Our next stop on the trip was Santa Fe, New Mexico. We'd been there before and so it didn't quite have the pull as it would have for a first timer. A quick walk around the square reminded us that this is very much an art town with prices to go with it. We saw chili wreaths and hangings such as the ones we used to put on our front door and kitchen walls in Silver City. Memories started flowing back.
The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi sits at the top of the hill off the city square. The first Church was built on this site in 1610, the same year the city was founded, while the present Church was built in l886. It is lovely inside and very welcoming.
Soon we found ourselves on the road again, going through the Town of Truth or Consequences, up over the mountains and down into Silver City.
We stopped in Santa Rita, just out side of Silver City to make sure the Santa Rita Copper Mine was still there and producing copper. Roger's first job out of University was as a HR Rep at the mine. While it's changed hands a few times over the years, it looked basically the same as when Roger worked there.
One of the beauties of Silver City is that it straddles the Continental Divide. This marks the river drainage for the U.S. The west side drains to the Pacific Ocean while the east side drains to the Gulf of Mexico. We were far enough south (80 miles from the Mexican border) to not have harsh winters, high enough in the mountains that summers were pretty mellow and we still were able to enjoy four full seasons. The one draw back was that the wind always seemed to be blowing. OK, petty I know, but I have to complain about something.
The Buckhorn Saloon in Pinos Altos, up the canyon from Silver, was a favorite place to get away for dinner (when we could find a babysitter). It still is open for drinks or dinner.
Below is Main Street early on a Saturday morning. The town was just starting to wake up as we headed off to breakfast. Silver City is trying hard to reinvent itself as an artist retreat and music venue (a blues festival was scheduled for the next weekend). Hopefully, it will be able to accomplish this feat as the local economy is pretty depressed. It felt good to be back, as this place and our courage to leave the "safety" of home was the beginning of numerous adventures as a couple and family.
After leaving Silver City, we headed into Arizona.
This is the Colorado River as it heads towards the Grand Canyon. When Roger and I took our river trip with Evan and Jason as our guides, we floated right under this bridge. The area is called Marble Canyon and is on the Navajo Indian Reservation.
One last photo to show the beauty of the west and in this case, the southwest. We have had a cool, wet Spring and everywhere we looked the
scenery was green and lush.
For a first time visitor to Sante Fe, I have to say, I loved it, especially the whole art scene. We did the Friday night open evening, when the galleries throw open their doors and serves wine and nibbles. So wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI love the Buckhorn Saloon (though Roger looks way too comfortable on that porch!). A double rocker on it too. How many sweethearts have sat on that?
I have to say, I got really excited when I got to your photos of the bridge at Marble Canyon, I am sure it is the same one I took, from almost the same position. I am going to post it for you to check out. How exciting, we stood on almost the same spot.
You are sooo lucky to have all this beauty on your doorstep, which makes it all the more shocking to me that people like that woman we met in the supermarket, have never made the relatively short drive to see it.
I wanted to see a picture of your old house!
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