SIZZLING Santa Fe

Hi Pals:  We watched the sun rise over Santa Fe this morning from our new home perched on the hill.  

Who's that on the chair?

We arrived here yesterday after a five day drive from Memphis across Interstate 40. We drove through three states -- Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico -- day before yesterday.  I’ve seen bicyclers and walkers on the interstates before, but never a roller skater which we came across along the way.

We stayed at KOAs along Rte 40 and love the amenities – they make a nice home cooked dinner and deliver it to your coach.     

Loved the park in Checotah, OK.  Big grassy spot, wonderful walking trails and a lake. 

Texas is all about BIG … and their rest stops are too.  This one was like a whole city. 

This is only part of it.

This is a humungous building with videos in it!

The kids in wait.

Even a playground

       And about 10 of these picnic areas.  Very big and very nice.

We toured lovely downtown Santa Fe today ....

 … before it turned 97 degrees!   

There are lush parks around town 

 This is the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi.  Very magnificent.  Built of limestone. 

the ornate grand entrance

And Altar.

This is the Loretto Chapel.

And, guess who's at the chapel door?

The Loretto chapel was built without a way to get to the choir loft. The Church was small and lacked space for a staircase and there no no funds to build one.  The Sisters of Loretto prayed for St. Joseph's help for nine straight days.  On the tenth a shabby looking stranger appeared at their door.  He told the nuns he would build them a staircase but that he needed total privacy and locked himself in the chapel for three months.  The resulting staircase is an impressive work of carpentry.  It ascends 20 feet, making two complete revolutions up to the choir loft without the use of nails or apparent center support. 

This is the Plaza, the town gathering spot.    We were there very early today, so very peaceful and quiet.

More Santa Fe architecture.  

A little color.

Masonic hall 

Ethnic costume

Illuminaria for lunch

... and our favorite place to be .... The Santa Fe river walk.

We’ll be here for a week and will slowly crawl up to Glacier National Park hitting all the great spots along the way. Seems it will continue to be mighty hot even as we move north through Colorado!  

Adios .... Amore ... Amigos!