We're both students of history, so today was a bargain. We started by learning about how the indigenous peoples crossed the land bridge from Asia and settled in the four corners area. And how the Spanish queen, the same one who gave Chris Columbus his commission, ruled so much of this area for so many years.
This is truly an old Spanish Kingdom. Santa Fe was the furthest northern point and the palace is still here.
Stan was always under the impression that the art colony was just a bunch of hippies that showed up in the 60s. Definitely not true. This is the fifth largest art community in the world, after New York, Paris, Tokyo and somebody else. Impressionists came here in the last century, in search of the special light at this high altitude and the mixture of cultures that offered wonderful subject matter.
I spoke with a native American today who was selling tax-free jewelry in the Plaza. He talked about the Mexican God of War and how times haven't changed. The atomic bomb was built here, you know.
Speaking of tax-free jewelry, Kathleen got permission from the hotel to use the safe after haggling over purchases from the natives (just kidding). Kathleen loves rocks, and she was near heaven today. It is something I have a hard time relating to, but I am trying. The rich variety of minerals on display here is astounding, I will give you that.
A visit to a couple of art galleries gave us more pleasure (check out The Manitou), but our dogs were barking and we headed back to our cheap hotel, vowing next time to stay at the El Dorado in the middle of old Santa Fe.
(Don't get me wrong, the towels and sheets are clean, but this place was built in the 80s and the charm just ain't there any more. It happens to all of us, I guess. There is a free breakfast tomorrow morning.)
