Day 73 - Winter Is Here

What felt chilly last night was positively cold this morning. With a fresh start to the day we ensured we didn't miss a hot breakfast at the hotel.

We layered up on clothing and made our way to downtown. We crossed railway tracks on the way in and came across an art market. It was a Saturday and the small market was bustling with what looked like a mix of locals and tourists. Further down the track there was another small market, this time selling local food produce. We grabbed a coffee to stay warm and continued to walk.

Downtown has the familiar Spanish feel of a town plaza and roads spiralling out from there. The unique adobe architecture, that is a building requirement in Santa Fe, is warm in colour and smooth in nature. Without a right angle in sight, I was reminded of the Gaudi buildings in Barcelona. We snaked in and out of the shops in the area and decided on getting lunch at a cafe. Alice had mac n cheese and I had a chicken burger, both were warmly received. Now that we were full, we embarked on discovering a bit of history.

The New Mexico History Museum has a few floors covering the history of the state as well as temporary exhibitions on varied topics such as cigar boxes. We were interested in the region and we were both impressed with the displays and information covered throughout. The Native American History of the region is covered with artefacts and personal accounts and the Spanish involvement in the area began around 1610, just three years after the Jamestown settlement began and ten before the Mayflower landed. The most important Spanish building in Santa Fe was the Palace of the Governors which was constructed in 1610. The building is still there and is the oldest continuously occupied public building in the United States. As part of the admission to the museum we were also able to walk around the Palace which also had a number of displays and information boards. Back in the museum, other aspects of New Mexico's history were covered including information on the Manhattan Project and the numerous atomic tests that were carried out in the state. It is a revealing and proud museum that is highly recommended. We browsed the gift shops for both the museum and the Palace and then headed home.

For dinner we went to a local Modern Japanese Restaurant. We both ordered the Teriyaki Chicken that was beautifully presented, although it was basically a grilled chicken breast on top of vegetables with the teriyaki sauce in a small cup next to the plate. That must be the modern twist. It was tasty nonetheless and also a generous serving. We then polished off the jasmine tea and headed home for the evening.

Song of the Day:
Beirut - Santa FeRead more