| New Mexico |
[Aug. 7th, 2005|01:17 pm] |
Anyone reading this journal should immediately cancel all arrangements for the next 10 days and book a flight for Santa Fe. What a treat that place is not to mention the surrounding countryside. When you cross the Texas/New Mexico border everything changes. From cattle grazing land you are cast into virtual dessert with those interesting mesa formations. The architecture also changes dramatically with homes and even business establishments becoming the adobe style mud structure. The demographics are also very different with half the population being Spanish speaking and much evidence of Native American culture.
At this point we want to thank Lindsay for his research. At the moment we are about to head into Colorado and in a day or so into North Dakota to see Mount Rushmore and then eastward and homeward bound. Lindsay: can you get for us Faye Gitter's maiden name. We'll try to find the graves her her relatives in the Deadwood cemetary. Apparently they are at rest near boot hill where Annie Oaklie is buried. Also thanks to Bill in San Paulo for the lyrics to Get Your Kicks on Route 66. Anyone wanting to read the lyrics can pull them up under "comments" to a previous posting.
To Santa Fe we took a small side road that went through the desert and some tiny villages known as pueblo. We stopped at the odd pottery shop (we were to see many more of these later) along that route run by white haired 50 something women who came from out east and were "finding themselves" so to speak in the middle of nowhere. Santa Fe is great. Somewhat touristy but one expects that. Nevertheless it was fun walking the narrow streets, going into the shops, and going into the various adobe buildings that are virtually everywhere. You rarely see a non adobe building and when you do it is the state capital or some such. I'm not sure if there is a building over two stories. Art and jewellery are sold everywhere much like carpets in Turkey. Restaurants abound and the food is the best we have found anywhere in the world. We spent three days and then headed north to our current location: Taos. Again we took the mountain road which did have quite a bit of traffic this time and we kept bumping into the same people who were going from pueblo to pueblo. These little mountain villages are remote and often have 4 or 5 dwelling where the house doubles as an art gallery. One goes from room to room where the artist lives and displays his/her work. They all have a tale to tell and their creations are mostly pretty juvenile. More than a few seem to be in a kind of 1960's time warp if you know what I mean.
Taos is smaller than Santa Fe but has much the same feel and radiates from a central plaza which is like a common green out east. Even the tiny Indian villages are set up this way. There are plenty of shopping opportunities shall we say. On the way down from the mountain road we stopped at an ancient Spanish mission built sometime in like 1750. We took the obligitory photos of the building and the handful of graves now mostly covered with weeds. Then in an art gallery here we spot this beautiful little painting which we both loved and it turned out to be of that Spanish Mission. It will be the item that most reminds us of this trip.
We're staying for 3 nights in an adobe style B & B outside of town in an 800 sq. foot room!! Very nice people and grounds and a hearty breakfast and conversation with 3 other couples who are also on the road. Flowers and hummingbirds surround this building. I won't discuss price but let's just say that we'll have to do several nights at Motel 6 to average things out a bit. We did manage to find some more jewellery shops yesterday and I think our purchases will keep Marion happy for the next while. You can spot the female tourists here because they all are adorned with turquoise earings, necklesses, bracelets, and nose rings. True to form Marion chose some different stones and has been getting compliments left, right, and centre. I'm not saying that art and jewellery have been our main focus but I can report that I had a terrible nightmare last night. I'm sleepwalking with arms extended forward in a deep trance in the middle of the night. The street is deserted and dark. There is the sound of a siren and a police car pulls up with its bright white flood light cathching me butting my head up against the locked door of a jewellery shop! I wake up with a start.
Must go now to find Marion. Last I saw of her she was heading for a bank machine. |
|
|
| Comments: |
From: (Anonymous)
2005-08-08 10:07 pm (UTC)
Faye's maiden name and other info. | (Link)
|
Hi Marion and Bob. I phoned Lance Gitter. He said Faye's maiden name is Margolin. Her parents names are Sarah and Sam. Her brother's name is Hugh. He said Faye's grandmother knew Calamity Jane.
The Crazy Horse Memorial [ modelled on the Chief sitting on a horse ], is the world's largest sculpture, still in progress since 1948. They are carving it out of a mountain. It is on Highway 16 and is 17 miles South West of Mt. Rushmore, which is in SOUTH Dakota [ I think your journal said North dakota ].
A facinating website is roadsideamerica.com which is your guide to offbeat attractions. Bob and Marion, if you're looking for a hot dog, this is the site where I found The Coney Island hot dog stand. The building is in the shape of a giant hot dog [ covered with relish and mustard ] in a bun. Think how proud you would feel having your photo taken in front of it. The business is for sale for 0ne Million. For everyone following this journal, The Coney Island is in Apen Park, 25877 Conifer Road, Conifer, Colorado.
Bye for now. Lindsay
From: (Anonymous)
2005-08-09 04:11 pm (UTC)
From jennifer & isaac | (Link)
|
Hi, sounds like your having a wonderful time! I was so jealous that you got to see marianne & john! Isaac and I just read the live journals together. Did you bring your digital camera? If you did could you download them into the computer and add them to your postings somehow? The kids are still so visual it would help them picture your trip. Here's isaac, he just went outside to measure your plants. They are up to 19 inches!!! He's very proud and responsable (still watering them)He's also checking the mail(sometimes twice a day) for perhaps a postcard from out west.
We had an amazing rest of our trip in south carolina. Yes the boys caught lots (about 50 or so)of crabs that were quite delicious (sorry). As well they saw lots of dolphins swimming around them on the kayak.
Our pool at home is finished and we've been quite popular amongst our friends. To the point that Isaac has opted not to go to camp this week, he's just plain TIRED! I can't believe the summer is almost over. We're off to buy school uniform and supplies. Can't wait toread your next entry. Love, jennifer & isaac
From: (Anonymous)
2005-08-10 02:43 am (UTC)
Enjoying your journal | (Link)
|
Dear Marion and Bob, mom and dad are in the computer room with me. It is 10:30 Tuesday night August 9th. We have checked on your condo while Dave was in Montreal. Everything was in order and safe and sound. Dave is back and is taking care of it. Maryann's dad is recovering and today was able to sit in a wheelchair. She will be in Paris for 2 more weeks. Today we took Jeremy to Red Lobster for his 34th birthday for lunch. Noah is okay. He had a good dinner at our house last week and we drove him home with extra food. Ipek is enjoying her job and bought a car. Andrew and Sherie are both well and always ask about you both. Two nights ago we took them to Demetrie's for ice cream. Last night the 3 of us went for ice cream at Baskin and Robins on Bayview at Sheppard. We were trying to cool off. We love you and miss you. mom, dad and Lindsay | |
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif?v=92.2){kind=small}
robert_marion's journal
