Last Days in Santa Fe

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SATURDAY MAY 10

Saturday is the Santa Fe Farmer’s Market which I did not want to miss.   It has been a long time since I’ve been to so large a market with such variety.  There is also a artists' market in an entirely separate section.  

The markets are held along the railroad tracks in what is known as the Railyard.  When I saw the tracks I thought of The Harvey Girls who worked at the La Fonda Hotel in Santa Fe which was one of the Harvey Houses along the Santa Fe Railroad.  There are books about them including The Harvey Girls: The Women Who Civilized the West which I bought at the Grand Canyon and really enjoyed and  a novel The Harvey Girls written in 1942 by Samuel Hopkins Adams and made into a 1946 film staring Judy Garland.  A quick search found the movie readily available but I couldn’t find the book.

  How I wish I could have ridden the trains back then when they were a major transportation method and often elegant.

It was a busy spot and anything and everything having to do with food and gardening was there.   Even worms.

You can even buy poems.

What I assume was the Railyard water tower separates the food and gardening vendors from the artists beyond.

This reminded me a bit of Frida Kahlo.

There was a long line of booths on both sides with every artistic endeavor I could imagine.  Clothing, paintings, pottery, wood working ceramics, beadwork you name it.

These are just a few of my favorites.

And always the beautiful Sangre de Cristo mountains overlooking it all.

I am a devoted reader of environmental literature and Wendell Berry is a special favorite so I loved seeing this quote of his written on the wall outside the bathroom as I moved into the one indoor building at the Market.

The only thing I bought was a danish and it was excellent.  I’m trying only to purchase consumables at this point in life.

I’m not a coffee drinker but many people were here for that and the pastries.

Cherry Danish and hot water is my choice.

 

I wondered how it was decided who had booths inside and who out.

The Intergalactic Bread Company – great name!

Great looking flat breads.  Both the mushroom and roasted garlic were tempting.

I’d had to park about 5 blocks away and enjoyed the neighborhood on my walk.

No cute little  simple  adobe houses like this where I come from.  And no grass to mow here.

I believe this was an elementary school with murals on the outside walls.

From the Market I drove back to Santa Fe Plaza to do a proper visit to the Cathedral.  We had been there on the day the new Pope was elected and heard the bells ring and ring in celebration but there were too many people at that time.

It is known as St Francis Cathedral but its full name is Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. It's a Romanesque Revival style church.  The cathedral is the mother church of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe.

The Cathedral is a gorgeous work of art from its beautiful stone to its wonderful Rose Window and arched doorway holding the gorgeous bronze doors.  The statue on the left is Kateri Tekakwitha 1656-1680 the First Indian from North America to be Promoted a Saint. 

I wish there had been a tour guide or at least some literature to tell about the stone and the spectacular carvings on the doors.   Who built this beautiful house of worship?  I didn’t find out any of the following information until I was no longer at the church,  I had to look it up on my computer.

The bronze is exquisite.   I later read there are 16 panels that illustrate scenes from the history of the Catholic Church in New Mexico. Examples include Fray Marcos de Niza sighting the Zuni Pueblos, General Don Diego de Varga kneeling before a Franciscan friar, and Spanish colonists during the 1680 Pueblo Rebellion.  The doors were created during the 1986 cathedral restoration by sculptor Donna Quasthoff.  I have no idea what the former doors looked like but I wish I did.

This appears to be a baptismal font in the center of the nave and at least to this former Catholic, an unusual one.

Too shallow for immersion……anybody know?

Back outside there is a wonderful stone Chartres style labyrinth which I walk.

 

There is nothing quite as relaxing and inspiring as walking a labyrinth.  I seek them out as often as I can.

The buildings across the street remind me of the horizontal logs at Bandelier.

On my way back to the car I pass street vendors with colorful wares.  

And a Native drummer plays in the plaza.  Santa Fe is definitely a uniquely Southwestern city.

Monday May 12

On our last day together in Santa Fe Jodee and I have a delicious lunch at The Apothecary Dining.

 

The ambiance is wonderful.

In addition to dining, there is a day spa.

Definitely the nicest dining we’ve done and we both agree it’s a place to return to.

Coming out of the restaurant I saw this shop across the street and thought of David who always wore hats.  I’m sure he would have loved going in and might well have bought one to remember Santa Fe.

I’ll close  this last post of my two weeks in Santa Fe with some pictures of the RV Park.

 

My site had wonderful view of the mountains from the dining windows.

Jody was behind me and to my left in her new smaller rig PJ (plane Jane).  Don’t you love the name?

The sunrises were on our side of the park so it required an evening stroll to see the sunset on the other side but we were high up so both were easily viewable.

There was a paved path going all around the outside of the park.  Great for walking dogs, getting steps and viewing sunsets.

A sampling of sunsets.  This one from beside the office porch looking out over the “other side” of the park.

 

All throughout the park were metal sculptures.   Many of them were created by Joe Forrest Sackett an Albuquerque artist.  The sculptures are often abstract and sometimes geometrically based. Mostly made of steel he uses welding, forging, casting, and carving.    It’s rather like living in a sculpture garden.

This is my favorite and was right in front of Winnona.

From my patio I could look up and see the patio and adobe walls of the office.

Notice the tables on the patio.  Not sure if some times they have entertainment or food.  Not while we were there.

One of my favorite things about the southwest is looking in through these openings in the adobe walls to the courtyards within.

And looking out to see Winnona framed.

You definitely can see the skies of Santa Fe from Santa Fe Skies RV Park.

It was a perfect place to stay though more expensive than I have ever paid for two weeks but I would love to return.  

For now sadly, Jodee and Tessa have said they cannot come with me to Taos, my next stop in New Mexico.