WOW.....what a great morning it was this morning when the sun came up!!! We have such a great spot on the side of this mountain/hill...whichever. The day dawned as clear as possible.....not one cloud in the sky.....and what a change over the past couple of days.
We scurried around to get ready to drive to the old downtown area of Santa Fe and to the Plaza. We wanted to be at the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum by the time it opened at 10am.....so that we would be there for the 10:30 tour/lecture by the Docent. And......after making a couple of wrong turns since the furnished map was not very definitive.....we found a parking space about two blocks away from the museum. On Sunday.....the parking metered spots on the street are free....so why pay $10 for a parking lot????
We sat in the patio of the museum for a few minutes waiting for the gates to open....and then we were soon inside and had paid the Senior Citizen price of $7 each. We wandered around the museum a few minutes and then watched the film about O'Keeffe's live and paintings. We then joined a group of people for a listening/asking questions lecture about her life. It was really interesting, but just not quite what we had thought it might be. Then we went through the museum and, to be quite frank........it was very small and just didn't have as many of her more well-known works of art on exhibit. We were both rather disappointed...........
We spent some time in the museum gift shop......and bought a couple of post cards of two of her paintings. Then we began our own walking tour of the old section of town and the Plaza area. It is really, really a great place to spend a beautiful day!!!!!!!! First impressions were that I have never seen sooooooooo many jewelry shops....can't begin to count the number......since I was last in Florence, Italy. Just unbelievable.......and all of the highest quality!!!!
We spent a lot of time viewing some of the many, many private art galleries that are all free.....and saw some stunning works of art! Then as we headed to the Plaza......we heard some music coming from there and hurried around the corner to find a wonderful plaza......a very green area with a "band stand" in the middle of it. On the stand was a Mariachi Band and they were really quite good....music and some fancy footwork dancing.
Along the sidewalks of the adobe buildings surrounding all four sides of the plaza were many, many Native American artisans displaying their jewelry, paintings, ceramic tiles, blankets, etc., etc., etc. We looked and looked.......and each display/stall was different. Lots of sterling silver and turquoise, as well as other semi-precious stones. I really enjoy this type of thing.....and we spent quite a bit of time there enjoying the various items for sale.
We then found the Blue Corn Cafe.......as it had been recommended to us by several different people.......and enjoyed a really excellent light lunch of blue corn tacos, wonderful salsa for the tacos, pinto beans and rice. We had very good service.....it was quick....and the tacos themselves were sooooo crisp and crunchy........ummmmm!!! SO GOOD! When in Santa Fe....try it out for yourselves.
After lunch, we once again hit the streets. It is sooo difficult to explain the shopping areas, galleries, cafes, etc as they can be found in soooo many places. You can go through a little archway....and another long covered sidewalk/street will open up with little stalls and shops opening up on each side. Once again.....it is soooo much like shopping in Florence or Venice......it is just fun to explore these little alleys and narrow streets. And.....all....I repeat....ALL of the buildings are of the adobe style and the same color everywhere. And....let me add that as we left the downtown area this evening.......all of the buildings in the main shopping mall on the edge of town were ALL of the same style and color. Sure did make it difficult to find Target....or any other specific store that you never see in this style/color!!!
We then wandered back to the Plaza and another group of Latina musicians were entertaining there. We sat and listened/watched for a while.....and enjoyed people watching, also. My pics will show some of the musicians......these girls were really quite good!
We continued to stroll, amble, window shop, view the galleries until about 5pm.....and then being rather tired, we decided to head back to TheHowserHouse for a rest before dinner. Guess what......???? Once back at home......we decided to eliminate the dinner tonight and enjoy the evening with our feet up. Dinner will be the #1 priority tomorrow night!!!!
Yesterday we had had an email from a couple......good friends....from F'town and told us that they were driving out to Phoenix/Mesa and wondered where we were on our way back to Missouri. Well....after another round of emails.....we found that we could meet in Amarillo on Tuesday for a late lunch. We had planned to be there anyway on Tuesday night.....and since they were coming through there that day.....we are hoping to make connections and spend some time together before they have to go on down the road. Betty is a sorority sister of the 1st Lady's and so she and her husband, John, are often with us at social functions during the year.....so it will be fun to meet them on the road.
And soooooo......our feet are tired from much, much walking today. My feelings about Santa Fe??? It is a wonderful town.......and the Plaza/downtown area is just soooooo great. I love the way all of the arts are displayed in the galleries.....and the way the style of the buildings has been maintained as it was for the past couple of hundred years. At times I felt like I was strolling down a movie set......except it is the REAL thing.......such fun!!!
More to see tomorrow.......and lists to be made for things we will see the next time we are in town. I would love to be here for the music events......the incredible Santa Fe Opera performances during the summer.....the Santa Fe Chamber Music concerts....etc, etc., etc!! The town is in such a beautiful setting with mountains surrounding it......and at 7000 feet in altitude, it is dry, crisp, and stunning in it's beauty! WOW!!!!!
Hmmmmm, for the umpteenth time........with days and places like this, of COURSE.....
LIFE IS GREAT.....and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!
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