Santa Fe is about five hours south of Denver by car, and just under seven hours by bus. I arrived early afternoon on a Monday in mid-September. My first impressions included the beautiful adobe-style architecture...
...the rustic doors...
...colorful tiles...
...unique art...
...and "ristras"--strings of famed New Mexican red chili peppers. Fresh green peppers during the summer harvest gradually ripen to a deep red color by early fall. These dried peppers are then used for cooking and decoration, serving as symbols of welcome, luck, and health. Both stages of the fruit are used to prepare delicious chili sauces.
Santa Fe translates to "holy faith" in Spanish. Naturally, the historic town has several religious structures.
San Miguel Church, the oldest church in the country, was built by the Tiaxcalan Indians from Mexico in 1610.
Beside the mission lies the oldest house.
Loretto Chapel, completed in 1878, is famous for its "Miraculous Staircase," a spiral wonder with no means of visible support. Eloquent legends depict its history.
The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, completed in 1887, is dedicated to the patron saint of Santa Fe--coincidentally my confirmation saint.
Beside the cathedral lies a quaint park.
Around the corner, the Plaza marks the heart of downtown. I spent a lot of time here, enjoying the early fall weather. The climate in Santa Fe is familiar to that of Denver (arid and hot), though more consistent year-round. Different from Denver, however, is the layout of downtown. While many cities are designed similar to a grid, historic Santa Fe consists of winding and crooked streets, which reminded me of a small European town.
My first evening in Santa Fe was spent on the rooftop restaurant of the hotel, La Fonda. The picturesque sunset formed the perfect backdrop to a classic margarita.
As I left my rooftop oasis, I caught a glimpse of the moon counter the magnificent sunset.
I woke up early on Tuesday for a day hike in the Santa Fe foothills. Starting at St. John's College, I followed the Atalaya Trail to the peak at 9,121'.
From there, I hiked over to the summit of Picacho Peak at 8,577'.
I gradually descended via the Dale Ball Trail system, including the Dorothy Stewart and Cruz Blanca Trails.
As I drew closer to the city, I came upon beautiful adobe homes that I bookmarked for my retirement years. The median age of Santa Feans is 43--10 years higher than in Denver.
I finally returned to the college around noon, clocking in at 10 miles in five hours.
After some much needed down time, I set out later that afternoon for a stroll through downtown. I stopped by the visitor center and Travel Bug--a boutique selling maps, guidebooks, and other travel-related goods.
Then I went to the Railyard--a hub of entertainment, shopping food, and events--where I treated myself to a victory meal at the Second Street Brewery.
On my way out, I visited the evening farmer's market...
...and Railyard Park.
Out of kindness to my sore feet, I scrapped my plans to hike again on Wednesday and decided to lay low. I started with a green chili breakfast burrito at Tia Sophia's.
I also explored more of downtown...
...as well as the art district. Canyon Road houses over 100 art galleries and studios. Though out of my price range, I enjoyed window shopping along the charming half-mile radius.
Afterwards, I visited the art galleries and government houses in the State Capitol.
Here I learned the meaning of the state flag. The Zia sun symbolizes the Native American heritage of New Mexico and the circle of life, while the four groups of four rays stands for the cardinal directions, seasons of the year, stages of life, and times of day. Red and yellow commemorate the state's Spanish heritage.
I spent the remainder of the afternoon reading my latest library book. During my stay, I lodged at a cozy home downtown, found through Airbnb. Rob's small "casita" was a comfortable place to come home to.
My last morning in Santa Fe began with a cup of tea on the porch in the company of the neighbor's cat.
I made my way to the Plaza...
...and spent the rest of my time at the IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts. It was an interesting and enjoyable visit.
When it was time to hit the road, I checked out the local Whole Foods on my way to the bus stop. I always appreciate identifying the subtle yet unique differences in the various market locations when traveling.
For the entirety of the bus ride back to Denver, I was absorbed in my book.
Santa Fe is a great town with much to offer. On my next visit, I would be eager to visit its neighboring towns of Taos and Albuquerque!
