11th August.
Boy, it’s tiring playing catch up with blog posts. Especially on a trip so long.
Santa Fe is like Taos on steroids. If Taos grew up, it would want to be Santa Fe. It’s bigger, more touristy with proportionately more art galleries. Up the number of tourists and cars, and you have one rather overcrowded Taos. That, to me is Santa Fe.
You can weave your way through the old town, that is full of gift shops, art shops, galleries and some cathedrals that were a nice pop in, look and see. Some charge entry fees. Unless you’re really hard up to see every single one, you can get your fill of cathedrals for free.
If you like doing the arty quaint shop scene, you’d like Santa Fe. But I personally don’t think it’s anything much.
There were some interesting pieces I saw, but made of cast iron, much too heavy to lug home.
We found our way to the Santa Fe railway yard that now houses more art places and we were invited in to have a look around as they set up for an art exhibition.
On some days, there is a Farmer’s Market there – which was why we went there in the first place, but it was too early in the day. The farmers wake up late on Thursdays.
We visited the New Mexico State Capitol Building in Santa Fe that was full of art. It’s really nice to walk through. I preferred visiting it than the old town, actually. Maybe because it had nice airconditioning.
Both Santa Fe and Albuquerque are towns on the old Route 66. Having covered some of that route on the previous road trip, it was good to fill in more blank spots.
Albuquerque in contrast is more industrial, a bigger town – size-wise, building-wise. But the main town is pretty much dead. Nothing seems to be going on there.
The old town of Albuquerque is like an old cowboy outpost town and has a nice square in the centre. As part of the town’s revival efforts, in summer, free concerts are organised on the last Thursday of every month at sunset.
Stayed at a reasonably priced Best Western Plus Executive Suite with a huge room and a living room. Ate at Landry’s that night.
