History Tells Us

In and Around Santa Fe, New Mexico

Visit in and around Santa Fe, New Mexico opened the eyes of each individual. More than four years of culture and history, a walk through the streets of Santa Fe is a journey through time. The first inhabitants of the East found their way through the Santa Fe Trail Today day can be reached by plane, train or car. Note that the streets around the main square are very narrow. Without lying ones have the mechanical meters coins of $ 1.00 per hour. A passenger train runs frequently during the day in Bethlehem through Albuquerque to Santa Fe bus transit system offers free trips to train ticket holders. The rate for seniors is only $ 0.50 or $ 1.00 all day. Remember this, inhabitants of low, when you walk around tourism. You have more than 7.00 meters. Santa Fe Displaying breathtaking in more ways than one.

Ask the residents of "The Casa Redonda "and give instructions to the formation of capital, a four-story circular building with a plaza in the shape of the Zia sun symbol, which also appears on the state flag. The top three floors are open for self-guided tour. Check out the visitor information desk on the main floor and you can be I'll be lucky to find Sarah Duran, a local resident with a fountain of knowledge. What she does not know, she'll know.

The complex was dedicated capital 1966. The most surprising thing about construction is the use of space and numerous works of art hanging from all the walls. The artists represent the many aspects of New Mexico: natural beauty, the beauty of indigenous peoples, Spanish colonialism and the modern New Mexico in all its diversity.

On the ground Four of the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor. Governor's Gallery, started in 19 73, focuses on local art and artists as a branch of the Museum Extension Fine Arts.

The third floor has many offices of 42 senators elected every four years and 70 representatives elected every two years. They must be citizens and residents in his district. In addition to not receiving a salary, only a diet and a mileage allowance. They meet for 60 days in odd years and 30 days in numbered years. Albuquerque and its environs are almost a quarter of the legislators, since the districts are measured by the population. Eat your heart out other states with inflated salaries of their legislators.

The second floor, the main floor houses the galleries for the Senate and Representative cameras. Both are up to date with technological developments. Both have the great seal of New Mexico behind the reception. The rotunda floor also represents the seal. Little has changed since 1851. The American bald eagle, the eagle shields smallest Mexico. The bald eagle holds three arrows in its talons. The harpy eagle is a snake in mouth and a cactus in its talons. This goes back to an ancient story of the Aztecs, in which the gods told the Aztecs to settle where they saw portrayed as an eagle. Below them reads the state motto "Crescit Eundo" (It grows as it goes).

Sarah has recommended a restaurant down the street called The Upper Crust Pizza lounge which was voted as the best in Santa Fe for less than $ 5.00 from Monday to Friday 11 am-1: 00 PM you can get a big slice of pizza with one topping of your choice, a small salad and a drink. The pizza was delicious. I had spicy Thai dressing on my salad. It is up to its name. The drinks we had were great. My wife chose a Way2Cool Root Beer, made in Carrizozo, NM. Outstanding! I chose a blue sky Lemon Lime Soda, made with natural ingredients. Outstanding too!

The restaurant is right in front of San Miguel Mission Church, which dates back to Spanish colonial times and rebuilt after the 1680 Pueblo Revolt. The church remains active people living in the neighborhood of Analco.

Beside the restaurant is a building that claims to be "the oldest house in the U.S.." The house dates back to the people of Analco in 1200, and then the Spanish colonization in 1607. Today the property houses a gallery, what happened to was closed at that time.

Continue walking along the old Santa Fe Trail ends at La Fonda, a luxury hotel. Harvey was part of the Empire House during the late 19th century and 20th century. The hotel has been there since the early 1800s as reflected the roots of the hotel said: "La Posada del Fin del Camino Santa Fe." La Fonda, which means inn, facing the Plaza. Some famous residents of the hotel were Captain William Becknell, who arrived in 1821 after an expedition successful business in Missouri to Santa Fe to open the way to Santa Fe and Ernie Pyle, journalist of the Second World War.

Just across the street from the Hotel La Fonda the road to Santa Fe Loretto Chapel is located. This Gothic chapel features "miraculous staircase." Legend has it that San Jose came to the chapel and built in one night. This independent spiral wooden staircase has no support beams. The wood carvings are complex in design. Whoever built it was a master carpenter and wood carver. A visit to Loreto Chapel is worth a trip to Santa Fe in itself.

Surrounding the square are many specialty shops and a restaurant highly recommended Plaza Cafe, which has been in business for generations, serving local food at moderate prices. Thanks again to Sarah. Along the north side of the square is the Board of Governors closed Mondays. Under the portico there are many native released her turquoise jewelry. They sit, waiting patiently for someone to show interest in their products. Around the square are numerous vendors offering local food for sale.

