Arts and Crafts

Verrrry interesting .... the buildings in Santa Fe


No electricity and no running water but still going strong


Watch that first step ..... it's 400 feet straight down







It is claimed that Santa Fe has more art, artists, and art galleries than any other city in North America save New York City. Not per capital; just the most. Having toured the city, we would have thought that New York would be in second place!! Santa Fe is one big art gallery inhabited by a bunch of very interesting, arty people. Throw in the fact that it is the state capital, that most of the older buildings are adobe and, that the entire place is surrounded by beautiful mountains and, you have a very livable city. The climate is great too! A few inches of snow really throws ‘em for a loop though!!

Albuquerque has much of the same adobe architecture as Santa Fe but, without the arts. More of a “working city”. Still surrounded by desert and mountains and still very unique.

We have learned a great deal about the Plains Indians and, spent most of today at Acoma, an Indian pueblo village on top of a 400 foot mesa. This village has been occupied since the early 1100’s and, figures in the Acoman (the tribe) culture since much earlier in recorded history. It is the oldest, continually inhabited settlement in North America. The Plains Pueblo Indians (they make it VERY clear that they are not First Nations, Aboriginals or any of the other PC labels – they are natives or Indians and, prefer to be referred to by tribe) have historically been agrarian, living in permanent “pueblos”, putting them at odds with the nomadic and warlike Plains Indians (Comanche and Apache). Hence living on top of a 400 foot rock!! The history of the Pueblo Indian tribes is fascinating. (There are 6 - 7 tribes remaining) Even today, they remain matriarchal and, have endured over a millennium of persecution from nomadic tribes, the Spanish, and the Catholic church. But now they are thriving, due in part to their proud history but also their artistic skills in making the very famous, fine Acoma pottery, made without benefit of a potter’s wheel. It is feather light, very fine and holds liquid without benefit of interior glazing. The patterns are extremely intricate. Oh yeah, I almost forgot………the casino on the reservation helps a bit too.