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<\/a><\/p>\nSanta Fe’s Palace of the Governors is the oldest municipal building in the US built in 1610 as the Spanish seat of government in the southwest. Today it serves as a Museum and an outdoor market for the locals to sell their wares. And speaking of selling wares across from the Palace of the Governors is the famous Plaza which was covered with vendors this weekend for an arts and craft fair. Santa Fe is filled with artisans and crafts people and fabulous shops filled with jewelry, clothes and goods of all artisan goods of all kinds. Simply beautiful. Rhonda found her “spirit guide” a wonderful vendor with a story behind every item, and amazingly she found some things to buy.<\/p>\n
Next it was off to the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum to view the artwork of this American master who spent her later years in northern New Mexico<\/p>\n We continued touring and then found our way to the La Fonda Hotel’s restaurant La Plazuela, along the original Route 66.<\/p>\n We had a delicious lunch, impeccably served with the best fajitas ever for me and a cauliflower steak for Rhonda. And of course, margaritas.<\/p>\n Then it was off for some more touring.<\/p>\n The beautiful Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi<\/p>\n We then toured the Loretto Chapel with its famous Miraculous Staircase<\/p>\n The original staircase was constructed by a single carpenter with no railings as depicted below<\/p>\n The Nuns were so terrified of ascending and decending the floating staircase that the railings had to be added later.<\/p>\n We also took a look at what was once considered the oldest house in America, dating to 1640. But further research has shown a home in Massachusetts dating to 1637. Still it’s impressive.<\/p>\n Finally we made another purchase! While touring the arts and craft stalls we came upon a metal worker with beautiful decorative pieces.<\/p>\n Juan and his wife were both artisans and lovely people and we chose a Florida Sun design he will hand craft and ship to us next month. A wonderful reminder of our lovely trip.<\/p>\n Today (Sunday) marks the last official day of of our touring. From here on out will be three long days to Dallas, then Mobile and finally back to The Villages by Wednesday night.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Apparently the photos didn\u2019t load properly for this post so I\u2019m reposting. Tim We arrived in Santa Fe late Saturday afternoon and after unpacking we made our way to the Railyard District where there are shops and an open air … Continue reading <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n