost
yup
turned around again
by the time
we got to the Opera House
the gates were locked
the sky was black
back at the hotel
I decided to call it a day
the bed was so inviting I quickly fell asleep
but
Mary was hungry so she went in search of food
Bright and sunny and cool
that was how
Thursday
began
with
a large inexpensive delicious breakfast at
The Burrito Co.
(just 2 doors away from our hotel)
the light
in
Santa Fe
is amazing
I totally understand
why
it is a mecca for artists
we did a lot on Thursday
we shopped
at
Mira
bought amazing chocolate
made from recipes hundreds of years old
at
Kakawa
got to visit San Meridith's gallery
on West San Francisco
San is a blogger
okay
so she hasnt blogged
in a while
I think these are a good excuse
she used to do only abstracts now she's into sunsets
I knew San wasnt going to be there
because
we emailed before I left NYC
but
I decided to stop by and peek in the window
I got to do that
and
I got to meet her son Oakley
who I felt as if I knew from San's blogging
outside the gallery Mary spotted this license plate
we also browsed the Indian 'market' that is across from the main plaza
we wandered Canyon Roads many art galleries
all before
heading back to the hotel
freshening up for
Diva Night
that's me with Bella Gigantia (aka Richard)
after
Diva Night
which was such fun
every one of the performers had Broadway quality voices
we went to a park that overlooks the city
(at Oakley's recommendation)
and got the sunset shots we were after
then we decided to do a little driving
we ended up
having dinner
tapas
at Le Meson
the sunset
just to prove
how
enchanted
this place is
I got a moon shot!
Toonman said to title this
Shine on Sliver Moon
Friday
we breakfasted
at
did a little more shopping
before
heading back to Albuquerque
and
flying home
I spotted these tee shirts at a small shop just past Burrito Co.
here it is being modeled by Toonman
and
to wrap up the trip
here's Kokopelli
go on
say it
Kokopelli
I love Kokopelli
love saying Kokopelli
I took a lot of photos
this recap
in as short a form
as I could manage
check out
for all the photos
over the next week or two
I bet you need to stretch after all that
go ahead
I understand
thanks for wading through the verbosity!
