Well, today (Wednesday) we arrived in Santa Fe around 2 in the afternoon. It’s not a huge city, about 70,000 people. It’s only the fourth largest city in the state, but it is the capital. We found our time share very easily. It’s a really nice unit. Granite counter tops, very nice cabinetry in the kitchen, two flat panel tvs, a large living room with a fireplace, and a lovely big bed. WIFI is provided for an additional fee via ATT – the one negative for the unit. We’re on the fourth floor, but we don’t have much of a view since we’re surrounded by trees.

We put our bags in the room, and came down to the big central square that has been the center of Santa Fe life for over 400 years. The square is a bustling place, with a stage for free nightly concerts. There are food carts selling burritos and fajitas for 5 bucks. The people are there with their dogs, listening to a guy gently strum his guitar. On another side a Native American plays a version of the pan flute doing an amazing version of the House of the Rising Sun. There are locals selling handicrafts ranging from silver and gold jewelry to blankets, textiles, and hats, ceramics and pottery.

The St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral dominates the skyline, one block off the square. Inside is an alter from the original church carved in 1620. The stain glass windows feature many of the saints. Outside, large scale bronze statues of St. Francis dot the courtyard and gardens. Santa Fe has a lot of art, and a lot of museums to see.

We wandered through many stores, set in buildings that have been there for hundreds of years. The adobe buildings are everywhere here. They are striking to look at, lending a serene look to the city. The New Mexico Museum is one of the adobe buildings just off the square that is very striking. I think I’ve taken at least thirty pictures of it, from every angle!

The shops are almost outnumbered by the galleries. It’s clear that Santa Fe is a haven for artists. Georgia O’Keefe, the great American modernist painter who lived to be nearly 100 years old, lived most of her adult life here in New Mexico. There is a museum dedicated to her, which we’ll check out tomorrow. Her style of bright colors, and large scale images of small things – an amaryllis flower over four feet wide, for instance – has influenced generations of painters.

Here is a sample of some of the ceramics they are selling — do you think Pam might be taking one of these home??

The weather is very nice, although the evening did get cool. The altitude is close to 7000 feet, so the air is a little thin. We won’t be jogging for a couple days yet!