Santa Fe, a haven for artists

We ate at an authentic Mexican restaurantant last night and Pat discovered that real tacos are not quite the same as Taco Bell fare. It was a place where the locals stop to eat, so it must be good. Of course, Budweiser is Budweiser no matter where you eat.

After breakfast this morning we headed up into the mountains for a three hour tour of the countryside. It was very refreshing to drive over a hundred miles without seeing any golden arches. Many of the small towns were little more than crossroads, but several were artists' colonies. The churches and adobe homes are small but beautiful. On the back leg of the trip we followed along the banks of the Rio Grande. Later, while in downtown Santa Fe, we would follow along the Santa Fe River. As these rivers are making rapid descents, the water is moving at a fast pace. Our world class kayaking son-in-law Robert would probably look upon these rivers with disdain as they appear not to have any life-threatening rapids. In some spots you can probably wade across.

After a roadside lunch we returned to Santa Fe, first to the historic square/plaza and then to Canyon Road where the art galleries are back-to-back. The art galleries in the Plaza are much like you would find in any tourist attraction--some beautiful, affordable pieces and some Myrtle Beach type junk. We bought a few small items and then drove over to Canyon Road. The art galleries there are where the serious collectors go. There are no fast food dives, bars or other distractions on Canyon Road. Almost every genre of art is represented in this area. We would need a second mortgage in order to afford some of these beautiful pieces.

Tomorrow we will spend the morning in Santa Fe and then continue the westward trek with a stopover in Gallup, NM. From Gallup we head to Flagstaff, AZ via the Painted Desert and the Petrified Forest. Flagstaff will be our base for four days as we begin to explore several canyons and other landmarks.