Evening Stroll through Santa Fe!

More Santa Fe?

Yes, more Santa Fe!

But first, I need to wish a very, very happy wedding to my little brother Scott, and his sweetheart Alicia who are being wed today on 11/11/11 at 11:11am! I can't be there in person, but I am there in spirit! I wish you guys the happiest of lifetimes, and can't wait to see you as soon as I can!

*SIGH* If only I could be two places at once, but the cruise was sold out and contracted before they announced their wedding plans, and I couldn't change it, and they understand that. All of my family is in Boise, Idaho right now, except for me! All 7 siblings and all their spouses and nieces and nephews and extended family. I MISS YOU ALL!

I really didn’t have extra time in Albuquerque to see anything --- and I would have posted LOTS if I had time to be taken to see it! So next time, I’m planning an extra day just to be able to see things that I missed.

For instance, I would have LOVED to be there on one of the balloon Fiesta weekends! I missed it by a week ;c) That’s okay --- NEXT TIME!

On my last evening, I was dropped off to my hotel about 5pm, and it was still very light out, and I took the shuttle down to the Plaza area one last time.

There is something very special about evening light in New Mexico. It just has this “other worldly” quality to it that turns the fading sunlight in to rosy pink hues.

Even the pictures I had taken mid-day the day before paled in comparison to these when touched by just that bit of evening sunlight. So I walked. And I clicked. I think I’m going to have to get me a “big girl” camera some day, but dang it – traveling and shooting with my phone is so easy and accessible!

The picture you see above of the courtyard is one area I just LOVED! There is so much to see…

And aren’t those burros just the cutest things ever? Click the pic to biggie size it. How many burros ARE there? THREE! Can you see the light reflected in the shop windows? And I love that blue color of the door and the window panes! Mixed with that terracotta of the building itself…it’s magic!

Everywhere I walked there were mesquite fences. They are just simply wired together, pole by pole…

See the wire? These just “Might” be able to keep the coyotes at bay….and they sure add a rustic touch to the down town Plaza areas! I wound myself around just taking in the size and shape and style of the buildings. When I walked past here the day before, the town was busy and bustling with people, with vendors selling their wares:

the turquoise and silver was just beautiful! And people sat there, every inch of the floor in the marketplace covered with jewelry displayed on blankets and tables…

But at night, past 5pm? Everyone had gone home and the Plaza took on a different feel ---

The streets were mostly empty, all the vendors were gone, leaving behind lonely buildings-

This just looks like something out of the “OLD” southwest, doesn’t it?

More of that fabulous turquoise paint! I think this could “almost” replace Cheddar in my favorite colors department!

The sun dipped its head to touch the tops of buildings and I was snapping pictures furiously before it got too dark to do so. I love the look of adobe buildings with the ends of wood beams sticking through!

Heavy, chunky wooden doors with almost a patchwork log appearance! GREAT texture! And yes, more turquoise window frame paint! I’m sold!

Even the plants just shout color, don’t they? Tumble weed sage brush and other desert plants line a low adobe wall ---

Even modern buildings are built in such a way that you KNOW they are ALL Santa Fe!

This was my favorite of all…just look at that stucco trim at the top, resembling a Spanish lady’s Mantilla. Uhhuh…..turquoise sky, need I say more about this color?

Window shopping when crowds have thinned can be very relaxing too! I was encouraged to relax even MORE by the pose of this statue just reclining in front of a shop window! Some how this looks more Egyptian than Spanish or Native American, but rest is good for everyone! LOL!

And yes, even lucky elephants can be found in Santa Fe….it is the land of Enchantment, after all!

Shop windows are full of interesting artifacts! This window had a bit of everything from Native handcrafts, to some Dia de los Muertos going on….

And I’m not a big jewelry wearer. I don’t hardly ever change my earrings, necklace or rings – they stay pretty much the same, basic, go with everything stuff --- but this display of turquoise and silver turned my head!

((This is where I confess to you that in a previous life, I worked as a floral designer in a flower shop, and it was my job to do the window displays! They always catch my eye, and I really appreciate well done interesting windows!))

In the evening light, the patterns and colors of the woven Navajo rugs looked even richer!

Lots of inspiration for quilt designs here, don’t you agree??

Darkness was gathering quickly, and it was also threatening to rain, so I hastened the 1.5 miles on foot back to my hotel…passing this wall of artwork—we’ve got a rattle snake facing off with what looks like to be a mountain lion or some cat-like creature….but look at those native plants! It was just a wonderful display on a street corner away from the Plaza area.

And now THIS I thought was tongue-in-cheek funny-----The hotel was right next to Whole Foods ((Great!! Love Whole Foods!)) As I walked over to Whole Foods I saw a whole bunch of tents in the park across the street! All kinds of tents, some with BBQs going, people milling about, looked like they were having a GREAT time ---

And then I saw the sign “Occupy Santa Fe” :c/

I didn’t go over there, but it struck me as rather “convenient” that they would rough it in a park right across the street from corporate Whole Foods.

No political affiliation what-so-ever --- it just seemed funny to me!

Oh, I loved Santa Fe, and I can’t wait to go back!