Wood Angels, Street Art, Santa Fe, May 2007.
Santa Fe is an artistic oasis. There is so much art everywhere: textiles, jewelery, paintings, sculpture and pottery. The adobe architecture beautifully curves around and blends in with the red arid hills. The isolation and slow pace must be what encourages the grand creativity and warm hospitality in the area.
There is something special about that place.
It’s surrounded by green rolling hills, hot springs, red desert, ancient ruins, rock formations and snow kissed mountain tops. In town, restaurants and cafes add charm to rooftops. Food choices range from festive tamale-stands on the plaza, to eclectic cuisine and traditional New Mexican feasts. Did I mention sunshine and margaritas?
What else?
Well… It’s a place of hard choices…
Is it going to be a day at the museum or a day browsing craft stores? But it could also be a good day for a peaceful nature hike. You see, there are magnificent trails and vistas all around Santa Fe. There is Abiquiu and the sandstone cliffs that Georgia O’keeffe fell in love with. There is the High Road to Taos, with its forests and Hispanic villages along the way. There is the Santa Fe ski area and its views….The kind of views ideal for the sunset. (Views you enjoy even better when you bring a blanket and a bottle of champagne! Tip: It’s chilly and romantic up there!)
But that is not all!!!
There are also the ancient ruins and rock monoliths at the Bandelier and the Tent Rocks National Monument. On some days, one certainly needs to hike up to dramatic and spiritual view points. I believe that from atop, with canyons ahead and the wind blowing gently, one feels the weight of the world lift off his shoulders. Suddenly, every worry becomes really weak and falls downhill.
And more… For the adventure seeking days, there are off the beaten track spots too. My favorites were tiny artistic communities such as Arroyo Seco, near Taos, and Madrid, at the Turquoise Trail.
Oh… Hard choices…
But one thing is for sure. Santa Fe is a delightful experience for everyone. Alone or well accompanied… There is plenty to do to stay busy or else, the perfect vibe to simply contemplate life and do nothing.
This trip was important to me in so many levels. I was having a couple of rough weeks and then, Santa Fe came along. I made room for it and it reminded me of why I travel in the first place: to enter a magical reality where you suddenly feel that you belong in this life and in this world. It made it clear to me, that this is why I need to travel periodically (okay, frequently in my case!). To learn new cultures. To learn about myself. To recharge. To stay alive. To be able to come back to life (and its crabby moments) with a smile on my face… Knowing it’s all going to be all right…
And you? Where could you go to on a magical adventure? It could be to a local destination for you. If you never travel far or alone, you could start by taking a bus ride to another neighborhood in your own town. Even to a bookshop. Or perhaps to a favorite cafe or to the movies…
Try a small adventure now and then. :)
Where is that portal from where you can access your soul?
Santa Fe – Artistic Oasis
June 6, 2007
My dear … Stoke Newington is always an adventure and I don’t think I will ever tire of it.
But … home in the quiet surroundings is my heart home.
And you should guess that the world is my oyster!
Spoken like a true gypsy girl…wanderlust is so obviously in your bones!
I love to travel anywhere near the sea, for that’s where I feel most at home.
I too need to travel often in order to feel happy – to maintain my balance, to feel “okay”. Even if its only to a new neighborhood in my adopted hometown of Chicago. I need the adventure, the challenge, and the ability to learn more about other people and myself!
Santa Fe sounds amazing, and after reading your description, it makes me want to experience that magic.
I am so glad that you had a wonderful trip and you made new beautiful memories.
I would be happy to experience a full 24 hours alone…it does not matter where. :-)
xoxoxo
Travelling definitely opens us up to a fresh perspective on the world.
I found this quote on kerismith.com/blog :
“We were gone almost a month and everything was sensual. Everything was erotic. It’s the gift of travel, where everything is infused with meaning, compressed, so you begin to see the golden strand that weaves life together. You are in a constant state of awe.” ~Terry Tempest Williams
I love the Southwest. I spent two weeks at Chaco Canyon, Hovenweep and Mesa Verde last summer. Magical and quiet. Glad you had a great visit…
So glad you found that chance and made room for it.
I travel constantly – if I sleep in my “own” bed in Herat 15 times in a month it is a very settled month for me.
But I can find my soul home in all sorts of different places: on the top of a hill looking out over rolling desert; at the edge of a cliff overlooking the surf; deep under the surface of the ocean floating with the fish; walking through lush bush or giant forests. As long as I get out of town and into “nature” on a regular basis I can stay sane and centred.
x
Santa Fe sounds amazing- I am so glad you got to experience it, dearest Alex.I go through travel spurts- a lot and then not. Sometimes I need to be in my house, sometimes I need not to be in my house. But I like to travel, as you say, even if it is just across town!
Love to you, sweetie…
xo
Alex, my heart skipped a beat when I saw you were in Santa Fe. My daughter and I lived there for a year, while I telecommuted to San Francisco (I was tired of paying high rent in San Fran; had an adorable adobe house in Santa Fe for half the price of San Fran rent). So glad you’ve enjoyed your stay. It’s one of my favourite places (and my husband and I got married there at Archbishop Lamy’s Chapel). xo
Oh it all sounds so wonderful. I have never been but always wanted to go. And if I were not living in Marrakech, I think I would want to move there, just based on your description.:-)
Hmmm…for me,to really recharge, it must be the ocean, esp if there are crashing waves – an hour is enough to put it all in perspective for me.
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