Santa Fe NM - Part 1

Us at the Visitors' Center.  This deer was made mostly from bark.

We started our exploration of Santa Fe with a tour in a small open-air bus.  Frank, our driver, was very knowledgeable and gave us a constant stream of information about what we were seeing.

On the bus - Betti and Ken Hendrickson behind Alan.

Right where we got on the bus, was the Spitz clock.  The Spitz Jewelry Store was established in 1881, and this clock, which was bought second hand in Kansas City, stood in front of the store from 1915 until l967.  It has been donated to the citizens of Santa Fe and is getting a new coat of gold leaf.  It is hand wound and still today, someone has to wind it to make it run.

The La Fonda Hotel - pretty typical architecture around the Plaza (center of the old city).  Buildings were made of stone and mud because the only vegetation around was pinon and juniper - no real  lumber to build structures.

The Plaza.

Lots of flowers around.

Santa Fe is full of artwork everywhere you look.  It is the second largest art market in the US - NY is the largest.  There are 250 galleries representing about 4000 artisans.  Some of these were taken from the tour bus and some as we walked.

Masks in the dining room of the Thunderbird Grill, where we had a great lunch on the balcony overlooking the Plaza.

Rock, paper, scissors!  Reminded us of The Big Bang Theory.

Possibly flamingos for Cathy Benton?

No doubt about this being a flamingo!

My favorite statue - near the Plaza.

Cow heads for Sandy's sister, Karen.

 

A very fancy and, no doubt, expensive cow head.

 

Sounds like a good motto to me - and did they have wonderful cupcakes.



 

Betti and Ken Hendrickson's cat, Sweetie.  She goes for several walks a day and has quite the fun personality.