santa fe

25 May was Memorial Day in America, a public holiday, so for Paul's first day off of work, we went to Santa Fe, New Mexico with Dad, who was nice enough to fly us down and back. Mom was planning to come but came down with a wicked cold the day before departure and decided to stay home. The Spanish were the first European settlers to Santa Fe, and their influence is obvious in the architecture. There are building codes that force the adobe structure on most new buildings. Native American pottery and blankets seem to be the key ingredients for decorating and everyone wears turquoise. It's a happening art scene (the healthiest in the US), but on a scale way beyond our budget. We enjoyed the main plaza and surrounding streets with art and souvenirs to sell, but we also went further afield to Kasha Katuwe, a small National Monument about 40 miles from the city.


the cathedral just off the main plaza


a colorful shop near the plaza


iconic dried chilis hanging on a porch


art for sale


one of the many art galleries


the kasha katuwe walk begins with a roomy canyon


that quickly narrows


and narrows


ending with a steep climb and views of the 'tent rocks'


beautiful geology

Before flying home on the last day of the long weekend, we drove the Turquoise Trail south to the small village of Cerrillos, called a 'photographers heaven' by our guide book. It was a bit of a disappointment.


main street cerrillos


a restored cerrillos home