Capturing a Sunset

Capturing a sunset in Santa Fe is hard. The sunset is constantly changing. Between one shot and glancing at the screen, the scene has changed already. It maybe the placement of the clouds, the lighting or the colors. Honestly, the best way to appreciate the sunset in Santa Fe is with a drink in one hand and sitting in a chair. It's no wonder so many artists get inspiration in this landscape. Can't wait for my next visit to Santa Fe, New Mexico!

A Little Town Called Chimayo

 My friends were kind enough to take me to a little town called Chimayo. This town sells some amazing chili! I bought some and brought it home with me. I haven't tried making the chili "sauce" (apparently, it is blasphemous to say chili sauce. It looks like a sauce, has the consistency of a sauce, but we must NOT call it a sauce, or forever be labeled a tourist. Thank you Cynthia for saving me from that embarrassment. lol) All I can say is the chili in Santa Fe is delicious and make sure to order Christmas (red and green chili) with every meal you can!

 This little town also had a few chapels. It is a very quiet town, but people mainly come here for the chili and maybe for some healing.

Museum Hill Botanical Garden of Santa Fe

 This botanical garden was beautiful and the weather in Santa Fe helped to increase the visual effects. During my stay I kept saying "Wow, these are some amazing cloud formations!" My friends probably thought I had been living under a rock or something. I mean who is blown away by clouds, but that is what happened. The clouds in Santa Fe were massive! These are the type of clouds that people would stare at and see different animals floating in the sky. Also, I should mention that there was a lightning storm dancing in the mountains during my night drive from Albuquerque airport to Santa Fe. That was a pretty spectacular show. It wasn't scary since it was off in the distance, but I had to keep reminding myself to look at the road and to stop gaping.

Native Flora and Fauna of Santa Fe

If you are interested in visiting this botanical garden you can visit their website for their location.

Botanical Garden of Santa Fe

 This is my friend Cynthia walking around the gardens.

 

 There were a lot of beautiful flowers like this.

As well as plants that look like sea anenome. At least that is what this reminds me of.

Botanical Gardens: Flora and Fauna of Santa Fe

Museum of New Mexico at Milner Plaza

 I didn't have a chance to go inside the museum, but if I had more time I would have visited this museum. I only had time to look around the plaza and have breakfast (which was delicious!), but just from what I saw in the plaza it seems like an interesting museum.

Palace of the Governor's: Santa Fe, NM

The Palace of the Governor's is where the governor's of Santa Fe used to live. Now, it is a museum for the history of Santa Fe. We can't take photographs inside the museum except in the courtyard, which is where this photo was taken. The museum has a lot of photographs and artifacts on display. A good place to visit to understand what the city of Santa Fe went through.

A Door in Santa Fe

I stood staring at this door for a couple minutes. I just happened to catch the colors out of the corner of my eye and I had to get a closer look. I'm glad I did! 

How amazing is this door?

Inside the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi

 The stained glass windows were beautiful with the light streaming through them.

I wasn't a real big fan of this Cathedral, because it is a little over the top. If I had to choose one cathedral of chapel to visit I would choose the Loretto Chapel. It's beautiful in it's simplicity and we can't forget the spiral staircase!

With that said I did find some details that I enjoyed at this Cathedral, like the door.

Architectural Styles in Santa Fe

Pueblo Style - Made of adobe and trees. 
This is one of the museums near the square. New Mexico Museum of Art

A blend of Adobe, French-Romanesque and Modern Architecture designs.

 Saint Francis Cathedral

This cathedral stands out among the adobe buildings. It is large and very close to the square, so it's a little hard to miss.

A Stroll Through Downtown Santa Fe

 I love everything about this building. The ivy, the awning, the balcony, the color....

 There were quite a few shops to stop. I found a chocolate shop that I was somehow able to tear myself away from without buying any chocolate. I would have bought some, but I wasn't sure how well they would have held up in my suitcase in Japan where it was still quite hot.

A shampoo explosion is bad, but a melted chocolate explosion? I didn't want to try my luck.

 I loved the souvenir shops, which yes are a little over priced. But then again that's part of buying souvenirs and it helps the local economy....hopefully, the local economy. No matter what it is a good way to bring home a little of the local products to remind you of your time there.

Can you tell I am a souvenir addict?

 If you walk just a few minutes from the center of the town you can find galleries and quiet streets like these. Part of it was that it was the off season, but I can't imagine tourists swarming this area. It felt more like the area the locals would spend their time. Quiet and simply decorated cafes and restaurants. Plenty of apartment buildings and office buildings.

The Spiral Staircase

This is the main reason why I love The Loretto Chapel. This staircase is surrounded with a little mystery. It is called a miraculous staircase, because they don't know exactly who built it or why or how. Visit this site to find out more information.

 

For artists, architecture lovers, miracle lovers or people who are just curious, you must take a look at this spiral staircase.

The Loretto Chapel

This chapel is a must see in Santa Fe. My next post will have the main reason, but I also found the outside and the trees to be worth it as well.

 Nature: Straight and solid
Man-made: Off kilter and see through

I don't know who came up with the idea to drape their prayer beads on a tree branch, but the variety of colors and sizes truly are beautiful. An interesting thought that the prayer beads would keep reaching out further and further as the tree grows.

Details of Santa Fe #1

 Design

 Material

Add ons to older buildings.

Around the Oldest House of Santa Fe

 I noticed this tree not too far from the oldest house left standing in Santa Fe. The first thing that came to mind was how long it had been there and the changes that happened around it.

Part of the restaurant that hides the house from the main street. If you have been walking around all morning maybe it's time for a break with a little wine or beer. Watch your head going in!

A full view of the house. Unfortunately, you can't go to the second floor anymore. Only the one room in the front is accessible to visitors.

The Oldest House in Santa Fe, NM

 The building on the left is what's left of one of the original houses in Santa Fe. It used to be bigger with a second story, but over time it has become this one room museum. The entrance is through the real estate agency and there is a restaurant hiding it from the main street. I would never have found it without my friend, Cynthia's, guidance.