Fast forward a decade, and when Joe and I were discussing vacation destinations involving outdoor activities, good food and culture, Santa Fe fit the bill to a T. Turns out that Joe also has a connection with the city and has been multiple times, although as with me, not in many years.
We did our research and located a little rental house within a 5 minute walk to shops, restaurants and galleries. Casa Tenorio was every bit as cute in person as it appeared in photos.
Our first afternoon was spent walking around the town square and taking in the sights.
The next morning we woke early for the drive to Bandolier National Park. We were treated to both uncharacteristically mild temps and spectacular views.
Viewing the Indian caves, reached via steep ladders, was particularly cool.
The top of our 1.5 mile hike brought stunning flat scenery and a welcome respite from the climb.
After returning to the visitor center, we immediately began a second hike in the opposite direction toward the waterfalls and river.
[The water level was extraordinarily low; normally the waterfall would be gushing]
By noon we were back on the road for the hour-long trek back to Santa Fe.
Following an afternoon gym workout (with swim for me) - yes, we are insane - we rewarded ourselves with dinner at Rancho de Chimayo.
Where the food was just eh, but the sopapillas were to die for. And the prickly pear margaritas?
Well, a month later and Joe is still talking about how great they were. Not sure I completely agree about their fabulousness, but there's no arguing with their effect on me.
On the way back from dinner, we made a quick stop at the Buffalo Thunder Casino for a 'lil 3-card poker.
20 minutes in and it was clear that it wasn't going to be a winning night at the gaming tables. So we cut our losses and hightailed it back to Casa Tenorio.
The following morning saw us on the road again toward Taos.
For a little river rafting.
The river was pretty darn calm in all but a few places. It certainly made for a good upper body workout.
Don't worry, we did get some fun Class 1 rapids along the course of our 2-hour journey (just couldn't whip out the waterproof camera at those particular moments....)
Joe, naturally, was selected as the leader of our 5 person boat. We were joined by another nice couple who were rather quiet (the husband was a tad Poindexterish). On the other hand, our guide Tony didn't have a quiet bone in his body. Not content to allow us to bask in the sound of nature, it seemed as if he felt compelled to fill every second with the sound of his voice.
We were given the opportunity to jump in the river a couple of times to cool off. I was the only one in our boat to take advantage. Turned out to be the perfect place to practice my ballet legs.
What an invigorating part of the experience for me.
Despite his refusal to get wet, Joe still managed to find a way to thoroughly entertain us.
Little did he realize the tremendous impact he had on his crew.
Next stop after our river adventure was lunch in Taos and some gallery shopping as the winds picked up and daily afternoon storm clouds began to gather.
The drive back to Santa Fe was dotted with several wineries so on a whim, we decided to stop and test one out.
Paired with house made chocolates (chocolate spiked with chile, anyone?), the Syrah was so nice we took a bottle to enjoy at the house before dinner that night.
Dinner. Ahhhhh. A highlight meal of our trip took place at Geronimo's on Canyon Road. Decadent, elegant and romantic. An utterly grown up place which required us to dress and assume the part.
[His Charlton Heston look. Either that, or the Marlboro Man. Both work for me.]
Goat cheese and beet salad:
Crab cake appetizer:
Joe's favorite dish - elk:
For me, sea bass with Japanese noodles in a fabulous mushroom broth:
Our final full day was the warmest we had, and also the one we decided to spend walking miles to shop all the local galleries and boutiques, as well as attend the International Folk Art Festival which was in town. Over 150 vendors from countries all over the world travel to Santa Fe every year to sell their wares. While the admission price to the festival was kind of steep, we did see some beautiful jewelry, intricate baskets, and hand painted pottery pieces that were incredible and fairly reasonably priced. Truly one of a kind items.
All in all, we had a jam-packed few days that were filled with so many adventures and fun. Wouldn't have had it any other way. Will our next vacation include a little more down time to allow for massages and stretching out with a book? I, for one, vote for that. But we'll still intersperse it with plenty of activity, as that feeds our souls.
No matter what, we'll always have Santa Fe.
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