The Rail Runner - Albuquerque to Santa Fe

(picture by John)


The New Mexico Rail Runner Express commuter train began service from Albuquerque to Santa Fe on December 17. There seem to be two types of customers being served - work commuters between the ABQ and Santa Fe area, and citizens/tourists who wish to take the train between the two cities for fun.

The first few weeks have been accompanied by some problems which are being ironed out...but LOTS of riders over the holidays. It's too soon to call the Rail Runner a success yet, but it has great possibilities if people will keep riding it. There are a total of four stations planned for Santa Fe, with two functioning now and two more planned for the future.

It has been fun seeing the Rail Runner traveling through the town -- it's quite visible and impressive and already becoming a familiar part of the landscape here in Santa Fe.

The best part for us is that being residents of Santa Fe County, we can ride all Rail Runner trains for free until March 17, 2009, if we provide proof of residency. Looks like a trip on the Rail Runner is part of our future adventures!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS!

Thanks for reading my blog!

Sharon


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Christmas Day at La Casa de Towanda

Christmas Day is so much more fun with a little child to share the excitement and joy. Our Christmas morning was such a good time and we will have the pictures and memories of this day forever.

And we notice how silent the house is now that the week is over, and life is getting back to our quiet "normal".

A stop at Tecolote Cafe

We stopped for a late breakfast at Tecolote Cafe the day after Christmas. It was a cold snowy day. We had a long wait before getting our meal, but it is always worth it there. Fun to do some people watching, then even better to get our meal.

First up: the bakery basket of muffins and biscuits: I think I could make a whole meal of just these! Then on to some of the BEST food in Santa Fe ... We all had dishes with their always-spicy green chile, except for my grand-daughter who had french toast.

The second best part of Tecolote (the food is first) is the service. All the wait-staff and the hostesses, etc. are so friendly and attentive. My son in law, who is Argentine, had fun talking in Spanish to a young waitress who is from Mexico and they had a long conversation about how dangerous Mexico is now.

We will make many trips back to Tecolote Cafe in the future. I am glad our visitors liked it as much as we do.

The Plaza Cafe, Santa Fe

The Plaza Cafe in Santa Fe bills itself as the oldest restaurant in the city, in business since 1918. We went there for the first time on Christmas Eve for lunch while we shopped on the Plaza. It met all of our tests -- including the spicy green chile requirement. WOW - Carlos and I were grabbing for the sopaipillas to cool off our mouths.

What we didn't try -- and we should have -- was the biggest draw at the restaurant -- the incredible desserts. John got a few pictures of them:





Next time I am going to splurge and have one one those -- but the choice will be the hardest part!

Victoria and some friends

The entire past week has been an adventure for Victoria.

On the Plaza in Santa Fe

These pictures were taken on Christmas Eve on the Santa Fe Plaza:

Carlos and Victoria on the Plaza:


Victoria bossing around some little kid she just met:


Karin looking at jewelry the Indians were selling at the Palace of the Governors:


Palace of the Governors at the Plaza in Santa Fe:


Street at the Plaza: