24 Jun 2021

Road Trip to East Coast ～ Santa Fe, New Mexico ～

by Yuki | posted in: Holiday in America, Life in California, Sightseeing in California | 87

The third-place that we stayed on this trip was Santa Fe, New Mexico.

On Saturday, June 19, we had the restaurant cheesecake for our breakfast then left the hotel around 9 am.

I wanted to stay there longer, but we started driving towards Santa Fe, New Mexico. We chose that place to stay because I visited there in 2013 August by myself, and I wanted to go there again for a long time. Also, I love an artist whose name is Georgia O’Keefe. I saw her paintings for the first time at her exhibit, which was held in Ueno, Tokyo, about 30 years ago. I was impressed by her style. For example, she painted just a flower using the whole canvas, or she painted a horse’s skull. So that’s why I wanted to see her paintings again.

I’ve never imagined that I could revisit this incredible place. I thought that was the first time and the last time to visit there eight years ago.

From Monument Valley to Santa Fe, the distance is about 356 miles, and it took about 8 hours, including the stops for gas, food, and rest. We drove on Arizona state highways 163,160, 64, and 550.

The scenery dry land with red rocks changed to hillside green trees. My husband remembered that “Four Corners Monument, ” which placed the border of 4 states, such as Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah, on highway 160. However, that place was closed due to the Covid-19. So we couldn’t get inside.

This is the entrance of the Four Corners Monument.

We passed Albacurque then drove to Santa Fe.

From Red rocks to a land which was filled with greens. Then drove to Santa Fe.

The specific information of the Four Corners Monument

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https://www.newmexico.org/listing/four-corners-monument/1786/

The landscape of Santa Fe

We left Monument Valley at 9 am, and we arrived at 5 pm Santa Feat. We stayed there from Saturday, June 19 to June 21 for three nights. After we checked in at the hotel, we walked towards the middle of the town.

Santa Fe is a small cute town, and there are many souvenir shops and boutiques around Historical Plaza. Some sightseeing spots are out of town, but mostly you can see many places without driving a car.

Stores and buildings made from mud bricks are called Adobe, and it is a signature of Santa Fe architecture.

Finally, restaurants and shops reopened just a few weeks ago, so the town filled many tourists. Most of the popular restaurants were extremely busy, so it was hard to get a table.

There are many Adobe-style shops and houses.

Georgia O’Keefe Museum

If I could visit Santa Fe, I thought that we should go to was this museum. When I visited there, most of her paintings rented to somewhere another museums and I couldn’t see so much of them. Now, due to the Covid-19, tourists have to make a reservation in advance. We made a reservation on Sunday, June 20, at 2:30 pm. This time there was a spring and summer exhibit of her paintings. So, we could see many of her great masterpieces.

There were my favorite giant white lily and horse scull and so on. I was surprised that she traveled around Asian counties such as Japan and Korea. I was surprised that she painted Mt. Fuji!

Some people say that her painting style is weird, and for example, a giant flower is like a female genital. But I love her unique style and pale colors.

Indian jewelry

Indians were selling their jewelry in front of The Palace of Governors.

Every day, there is an Indian Jewelry market in front of the Palace of The Governors. About 20 Indians are selling jewelry and potteries on the ground. When I went there the second day, I saw the same scenery as eight years ago. Actually, they reopened just 10 days ago. So it means we were lucky.

My shopping style is to check the whole thing then choose the best thing. Mainly I chose them with my first impression because I don’t want to regret that if I found something better.

This time I bought a ring and bracelet from a guy whose name was Nelson. (Indian name is Se Wee Me) He taught each stone’s origin and the name so kindly. So, he seemed he was a reliable person. There were many choices, and hard to choose from them. Nelson said that you should select which from your first impression. I chose a ring with light green and brown. It was a rare design. It was from Royston, Nevada, and called Natural Ribbon Turquoise. And a bracelet is made from silver with some patterns. He explained that he carved the sun and clouds, which the sun goes up, and the clouds come, then the sun goes down. He imaged how one day starts and ends.

I think it is better to buy at the market. There are tons of shop which sale these kinds of turquoise jewelry in Santa Fe. You can find some rare designs and can negotiate the price. It is so much fun.

I bought a ring, a bracelet, used western boots and a leather vest.

The oldest church in the US

There are some old churches in Santa Fe. I love San Miguel Mission, a Spanish colonial mission, and it is the oldest church in Santa Fe. Originally, it was built in about 1601 and after twice the times rebuilt in the 1700s. This church is small, and it isn’t gorgeous, just a simple style. I could feel so comfortable while sitting on the chair.

There is a small museum inside the aisle, and you can ring the bell, which made in the 1300s. It said that if you ring this bell, you can come back to Santa Fe.

About restaurant in Santa Fe

This time I was so surprised that vast numbers of tourists were everywhere. So I decided some restaurants go in advance was so busy. Some restaurants don’t take any reservations, so it was so hard to walk in.

Fortunately, my birthday was June 21. A friend of mine, Sarah, suggested some great restaurants, then my husband chose a restaurant called Geronimo. It is an American-style restaurant, and all the tables are occupied with reservations. The building built in the 1700s was made from mud bricks called Adobe.

We share some appetizers such as Wagyu beef carpaccio and Pear salad. Beef carpaccio was delicious, and the pear salad was terrific in that the pear matched with cheese and the honey vinaigrette dressing. Sparkling wine from New Mexico was matched with these appetizers so much.

We ordered 72 hours Sous Vide Beef Short Ribs and New Mexico Four Corners Grilled Rack Of Lamb for main. Both meats were so tender and tasty.

We ordered 72 hours Sous Vide Beef Short Ribs and New Mexico Four Corners Grilled Rack Of Lamb for main. Both meats were so tender and tasty.

For dessert, we shared a yuzu mousse and yogurt cream with passion fruit sorbet. It was sweet and so tasty as well. I was satisfied with this fabulous dinner and wine, and also, I could celebrate my birthday with my sweet husband at the excellent restaurant!

The specific information about Geronimo

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https://www.geronimorestaurant.com/

And one more place which is my favorite is a café called The French Pastry Shop & Creperie. I went there eight years ago. We went there for having a branch. We ordered chicken and mushroom crepe with bechamel sauce and cream puff. Both were tasty. Still, the food was excellent.

They serve quiche and many kinds of pastries.

About hotel

We stayed for three days at a hotel called Eldorado Hotel & Spa. This hotel is easy to access everywhere. The hotel has a restaurant, pool and a spa as well. However, the food in this restaurant was not good. We were disappointed a bit.

I had a massage at the spa for 50 minutes. I have taken massage in for the first time in a while. I was almost deeply slept with snoring, lol.