From Alabama to Arizona: Exploring and Eating Our Way Through Santa Fe
- Connie Pearson
- May 3
- 3 min read
Why, oh why, didn't I pack some sweaters? Evidently, I was thinking too much about deserts and cacti when I was putting my trip clothes in the car. Instead, it's windy and chilly in Santa Fe, and from the weather predictions I've checked, I'll be shivering for the next three days until we head to south Arizona and south Texas. Brrrrr. We had lots of sun today, though, which made sightseeing extra nice.
The 7200 foot elevation here is something we're feeling -- extra fatigue, shortness of breath, etc. It helps that we lived at 8400 feet in Cuenca, Ecuador for 2 1/2 years and 9350 feet in Quito for a year and a half, so we know that drinking more water and taking things slower helps. But, it has been a while.
We began with a relaxed, fireside breakfast in the hotel restaurant. The churro waffle was delicious and something I wanted to try for the first time. As always, Steve and I shared it.
You've probably noticed that we often share entrees when we eat out. There are several obvious reasons:
1) After living together for more than 54 years, there are MANY dishes we both enjoy.
2) Neither of us needs to eat the entire large portions restaurants generally serve.
3) It saves money. Win-win!
Taking advantage of the sunshine, we took a drive into the Santa Fe National Forest. The vegetation and mountain scenery were so different from the Smoky Mountains. The deer we passed on the road was also unusual.
When we came back into town, we decided to try again to check out the Plaza. We lucked up on a parking spot and browsed for several blocks.
For lunch, we chose The Shed -- along with several hundred other tourists -- and ordered two soft blue corn chicken tacos with a side of beans and posole ("pow-zole"). Posole is a type of soup with hominy and spices. This was certainly NOT what you would get in a typical Mexican restaurant back in Alabama.
After lunch, Steve browsed stores that interested him, while I toured the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum. I loved it! When I taught art to elementary students, I tried to encourage them to draw objects large "a la Georgia O'Keeffe". She once said that if she painted a flower its actual size, no one would notice it. So, she chose to paint it big. Even though she was born in Wisconsin and lived much of her life in New York, she visited New Mexico often starting in 1929, and finally moved there permanently in 1949. She died in Santa Fe in1986, at the age of 98. Some of her most popular subjects were flowers, desert landscapes, and animal skulls. I can't help wondering what she might have painted if she'd ever visited Alabama.
For dinner, we shared a Green Chile Cheeseburger (a New Mexican specialty) at the Plaza Cafe (which has been in downtown Santa Fe since 1905). Green chiles in this area are smokey, sweet, and moderately hot. Another Pepcid coming right up. :)
We have an early alarm set for tomorrow to make the long drive to Monument Valley, which is located very near the borders of Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico and is in Navajo territory.
I am SO looking forward to this and will share photos when I get a chance.
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