Just got back from a week-long vacation in Santa Fe. We took a circuitous route via a couple of days in Las Vegas. It’s been about six months since Aubry left for Santa Fe. We met her and her mom in Vegas. We try to go out every 2-3 years. Didn’t get any pics while in Vegas. The main highlights were Aubry and Kris dancing on the bar at Coyote Ugly, and dinner at Tom Colicchio’s Craftsteak at the MGM. Kobe beef - tartare, filet, ribeye, flank, and sirloin. Served family-style, and more than four people could finish. Melted like butter!
This was our first trip to Sante Fe, NM. Last count was about 75,000 people. Seemed like half were artists or in the artisan business. A slow relaxed atmosphere. Especially coming from the East Coast. Another thing that stands out is the architecture. Everything is adobe. Even the parking lot looks cool.
Here are Aubry & Kris walking the labyrinth of life outside the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi.
Kris & Aubry holding Frito Pies, a Santa Fe favorite. Basically it’s a bag of Fritos with chili and cheese on top.
This is a meal in itself.
Next to the plaza is a museum where local Native American artisans sell their wares. Santa Fe takes their tourism very seriously. The artisans have to prove their ancestry for three generations before being considered.
We had green chile cheeseburgers at Bobcat Bite. Everything comes with green chiles out here. It’s always ranked in the top handful of hamburgers joints in the U.S. each year. It can only hold a dozen people inside and half that on the patio. Great burgers! The name came from the fact that bobcats used to come to the backdoor for scraps of food.
After a day of trying not to buy all the Indian arts and crafts in sight, we settled back at the hotel for a nightcap. The fireplace kept us warm as the desert air started to cool down.
We went on a hike at the nearby Tent Rock National Park. It is right next to the Cochiti Indian Reservation. The mountain top formations looked similar to the hoodoos of Bryce Canyon in southern Utah. The ‘tent rocks’ looked like big concrete cones. Almost didn’t look natural.
A desert cactus blooms.
A pretty shot of a burned tree with hoodoos in the background.
On the way back to town, we took an exit looking for the hippie town of Madrid. Instead, we found the Sante Fe Brewing Co. Sweet. Of course we had to sit on the patio and have a glass of Octoberfest. Nothing like a good microbrew!
Santa Fe is full of artists. With artists come galleries. We visited a few. But with most pieces costing $1000 - 10,000 or so, we decided to take a free picture with a sculpture outside.
I’m not musically-inclined by any means. But this Native American style flute was calling me. I got a little lesson from a pro. I hope I don’t end up calling all the stray cats in the neighborhood while learning how to play.
We also went to nearby Albuquerque for a day to see the International Balloon Festival. That will get an entry by itself.
I love the atmosphere of the Southwest U.S. A slow relaxed pace of life with beautiful desert scenery. I could definitely get used to that!
This was our first trip to Sante Fe, NM. Last count was about 75,000 people. Seemed like half were artists or in the artisan business. A slow relaxed atmosphere. Especially coming from the East Coast. Another thing that stands out is the architecture. Everything is adobe. Even the parking lot looks cool.
Here are Aubry & Kris walking the labyrinth of life outside the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi.
Kris & Aubry holding Frito Pies, a Santa Fe favorite. Basically it’s a bag of Fritos with chili and cheese on top.
This is a meal in itself.
Next to the plaza is a museum where local Native American artisans sell their wares. Santa Fe takes their tourism very seriously. The artisans have to prove their ancestry for three generations before being considered.
We had green chile cheeseburgers at Bobcat Bite. Everything comes with green chiles out here. It’s always ranked in the top handful of hamburgers joints in the U.S. each year. It can only hold a dozen people inside and half that on the patio. Great burgers! The name came from the fact that bobcats used to come to the backdoor for scraps of food.
After a day of trying not to buy all the Indian arts and crafts in sight, we settled back at the hotel for a nightcap. The fireplace kept us warm as the desert air started to cool down.
We went on a hike at the nearby Tent Rock National Park. It is right next to the Cochiti Indian Reservation. The mountain top formations looked similar to the hoodoos of Bryce Canyon in southern Utah. The ‘tent rocks’ looked like big concrete cones. Almost didn’t look natural.
A desert cactus blooms.
A pretty shot of a burned tree with hoodoos in the background.
On the way back to town, we took an exit looking for the hippie town of Madrid. Instead, we found the Sante Fe Brewing Co. Sweet. Of course we had to sit on the patio and have a glass of Octoberfest. Nothing like a good microbrew!
Santa Fe is full of artists. With artists come galleries. We visited a few. But with most pieces costing $1000 - 10,000 or so, we decided to take a free picture with a sculpture outside.
I’m not musically-inclined by any means. But this Native American style flute was calling me. I got a little lesson from a pro. I hope I don’t end up calling all the stray cats in the neighborhood while learning how to play.
We also went to nearby Albuquerque for a day to see the International Balloon Festival. That will get an entry by itself.
I love the atmosphere of the Southwest U.S. A slow relaxed pace of life with beautiful desert scenery. I could definitely get used to that!
Great pics! The balloon festival is awesome. Can't wait to see your pictures from the festival. =)
ReplyDeleteSo...I didn't hear about the dancing on the bar in Coyote Ugly......;-)
ReplyDeleteto echo trina's sentiment...i want stories!!! =) i wonder if you can get a sing-along going with you, your flute, and your greys...
ReplyDeletei used to go out to taos when i could. 10 hours from dallas. for all that you just posted. i love it out there. mmmm. frito pie... mmmm
ReplyDelete