A Family Thanksgiving in Santa Fe

On Thanksgiving morning, J and I flew to New Mexico to meet my family.

In Albuquerque, I took the driver’s seat of my father’s massive truck and gunned it on the drive to Santa Fe. We arrived just in time to eat platters loaded with the delicious staples of Thanksgiving. Afterward, we walked.

image
Wall of color.
image
An eclectic display.
image
A traditional spread.
image
Portrait.
image
Santa Fe cricket.
image
An amazing residential gate.
image
Plenty of stones left to stick.
image
Can you spot the cat?
image
Foamy.
image
Hub wall.
image
Mary.
image
Sunset strut.
image
Gas striders.
image
Beautiful wall.
image
Me and the ladies.
image
Wall box.
image
Earrings.
image
Droopy.
image
Blaire Witch canopy.
image
Digging this house.

On Friday, we drove north through Española and up the 285 through the valley to Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort and Spa.

First, my sister, J and I went on a hike up the hill and along a dry riverbed. Along the way, we spotted lots of pyrite and mica.

Then, we checked into the the mineral springs. We changed in the sex separated locker rooms, then enjoyed dips in the variety of mineral, rich, and heated pools. My favorite was the covered soda bath, a rocky and salt encrusted room with the warmest water. I got a little lightheaded after getting out.

On the way back to Santa Fe, we stopped for a chili-smothered lunch at an old restaurant called El Paragua.

image
Pink chapel.
image
Piñon fire.
image
Rock stacker.
image
The trail.
image
Following the river bed.
image
Secco.
image
Hiking down into the valley.
image
Mica.
image
A patch of Dutch snow.
image
Looking down on Ojo Caliente and the valley.
image
Mary mural.

On Saturday, J and I met my parents at the farmer’s market, went to an interesting free gallery show, then walked around town and played Catan. That afternoon, a few of us went to check for beavers on the Twomile [sic] Reservoir trail, see the view of Santa Fe from the cross, and wander around the plaza.

image
Losing my cool.
image
Blue corn and berry donuts.
image
Father and son.
image
The green room.
image
Alternate western history.
image
Carved newspapers.
image
Gravel flood.
image
Colorful train.
image
Dangle peppers.
image
Mixed style house.
image
Mission critical control panel.
image
Decorative crosswalk.
image
This old house.
image
Colors of autumn.
image
Cattails.
image
Beaver evidence.
image
Ice.
image
A view of Santa Fe from the Cross of the Martyrs.

On our last full day in Santa Fe, we went on a wild horse chase to find wild horses in Tesuque Pueblo. After numerous detours, we stopped for lunch at the village market. No horses were ever found.

Afterward, we drove into the state park on Hyde Park Road and went on a 4.5 mile hike through the mountains. The air was crisp and smelled fresh of pine. Lots of people walked their dogs on the trail. My mother handled the climb wonderfully, though her knees required more caution on the descent.

image
Wild horse chase.
image
Camouflaged houses.
image
Warning.
image
Between the trees.
image
An icy section.
image
Snacking on dried jujubes.
image
Pine parasite.
image
J runs ahead.
image
Fallen tree.
image
The home stretch.
image
One last portrait before the sun set.

On the last night, we bonded over green chili turkey soup my mother made from leftovers.

I had chanced upon an article about the 2013 death of Elisa Lam and entered a rabbit hole of stories/theories surrounding how she died and ended up in the water tank above the Cecil Hotel. I found myself reading about all sorts of unsavory unsolved mysteries that night.

The next morning, we woke at 4:30 and my sister gave us a ride to the Albuquerque airport. We had many hours to kill before our flight, so I spent many hours reading about killings.

There’s a lot of weird stuff in the world.

Archives for November, 2014
November 30th, 2014. Categories / Santa Fe

News Menu

About Categories Archives