Malicious corner of the square is the Museum of Fine Arts permanent exhibits and temporary. Between the Palace and the streets of San Francisco is Burro Alley. A bronze statue of a donkey loaded guards the entrance to the alley. Next to it is Lensic Theatre in concerts are held. On the wall of one of the buildings dating back to the square along Calle San Francisco stating that Billy the Kid was incarcerated there for a while awaiting trial and sentencing in Mesilla. At the eastern end of Calle San Francisco's Cathedral in San Francisco, which is surrounded by scaffolding for renovation.

Other interesting attractions in Santa Fe are the Georgia O'Keefe Museum, with many of his works. Canyon Road has many galleries exhibiting local artists. Going south on Cerrillos New Mexico street is the School for the Deaf. They have a theater, where plays are performed. Northwest of the city is the world famous Santa Fe Opera. Its season is in July and August in this place nestled in the mountains.

Continue north on Route 285 to Chimayo. Pilgrims have been doing this hike since 1810 Santuario de Chimayo to seek physical and spiritual healing. Lourdes healing properties of the water is. Chimayo dirt cure is found on the crucifix of Our Lord of Esquipulas. pilgrims are instructed to rub the dirt on the parts of the body to be healed. The Church replaced the dirt, about twenty tons per year. The grounds are beautiful and a tributary of the Rio Grande runs behind the property. The priest, the shrine is a member of the Sons of the Order of the Holy Family. It is very friendly and staff.

The next destination is the Bandelier National Monument in the Jemez Mountains. The monument preserves the extensive ruins of the common people, who entered the region more than 10,000 years ago. Adolph Bandelier visited the area in the 1880s and was shown to the people in Frijoles Canyon by the natives. Wrote a novel, The Pleasure Manufacturers, Village depicting life before the Spanish incursion in the area. The park takes its name.

Archaeological surveys record at least 3.00 at the Monument site. The easy trail about a mile long leading to the Long House carved in volcanic rock in the cliff face. The Long House is a stretch of 800 meters. Stairs lead inside the housing. On the wall of the cliff pictographs and petroglyphs that represent faces and geometric designs. Many others are below the ruins at the bottom of the canyon.

People were hunter-gatherers and farmers, growing maize, beans, squash and sunflower. In mid-1500 the people moved to different areas. The Pueblo of Cochiti, San Felipe, Santo Domingo, San Ildefonso, Santa Clara, and Zuni contribute to the preservation and interpretation of these historical sites.

Along Route 4 to see signs saying LANL, keep them out. The reason for this is only Los Alamos a few miles away. Los Alamos was the home for the Manhattan Project during World War II. Today the largest employer is the Department of Energy National Los Alamos Laboratory. The Laboratory is finding continued uses of nuclear energy is focused on national security.

The city itself has all the comforts of a modern city with a rich businessman. Visit the Bradbury Science Museum. It is the name of Ray, the famous science fiction writer, but Norris, the man who continued the work of the LANL after the Second World War.

The museum is a practical experience on the discovery, use, misuse, and disposal nuclear waste. Especially interesting are the films. One tells the story of the city of Los Alamos called The City that never existed. The Manhattan Project was conceived in Manhattan, New York and recruited scientists from many universities and private laboratories. Communication was marginal, in any case. The government wanted a place secret away from both coasts. Los Alamos was chosen. A private school for boys was on earth. The government took over and built the city. It looked more like a village bordering streets of mud, manufactured housing, and isolation. The mailing address was PO Box 1663, Santa Fe, NM. This appeared in the driver's license and certificates birth. Top secret was the norm. After the first explosion at the Trinity at White Sands, New Mexico and after the bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima, the city of Los Alamos has been unveiled.

Two other attractions of the city are Fuller's house, which served as the dining room during the Manhattan Project, and Los Los Alamos Historical Museum, which interprets life in this region.

Leaving from Los Alamos, continue on Route 4 to the mountains Jimez. The crest is more 9,000 feet. This opens the Valles caldera, a caldera diameter of twelve miles to the left of volcanic eruptions over one million years. The boiler is grassland surrounded by forests and mountains. Continue through Jemez Pueblo and Route 550 East. This takes you to Bernalillo and I 25. To the north takes you back to Santa Fe and Southern Albuquerque.

About the Author

John and Maggie Pelley are Geriatric Gypsies. Both of us are retired from the rat race of working. We are full-time RVers, who ran away from home. We began our travels on the East Coast and, like the migrating birds, seek the warmth of the seasons. No more shoveling snow in Chicago. We have discovered volunteering with the National Park System. During our travels we have found that each town has a story to tell: some are more interesting than others. Both of us enjoy good listening music as we go. John has a CD he has recorded of Native American flure music. We have learned that RVing has a learning curve. We want to pass on some advice the help others avoid this trecherous curve. Life is an adventure. We are living it to the utmost.