After months of  trying to figure out our next adventure, I woke up one morning in March and said let’s go back to Santa Fe. I felt the call of Southwestern art and architecture, Native American culture, chile-celebrated cuisine, high desert trails and endless skyscapes. 

And here we are a month later happily immersed in all those qualities that drew us to Santa Fe nearly two decades ago.

We found a cozy, authentic  adobe casa through Home Exchange that’s minutes from everywhere we wanted to go. We felt right at home.

During our first three days ,we hit three museums and walked the endless gallery row of Canyon Road.  We’ve admired the classic Pueblo style that triggered the Southwest architecture and design aesthetic that stills rocks our senses.  Pueblo style adobe homes  are everywhere garbed in rust and tawny shades. These colors are are an arresting contrast with brilliant blue skies, white clouds and green desert flora. The color palette never tires.

But we do! Where we used to run hard from morning until night, we now take several breaks daily at the casita.  Andy spends time on music ( his portable keyboard is a constant travel companion).  I read, do wordle, Duolingo and now, after avoiding it for two days, write for my blog!  We still get our daily 10-12k steps in…but not all at once!

One thing that has changed in Santa Fe is the culinary scene is better and more diversified now. We had amazing tapas at La Boca, totally authentic dosas and curry at Paper Dosa and, of course,  southwest cuisine at La Choza that required an hour wait on a Tuesday!

We started our museum_hopping at the New Mexico History Museum.  It was a sometimes sobering look at American History. We learned about our policies of Manifest destiny; our treatment of the indigenous peoples who preceded us; and the immigrants who built the west, especially the railroad workers.  We kept thinking that some things don’t change as we watch history repeating itself.

Our second day, we re-explored the world famous Canyon Road filled with high end galleries galore. We discovered new to us artists like Justin Wheatley, Gail Haire, Tim Weldon and  Grant Hayunga. We also rediscovered Carol LaRoche and her familiar and delightful creatures in paintings and sculpture.

Today we drove 6 minutes out of town to the gorgeous setting of Museum Hill. There we  wandered through the Museum of Arts & Culture and the International Folk Art Museum. Then back home where snacks and quiet time ensued.

We are resting up for tonight’s last Friday Art Walk at the Railyard plus dinner at Horno.

Maybe we aren’t slowing down as much as we think!