Santa Fe Indian Market

Today we spent the morning at the annual Indian Market in downtown Santa Fe.

This was the first time we have ever been to the Indian Market, and it was wonderful. Taking a shuttle from the Santa Fe Place Mall alleviated all the hassle of finding a place to park. The shuttle dumped us off at Sandoval and Alameda, just a couple of blocks from the Plaza.

The day was hot, but in the morning it was still comfortable, and the crowds were lighter than they would be later in the day.

There were hundreds of booths with approximately 1200 Indian artists from 100 tribes all across the United States, although we mainly saw Navajo, Hopi and Pueblo Indians. The best part was striking up conversations with so many interesting people who loved to talk about their culture and their art.

We bought two paintings which we absolutely fell in love with. I will post pictures of them in my next blog post.

The only thing we didn't do was get something to eat in the Market area. Long lines everywhere and I am assuming the Plaza restaurants were jammed with people.

It was a really perfect morning.




THIS WAS IN FRONT OF THE ELDORADO HOTEL.


INSIDE THE ELDORADO HOTEL.





THIS MAN WAS WORKING ON A PAINTING.


BOOTHS OUTSIDE THE SANTA FE COUNTY OFFICE BUILDING.








THESE MUSICIANS WERE FROM ECUADOR.

Something's brewing in Santa Fe

We are gearing up for the next Tea Party in Santa Fe; preliminary plans are currently underway at an undisclosed location. :)

The tea party will have the theme “Enough is Enough” -- as hundreds of New Mexican citizens will be protesting our ever growing federal government, enormously expanding national debt, potential loss of our liberties, encroachment of the government into our personal lives, the threats to our Constitution, fears of socialism, and rejection of the president’s plan to nationalize our entire health care system.

There is a LOT of energy out here in the capitol city and statewide to petition our government to return our country to the values and system which have made this nation great for years and years. Those of us planning this tea party do want CHANGE, it is change back to the way we were in this country before the events of the last six months have taken place.

The tea party will take place on September 12, part of a nationwide day of protests across the country, and in conjunction with a big march in Washington DC on the same day. Our protest rally here in Santa Fe will be on the east side of the New Mexico State Capitol Building, probably at 1:00 p.m. (exact time to be announced later)

I know I have people reading my blog who are proud liberals, and that is okay. You need to be ready defend what you believe in, as this is a time of national dialog on what kind of country we want and where we want to head as a nation.

As for John and I , our commitment to the tea party protest movement lies in the words of the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States:

"Congress shall make no law .. abridging the freedom of speech .. or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

The Roundhouse in Santa Fe

The New Mexico State Capitol Building in Santa Fe is lovingly referred to as "the Roundhouse" by New Mexicans.

We have the only round capitol building in the United States. Viewed from the air, the shape is actually our familiar Zia sun symbol. The architectural design of the building is territorial style. The Roundhouse was dedicated on December 8, 1966.

The grounds are lovely, with 100 varieties of trees and bushes that grow in New Mexico. Also, there are wonderful Pueblo style statues on the grounds.

John and I had fun on Sunday afternoon wandering around the exterior of the building and taking pictures....but we also had an ulterior motive. What was it?

Stay tuned.




THE CAPITOL'S EAST SIDE.










WEST SIDE OF THE CAPITOL BUILDING

Madrid, New Mexico

Back in the long ago days when we lived in New Mexico the first time, one of our favorite places to go was Madrid, NM, the little coal mining ghost town around a bend in the road on NM 14 between Albuquerque and Santa Fe. There wasn't much there -- just the remnants of the old coal mine, a funky little museum, a train to climb on, a general store, the old company homes standing deserted in a row along the road, and an elementary school long since abandoned. You could almost feel the history and memories there. You could hear the wind rustling the trees back then.

Well, it's been 39 years now and Madrid is a completely different place. It's been rediscovered, reborn, remade - and not as interesting as it once was, to me, anyway.

The bend in the road is now lined with art shops, gift shops, restaurants, cars, people, activity. Looks like up in the hills new houses have been rebuilt and many of the old ones renovated. We were through there on Saturday and it even appears someone is renovating the elementary school.

Madrid has become a major tourist destination. Somehow I liked it a lot better 39 years ago.

The Church at Galisteo, New Mexico

This church, Iglesia Nuestra Señora de los Remedios, is located in the center of Galisteo, NM about 10 miles south of our house in Eldorado.

The church has a long and rich history; it sits on the site of an ancient Tano Indian village, the Galisteo Pueblo. Formerly called Santa Cruz de Galisteo, the pueblo dates back into at least the 1500s.

The town of Galisteo itself was part of a Spanish Land Grant in the 1600s. There are nine pueblo ruins in the Galisteo basin.

The Frontier Restaurant in Albuquerque ROCKS

It's our favorite place to eat in Albuquerque. The Frontier Restaurant on Central Ave. Right across from the main entrance to the University of New Mexico campus.

Nothing fancy, that's for sure. Kind of hokey, actually.

You have to stand in line to order your food, and then wait for them to call your number.

But OH the food! We ate lunch there today when we were in ABQ to go to the gun show at the fairgrounds. There was no question where we were going to eat lunch.

We both had the same thing: the Mexican plate: an enchilada, a taco, beans, rice, and flour tortillas. Simple. Delicious. Green chile that's the best we've had yet in Albuquerque.

Only thing better than the food: watching the eclectic blend of people who patronize the place.

It's just the best. (At least in our opinion.)





ONE OF THE MURALS ON THE WALL OF A BUILDING NEXT TO THE FRONTIER PARKING LOT.


INTERESTING RESTAURANTS ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE FRONTIER.

WHOO HOO! Finally!

The Curves in Santa Fe closed at the end of April when the owner failed to pay the rent and was evicted; she had no choice but to shut down the business. Many many members were extremely disappointed.

Then the good news was that two of the members immediately made the decision to buy their own Curves franchise. All summer they have worked on this: getting approval for the franchise, finding a location, getting training, obtaining all the exercise machines brand new, painting, decorating, etc. This week they have been re-registering all of us, and today the new facility opened and we got to work out for the first time.

Life seems normal again.