Two Days in Santa Fe

Before leaving New Mexico it was a no-brainer to spend a couple of days in Santa Fe. Here are a few photos that reflect the time I spent there this week.

I drove north on I-25 from the Sandia Resort to Santa Fe, about 50 miles away. Once in town, I took Hwy. 285 north through the heart of downtown and continued on north until I reached the small rural community of Tesuque. I visited the Shidoni Foundry and Sculpture Gardens located there, and it's a must-see if you like large bronze sculptures. I spent an hour or so walking the gardens and visiting the indoor gallery.

After leaving Tesuque, I drove to the plaza area of downtown Santa Fe. I parked near the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. I walked up a few blocks and turned the corner and saw the Burrito Company, a small café just of the plaza. I had lunch there.

After lunch I continued to take a walking tour of the downtown area. I took photos and visited some of the retail outlets. The sidewalk vendors were out, and I was reminded of them from previous visits. They sell their handmade jewelry, blankets, and leather goods. I took a number of photos of the plaza, and the Civil War memorial at its center. It was a beautiful day, and just warm enough for a nice walk. I strolled on past the Cathedral Basilica and took a lot of photos on my way back to the car.

I left downtown around 3 p.m. and set out to find a motel for the night. I knew that Cerrillos Ave. was "motel alley", so I drove in that direction. When I passed the El Rey Motel, I had to stop. I decided to stay away from the franchise motels and find a local place, and the El Rey looked promising. I’m glad I found the place. Built in the 1930s, and expanded since then, the place has a real charm to it. Very clean, very nice, very Santa Fe. (A picture of my room is on the right. Each room has it's own patio, a great feature.)

I cleaned up at the motel and departed for the Filmmakers Intensive Open House and Screenwriter’s Program at the College of Santa Fe. I really enjoyed the evening. I took a tour of their facilities (sound stages, editing rooms, classrooms, etc.) and then stayed for the program. There were 30-40 people in attendance, plus the staff and actors. The presentation included readings from a dozen screenplays, and then actors presented a short scene from each play after a brief introduction from the writer.

I woke up early on day two, Wednesday, and had a free breakfast courtesy of the El Rey: granola, peaches, toasts, a small muffin, orange juice and coffee. I then checked out and drove to downtown once again. I spent the morning walking the plaza area and taking photos. Then about noon I drove to the Canyon Road area, the premier location for the Santa Fe art scene. Galleries galore are located along the narrow street, about a half mile from downtown. I spent a couple of hours visiting various art galleries. I then went to the Photo-Eye Gallery and the Garcia Street Bookstore.

For a late lunch I went to Posa’s Restaurant. I found it on Rodeo street, a few miles east of the mall. It was a small, local, informal place so I knew the food was going to be great.

After lunch I found scenic Hwy. 14 on the map, wanting to take the “Turquoise Trail” back to ABQ. What a beautiful drive! Hwy. 14 is the only way to travel between ABQ and Santa Fe, especially if you want to see some beautiful scenery. Along the way there are numerous tourist stops, little shops that sell jewelry and all kinds of local art. Madrid is the place to stop and visit, located about halfway between ABQ and SF. Unfortunately, they were paving the street in Madrid at the time, making it a pain in the ass to get through. But I stopped and spent some time there amid the smell of a new blacktop road surface and piles of road dirt.

The wonderful views of the mountains south of Santa Fe along Hwy. 14 are worth the extra time it takes to maneuver along the two-lane highway. You will want to stop in Cerrillos and Madrid before making your way south to catch I-40 west that takes you into ABQ.

"What most people are at 25, I don't think I became until I was 38...I thought, even if I could just make enough to buy a loaf of bread and not starve to death, this would be the greatest adventure that I could ever go on. I said, 'I don't give a damn what happens to me. I'm doing this.'"
Jerry Seinfeld, October, 2007, on being a star and a comedian.

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I'll be spending my last week in ABQ trying to prepare for the next leg of my Fall Adventure. My plan is to visit Santa Fe on Tuesday and Wednesday. I can't be this close to Santa Fe without spending some time there before leaving the area. On Tuesday night I'll be attending the "New Mexico Filmmakers Intensive," at the College of Santa Fe. Screenwriters who attend the school will be reading from their screenplays, and the college will have an open house for those interested in attending the school. Actors will also be performing some of the scenes from scripts actually produced in 2007.

On Wednesday in Santa Fe, I'll be attending a new photography exhibit at the Photo-Eye Gallery on Garcia Street. Mark Klett is opening an exhibit titled "Saguaros," with a reception and book signing after the opening.

My last day in ABQ will be Sunday, October 28.

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One of the items to hit the paper this week concerns a lawsuit against the Sandia Casino. Good Morning America was on site Friday to do a feature story that will air sometime next week. The pending lawsuit might make it to the Supreme Court and have an effect on how Indian casinos operate in the future. That's why it's attracting the national press.

The lawsuit concerns Gary Hoffman's complaint that the casino failed to pay him a slot machine jackpot prize of almost $1.6 million. Hoffman was playing a nickel slot machine last summer when he supposedly hit the jackpot. He even took a photo of the slot machine showing his good fortune with his camera phone. Casino officials claim the slot machine malfunctioned, and therefore, they don't owe Hoffman a dime.

Hoffman wants to sue the casino in state court, but the Sandia Pueblo tribe that owns the casino and the surrounding reservation lands believes they are a sovereign nation and cannot be sued in a state or federal court. Thus the Supreme Court may need to decide if Indian tribes that owe casinos can ever be sued for such a thing. Poor Hoffman just wants his money but for now must fight it out, probably for years, and he may end up with nothing.

The fact that Indian tribes are sovereign entities within the U.S. shouldn't provide a shield from someone wanting their day in state or federal court. It's only fair, it seems to me, that Hoffman have his case heard. The tribal governments have their own courts, but few people believe he could ever receive an unbiased opinion in a court run by the same people who run the casino.