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Santa Fe, NM
Next on our journey back to the DFW area was a stopover in Santa Fe. There are some nice hikes here, but more importantly, we wanted to visit Jim van Early and Joanie Malone, who we met on our trip to the West Coast several months ago. We enjoyed our visited going west, and looked forward to meeting them again.
We spent a pleasant couple of days with them. Since they are locals, they know the good places, so we stopped for some excellent coffee and pastries. And a delicious brunch at the Tea House. Then, to work it off, we had an enjoyable hike in Santa Fe’s Nature Conservatory.
Santa Fe, NM
We spent 4 days in Santa Fe, staying at the Santa Fe Skies RV Resort. It’s a nice park, a little pricey, but the best of the area. The owner has a large collection of antique equipment as well as art work decorating the park. It was hot, al the area had record breaking heat. But nothing to dampen our enjoyment of the area.
We had a nice hike where we met a couple named Joanie and Jim, who lived within walking distance from the many trails in the area. The next morning we had coffee with them, and had a great time talking about many things. We hope to visit with them again on some future trip.
Lunch one day was at the Fun Noodle Bar, where noodles were hand made. But the best thing was the food itself was great. After that we had a nice walk in the Plaza. Now it’s on to Taos.
Hiking, new friends
We started off the day with an early morning hike. We chose the Dorothy Stewart Loop in the Santa Fe Forest. The loop is three miles long and has about 450ft of elevation gain, so another nice one as we acclimatize ourselves to the elevation and temperature. After all, we are around 7,500 feet above sea level.
We met a couple on the trail – Joanie and Jim – who live within walking distance and avid hikers. They are about the same age as we are and we shared a lot of common history. They know the area well and after a long trail side chat we exchanged information so we can stay in touch. In fact, we are meeting them for dinner tonight.
Finally, the temperature is starting to drop. The high today will be around 94 and tonights low a pleasant 62. Tomorow we go to Santa Fe’s excellent farmers market, looking forward to it.
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe is one of the top tourist destinations in the country. And why not, it has a strong history; it’s roots go back to the 1050’s Pueblo Indians. Many cultures make up today’s population, including Indian, Mexican, and Spanish eventually being as we know it today. It is the oldest, and highest, capital city in the USA.
Although it is a desert city, it is only 15 miles from the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Architecturally, it has adopted the Spanish Pueblo look, often referred to as Adobe, with thick walls to help even out the rather drastic temperature fluctuations. Santa Fe is also known for food, with heavy emphasis on spices and strong local flavors. And the art scene is well known with many galleries and exhibits.
Less well known, during World War II Santa Fe was the location of a Japanese American internment camp. The site was also used to hold German and Italian nationals. In 1943, the camp was expanded to take in 2,100 men of Japanese Americans who had renounced their U.S. citizenship. The camp was closed and sold of in 1946.
We enjoyed our week in Santa Fe and learning more about its culture, its food, its art and also some very nice hikes!
A rainbow over the foothills
Adobe style architecture
Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi
Cathedral statue
Thriving farmers market
Yummy breads
The old RR station is still used, also as part of the Farmers Market
Hiking in the foothills
A view back to Santa Fe
Making a lazy afternoon
Sunup at Santa Fe
First hike of the year
Santa Fe, NM is high up in the mountains, about 7,000 ft. altitude. There are many opportunities for outdoor activities, so we went fo a nice hike. Took the Machisma Trail, just north of the city. First of the year…
It wasn’t a very long hike, just under 5 miles, or difficult, with about 700 ft altitude gain, so it wasn’t overly stressful. But it was our first hike of the year, and only 2 days ago we were near sea level..
Anyway, hiking is a pleasant way to spend some time while keeping in physical condition. A few pictures.
A steep stretch
Lots of pine trees
Trail map at the top
Romola working her way uphill
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