Exploring Santa Fe, NM

After spending three days in Santa Fe, New Mexico, we wished we had even more time to spend there. We did not know how much there would be to see and do in this area.

The weather when we were there was great, sunny and in the 70’s.

This is the Loretto Hotel and Spa, a beautiful place.

Most buildings in Santa Fe are built in the adobe style. Even the McDonald's was made to look like an old adobe!

We walked around the Plaza area where there are many interesting shops and lots of restaurants. We came across this area called, “The Porch.”

This is a block long sidewalk where Indians from the area come and spread blankets on the bricks and sell there handcrafted wares, mostly jewelry. It was quite busy with tourists looking for a bargain.

 

Don purchases a small gift for a friend.

We had lunch in the Plaza area and then stumbled across the state Capital that is also in the Plaza area. The state offices are there as well. It must make for interesting parking situations for the people who work there during the height of tourist season.

There were a couple guys with bicycles right in front of where I wanted to take this picture, so I had to crop a bit closer than I wanted. The thing that was interesting is that this is very different than the typical domed building that one usually sees as a state Capital building.

I spoke to the “Bicycle Guys” to confirm that this was indeed the Capital. They confirmed, yes it was and that it was built in the traditional Zia shape, a circle with wings on all four sides. I guess one would have to fly over it in order to get a good look at the actual design.

This was a great replica of Indian Dancer in front of the Capital. I thought it was extremely well done.

We were wanting to visit some of the Indian Pueblos that are around the Santa Fe area. In 1967 Don had an old friend here who was the one responsible for starting him on his Southwest pottery collection. We have since added to that collection over the years. We looked her up and had a brief visit with her.

The Taos Pueblo was first on our list to explore.  

The adobes had sort of “picture postcard” look to them with the colorful doors contrasting with the straw and earth that composes the adobe material that covers them. (Hmm! Do you think someone is sending smoke signals here?)

We entered one that was selling Indian Fry Bread. The floor of the home was hard packed dirt. Talk about authentic!!

Numerous other homes had little shops in them where they sold jewelry, or other crafts but had the old fashioned linoleum on the floors. I can't remember the last time I saw linoleum actually being used...but then I don't usually hang out in pueblos much, either!

The home owners just put an “Open” sign on the door and you are welcomed right into their living room to view (and hopefully, buy) their wares.

Virtually all the homes had one of these ovens outside. This is where they bake bread, pies and cookies…and provides a shady place for the family pup to take a nap.

This was outside a house that had a shop inside it. I was impressed with how nice the combination of chili ropes and the pottery looked in front of the home. Believe me, they were not all that pretty.

These are samples of Taos Pueblo Pottery styles.

Taos is unique because it has several multi-level adobes.

  

Not far away is the Santa Clara Pueblo. Some of the homes are in a state of disrepair even though  they are still lived in.

This home is a gallery with pottery representing several very accomplished native artists. We spent quite a bit of time talking with the owner of the gallery. We found many of the natives extremely friendly and talkative.

                       

  

This is some of the Santa Clara Pottery, much of it the black for which they are known, and some red. They specialize in thick-walled vessels with the designs carved in them.

We spent quite a bit of time talking with one potter named Sammy Naranjo (Na-RAN-ho). He did beautiful pottery that was black with the top edge in red, similar to this one. 




Sammy also likes making small pottery bears which he showed us. They were very well done. We would liked to have had one of his works, but the price he commands let us only admire.

Sammy, the bear lover, has a bear claw on the cover to the oven outside his home.

The next pueblo we visited was San Ildefonso, again, not far away.

These pole fences are a common sight throughout the entire area around Santa Fe, and the pueblos were no different.

     

There was a large plaza in the middle of the village and it contained several huge cottonwood trees. This is the area where they have their ceremonies at various times during the year.

This old rusty Chevy pick up truck had been in this spot for a very long time. The tires had probably gone flat years ago.

These shelters were sometimes used to sell wares. I found them interesting in their mode of construction.

This pueblo had been given quite a bit of HUD money and so had done a good bit of remodeling and new construction of some of the buildings. They were careful not to deviate from the authentic style. There was quite a contrast between really nice buildings and the tumble down ones.

San Idlefonso

This is a picture of the very famous “Maria,” who many years ago began the black-on-black style of pottery-making. Maria lived into her ver late 90's passing away about in 1980. This area is now very well known for this unique handmade product. Any pottery with her signature on the bottom is extremely valuable.

This is an older pot made by Maria.

Next, we heard that Bandelier National Monument, again nearby, was not to be missed. We had never heard of this place before but found it to be amazing.

Bandelier will be the next posting. Stand by.