The area contains an eclectic assortment of shops and eateries. You can find anything from jalapeno chocolate to $500 skirts.
We partook of samples in an olive oil and balsamic vinegar shop that had every flavor you can imagine. Our favorite oil was "smoke" and my favorite vinegar was "expresso and dark chocolate".
There are musicians playing around the square and Native Americans selling their handmade jewelry and trinkets as well.
In the end we only purchased some post cards and a "chili" Christmas ornament.
Then on Monday we took the train we mentioned on the last blog, out to Santa Fe. It was a very nice train and incredible scenery.
Santa Fe is the state capital and so is home to the capital building.
The capital building is literally an art museum. We were given free reign of the building and encouraged to visit the Governor's Office, the House and Senate Chambers, and to view the over 600 pieces of artwork spread throughout the building.
(Zoom in on this one and check the materials used to construct it)
There was also a gallery showing of "Thread Art" which includes everything from the quilting discipline and so very much more. Check out these pics and remember every one is only cloth and thread.
The streets are cobblestone and the shops are similar to Old Town Albuquerque, but the prices are much higher. Here there were also many galleries where every type of art was displayed from painting to pottery to carvings.
Of course my favorite art is below but I will leave it to you to decide which one 😁
The town is quaint in every way. We sat on a stone wall in the town square to eat lunch (yes, a bag lunch) while a violinist played for tips beside us. It was magical to say the least.
This brief blog can't begin to show how cool these areas are. It will have to suffice to say it is already on our bucket list for a return, and a much longer stay.
The next and final post from Albuquerque will cover the day we spent on Sandia Peak. We had incredible vistas and scenery as we hiked about 5 miles through the rocks, woods and snow.
All of that in the next post of... The Next Hundred Miles.
Don had a silver belt buckle made in Old Town with inlaid stones which he still has. That buffalo head was full of all sorts of "stuff". That takes imagination. So glad that the weather is being kind to you.
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