NY to AZ Day Five

After arriving in Santa Fe Wednesday afternoon, we spent the day here not driving. First thing I did in the morning was go for a run, although I didn’t heed the altitude as I should have and thus spent the rest of the day slightly ill (Santa Fe is almost 7,000 feet above sea level.) That didn’t stop me from visiting two bookstores and the public library, however. Between the two bookstores I made a good start on my collection of southwest themed books: Roadside Geology of Arizona, Shrubs and Trees of the Southwest Desert and Tony Hillerman’s autobiography. I also picked up a book by J Maarten Troost, who is one of my favorite travel writers.

As per Sam’s instructions ("if you do one thing in Santa Fe, have coffee at the Aztec Café"), my mother and I walked to the Aztec Café for a late lunch. I knew I was in the right place because I could hear Atmosphere playing before we stepped through the café door. I had a yummy Ithaca style salad – baby greens, carrots, tomatoes, onions, and sunflower seeds – and great headache erasing coffee. Right next door to the café was the bookstore where I picked up Hillerman’s autobiography, as well as some artsy greeting cards.

After an afternoon of true lounging I walked downtown – 10 minutes from the TravelLodge on Cerrillios – I highly recommend the TravelLodge for price, location and comfort if you are ever in Santa Fe. Downtown was a little high end and touristy for my tastes, though I did lust after all the silver and turquoise jewelry. (I didn’t start my collection of said jewelry, but I know its just a matter of days before the bangles and earrings start seriously calling my wallet’s name).

At night we sat on the Plaza and listened to live music coming from balcony of a nearby resturant. The PLaza was also the location where, earlier that day, an old native american had sat down on the bench next to me and told me horror stories of baking in Phoenix in the summer. Lovely.