Back in the bubble
On Route 66 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
There is a tremendous amount to see and do in historic Santa Fe, New Mexico’s capital city. It has flown Spanish, Mexican, Confederate and US flags. The oldest house in the US is there. So is the oldest church (and oldest church bell).
The central district is packed with historic structures. The Palace of the Governors (with the Native American vendors out front in this set of photos) is the oldest continually occupied public building in the US. It dates back to 1601 when this was Spanish territory. The jewelry and other items on offer at the Palace of the Governors were of top quality. Impressive workmanship. It was cold. Very cold.
The storied Santa Fe Trail from Missouri to New Mexico ended in the heart of Santa Fe. I walked it (well, for a couple of blocks at least).
There are lots of fine museums, including the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum (pictured just after the Museum of Contemporary Native Arts shot in this set), and many galleries. On Canyon Road away from the historic center there are dozens and dozens of art galleries and studios. (I have to say I did not understand a lot of the art.)
The Santa Fe Railyard district with restaurants, shopping and more is located by the historic rail depot; it was an easy walk from the center of the city. There is much public art and also some murals here and there as well.
That’s the capitol building in two of the shots. At start of the set that larger building is the courthouse.
The churches are numerous and beautiful. There will be a separate post soon on the churches of northern New Mexico. It’s an impressive collection of pueblo style adobe buildings. The architecture is charming. In this set you will see some samples. I understand that the design rules are very strict there for new construction
The thing about Santa Fe – as much as I enjoyed my visit there – is that it was an odd feeling for me to be back in the bubble after almost three weeks among those left behind in the Other America. Santa Fe is an affluent place (at least in the heart of the city) in one of the country’s poorer states. It has not one but two Whole Foods stores in place of the ubiquitous Family Dollar stores I would see on my drive. I find that Whole Foods is the key indicator of an economically prospering city or district within in a city…
The car of choice there is not the pickup truck. BMWs! Audis! Subaru wagons! A Prius and Volvo here and there! I even saw someone walking an Afghan hound (and dressed for a NY fashion show while doing so). That’s a change from pit bulls guarding fenced front yards. Lots of restaurants and boutiques. No boarded up storefronts in Santa Fe. Lots of very affluent people on holiday walking around and taking in the sights.
On Canyon Road where the galleries are I saw many seemingly about to part ways with a fair amount of their money. I am assuming they have copious amounts of it based on the clothes and cars I saw, and that they can easily share some for the gallery owners and spread the wealth. Notwithstanding the sarcasm, I am not sitting in judgment of those with the resources to lead such an affluent lifestyle. It is just that my reentry into the wealth bubble was an adjustment, to say the least, after so many miles logged in America’s less affluent places, but it was a good stay just the same in this very historic and attractive city. I would return.
