Travel

[Alter Ego]

While I was shopping in one of the quaint stores near the Plaza, I was asked what brings me to Santa Fe. The only answer necessary is “Santa Fe”. It is definitely a destination in itself; in fact, I’m not certain that I’ve ever heard anything bad about it! There is another recent thread in this forum about this area and you can see how popular and beloved it is.

I’ve only recently started traveling more extensively and have come to the realization that I need to see more of my own country. I looked at my schedule and where Southwest flies (gotta use the points!), and decided on Santa Fe - even though the weather wasn’t much warmer than where I was leaving from. President’s Day weekend fit perfectly into my schedule.

Getting some packing help.

My flight landed an hour late in Albuquerque and I rushed to my shuttle. I used Sandia Shuttle Express. To be honest, it wasn’t cheap ($40 each way). Ok as I was traveling alone and was my first time there, but cheaper to rent a car if traveling as a couple. In fact, the majority of users were solo.

I stayed at La Fonda on the Plaza, conveniently located as I had no car.  A month before I arrived, they sent me a catalog of stores and things to do. Even though it was a “free” book, I thought it was a nice gesture and really helped to get me excited for my trip.

Pretty restaurant in the hotel.  The food was fine; I definitely had better during my stay, but it was okay.

View of the Plaza from my room

Which was lit up at night

A little closer look

Across the Plaza from my hotel is the Palace of the Governers (oldest continuously used public building in the US).  This also leads to the New Mexico History Museum.  Outside the Palace, one finds Native American artisans selling their wares.  This is not a great picture but I wasn’t sure how appropriate it was to take a photo.

[Alter Ego]

I had a few things planned, but otherwise didn’t have a set idea of what to do.

After a late lunch, I decided to go to the “oldest” house.  It has been called the oldest house in Santa Fe for more than a century. The original date of construction is unknown, but may be mid 1700’s. It is an example of Spanish Pueblo architecture.

Attached is a cute little store; you go in via the blue door.

It was very quiet inside.  I commented on this to the shopkeeper and she mentioned that some people feel the need to whisper while in the store!

[Alter Ego]

The oldest house is around the corner from Santa Fe Bite.

One thing I was told is a must eat is a green Chile cheeseburger!  Was good - but the bottom bun was too wet and was difficult to eat.

[gizmogal]

A charming travelogue with nice photos. I’ve been to Santa Fe and Albuquerque and enjoyed them both for the sights and the food. I was delighted at how friendly and helpful many local people were to make my tourist hours comfortable and safe. I, too, did not have a car and still I saw everything in the tour book and did some shopping, too. 

No doubt you’ll inspire others to try some travel within the USA. It was good to know you had such a fine trip. (I have a packing “helper”, too!j 

[OKPrincess]

@Alter Ego Thanks for sharing pictures of your trip. DH and I plan to visit our own country too. 

Love your helper too. 

[World Traveler]

@Alter Ego YAAAAY!!!!! As I mentioned in a recent thread talking about getting rid of old threads called Clear Out Old Threads (not that this one is old!), when @Alter Ego posts, people learn! 

Your Siamese cat reminded me of growing up on a ranch. My sister LOVED Siamese cats and over the years she had 16! They always wanted to get into everything; were our alarm clock as they meowed very early and loudly; and they loved to somehow wiggle their way under our covers/blankets and sleep with us! We shared a room with twin beds, but HER cats always found a way to include me in their sleeping patterns. Told my sister, "you don't see my horses climbing into bed with you!" 

But I digress.......Another great trip you have taken, plenty of photos, and lots of help/suggestions/tips for others to use if they decide to go to Santa Fe.

Thanks a "bucket list" bunch! 

[Alter Ego]

A block or so away is the Loretto Chapel and its “miraculous staircase”.

It’s very pretty inside.

But people come here for the stairs.

The chapel was part of a girls school. After the chapel was near completion, they realized that they had no way to get up to the choir loft (mostly boys used ladders, which wouldn’t work here), and there was no room for conventional stairs. The nuns prayed for nine days and, on the final day, a shabby stranger said that he would build stairs.  Demanding complete privacy, he locked himself in the church for three months  and constructed the staircase entirely using primitive tools and warm water.  After it was completed, he disappeared without payment.

There is no apparent center support and it did not attach itself to any wall.  Its artistry attracts awe from even modern day engineers.

The railings were added later.  The original construction was a bit more precarious, as shown in this photo.

Today, the chapel is a museum but one can plan their wedding there.

One more photo - me trying to be artistic...

[Alter Ego]

A little ways away is the Cathedral Basilica of St Francis of Assisi.

I believe this will be it for religious themes posts. Well, after I post this happy guy!!

I love his joy!!  😀

[World Traveler]

@Alter Ego WOW!!! Those stairs at the church.......no way would I have taken those before the railing! S-c-a-r-e-y!

[Alter Ego]

One thing was pretty certain - if I’m in Santa Fe on a Saturday morning, I need to go one place!!

Why?  For their Farmers’s Market!! Open year round, the market is only indoors during the winter.

Some items from the market...

They love their micro greens!!!

Breakfast

The market was nice.  They had a musician playing and across the way was a flea market for shopping.  There is also a park nearby.

The area is newer, with restaurants and art galleries.  It was maybe a 20 plus minute walk from La Fonda.