Today is museum day! Yesterday, we bought a museum pass that gives us access to five museums, but we only had time to visit the Museum of New Mexico. So, this morning, we head off to Museum Hill, where we visit the Museum of International Folk Art, Indian Arts and Culture, and the Spanish Colonial Art.
Of the three, the Folk Art was definitely our favourite. A large, diverse collection of silver works (artifacts and jewelry), clothing, art and sculpture, and a huge room filled with dolls and figures from many different cultures. Very very cool.
Then we headed back downtown to visit the museum inside the Palace of the Governors. Again, a lot of very interesting history around these buildings, if you're the type who likes old buildings and history. Fortunately, we are!
There's several musicians wandering through town, singing something about Santa Fe. The city is gearing up for a festival that starts on Thursday - Fiesta de Santa Fe - which features the burning of Zozobra! One of the merchants told us about it: Zozobra is a 50-foot figure that they burn "in effigy of Old Man Gloom, or Zozobra, to dispel the hardships and travails of the past year". (Hey... wait a minute... isn't this the plot to The Wicker Man? Must leave town immediately! Or stop watching horror movies...)
We won't be here, but I'm sure there will be another influx of tourists to take our place. Burn one of them in your wicker effigy, Santa Fe!
Did I mention that I think that Santa Fe is a secret sister city to Las Vegas? Both of them really want your money - they just go after it in different ways.
Santa Fe is definitely an upmarket destination. Remember that necklace that I wanted in Monument Valley (until I discovered that it cost $5,000)? Well, now that's starting to look like a bargain. In a shop windows today, I saw a bracelet for $100,000. And I'm sure there's even more expensive stuff here - I'm just not allowed anywhere near it. You know when you look into certain shops, and the whole atmosphere just exudes a sense of "you can't afford this place"? There's a lot of those around here. They have some kind of anti-peasant barrier that keeps you out. We're like flies bouncing against the windows - I don't understand - why can't I get inside?
It's an artsy-fartsy town. Art is everywhere. And they ain't no starving artists, either (as long as they make a sale). Downtown, there are multiple galleries on each street. Fancy clothing, fancy boots, and jewelry jewelry jewelry with big honking jewels. Eh, I wouldn't wear it anyway.
~Buys a fridge magnet instead.~
While we're driving back towards our hotel, a traffic light changes, and I slow down. Then I realize I've accidentally strayed into the big X's marked on the pavement because there's train tracks running through. Oops. Well, odds are good that I'll just be here a minute, and at least I'm not sitting on the tracks - just illegally close, I guess. Everyone else has parked lawfully further back (and you know they're thinking, what's up with that moron? And where in the hell is Saskatchewan?!).
I'm waiting for the traffic lights to change. I see a big headlight. #*$&@$! It's a train! what are the odds?!
At that moment, my traffic light changes to green, and I drive ahead to safety, whereas everyone else who parked further back is stuck behind the lowered railway arms. Haha! So long, suckers! And whew!
We stopped at Target to buy legitimate swimsuits so that we can use the pool and jacuzzi without fear of being thrown out. Spend an hour or so in the evening, bobbing around in the pool, and enjoying the bubbly jacuzzi. Ahh, so relaxing! Lamplighter Inn, you really are America's Best Value Inn!
:-)
Of the three, the Folk Art was definitely our favourite. A large, diverse collection of silver works (artifacts and jewelry), clothing, art and sculpture, and a huge room filled with dolls and figures from many different cultures. Very very cool.
Then we headed back downtown to visit the museum inside the Palace of the Governors. Again, a lot of very interesting history around these buildings, if you're the type who likes old buildings and history. Fortunately, we are!
There's several musicians wandering through town, singing something about Santa Fe. The city is gearing up for a festival that starts on Thursday - Fiesta de Santa Fe - which features the burning of Zozobra! One of the merchants told us about it: Zozobra is a 50-foot figure that they burn "in effigy of Old Man Gloom, or Zozobra, to dispel the hardships and travails of the past year". (Hey... wait a minute... isn't this the plot to The Wicker Man? Must leave town immediately! Or stop watching horror movies...)
We won't be here, but I'm sure there will be another influx of tourists to take our place. Burn one of them in your wicker effigy, Santa Fe!
*****
Did I mention that I think that Santa Fe is a secret sister city to Las Vegas? Both of them really want your money - they just go after it in different ways.
Santa Fe is definitely an upmarket destination. Remember that necklace that I wanted in Monument Valley (until I discovered that it cost $5,000)? Well, now that's starting to look like a bargain. In a shop windows today, I saw a bracelet for $100,000. And I'm sure there's even more expensive stuff here - I'm just not allowed anywhere near it. You know when you look into certain shops, and the whole atmosphere just exudes a sense of "you can't afford this place"? There's a lot of those around here. They have some kind of anti-peasant barrier that keeps you out. We're like flies bouncing against the windows - I don't understand - why can't I get inside?
It's an artsy-fartsy town. Art is everywhere. And they ain't no starving artists, either (as long as they make a sale). Downtown, there are multiple galleries on each street. Fancy clothing, fancy boots, and jewelry jewelry jewelry with big honking jewels. Eh, I wouldn't wear it anyway.
~Buys a fridge magnet instead.~
*****
While we're driving back towards our hotel, a traffic light changes, and I slow down. Then I realize I've accidentally strayed into the big X's marked on the pavement because there's train tracks running through. Oops. Well, odds are good that I'll just be here a minute, and at least I'm not sitting on the tracks - just illegally close, I guess. Everyone else has parked lawfully further back (and you know they're thinking, what's up with that moron? And where in the hell is Saskatchewan?!).
I'm waiting for the traffic lights to change. I see a big headlight. #*$&@$! It's a train! what are the odds?!
At that moment, my traffic light changes to green, and I drive ahead to safety, whereas everyone else who parked further back is stuck behind the lowered railway arms. Haha! So long, suckers! And whew!
We stopped at Target to buy legitimate swimsuits so that we can use the pool and jacuzzi without fear of being thrown out. Spend an hour or so in the evening, bobbing around in the pool, and enjoying the bubbly jacuzzi. Ahh, so relaxing! Lamplighter Inn, you really are America's Best Value Inn!
:-)
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