So, we have taken a week long hiatus from moving, upon request of our parents. During this week we went home to our respective families in order to spend some time with friends and family before we move across the country. After an eight hour drive, I almost made it all the way to Santa Fe on Saturday before my 1993 Volvo (affectionately referred to as Esther) decided to stall out in El Dorado, which is great if you are Coronado looking for the City of Gold. However, when you are aiming for the Holy City ten miles further, it is not as great. Fortunately, I have AAA and a father willing to drive ten miles to rescue me. After an unfortunately long and confusing attempt to give directions to the lady from AAA, I made it (an hour late) to my aunt and uncle's housewarming party to enjoy chicken enchiladas and sangria. The next day my god-sister received her First Holy Communion and, after the mass, I got to spend some long overdue quality time with my two favorite people on the planet; my god-siblings. The next few days were spent reading, writing and sleeping at home in recovery from the move. One night I got so caught up in mastering the art of the short story that I stayed up until 3:00AM. I did, however, get out of the house on Wednesday and strolled through the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum with my mom. As I have seen the works of my favorite modernist painter from New York to Fort Worth, I thought it necessary to see those featured in the Land of Enchantment, whose setting was the inspiration for her work. If you are overwhelmed touring the many galleries of Santa Fe's Plaza, let me make the choice easier. Coming from a native Santa Fean with an Arts Administration degree that has traveled the country and world, the Georgia O'Keefe Museum is not to be missed! On my way out of the plaza I managed to capture this beautiful shot near the Sambusco area, which illustrates the palimpsest of the "City Different," as many refer to Santa Fe.
Sitting at Ecco with my mother, enjoying the first Gelato I've had since my travels to Rome (where I had two a day for about a week), it is easy to see why so many Europeans find comfort in the setting of Santa Fe. There are many qualities of the city which are reminiscent of those villas and narrow winding streets indigenous to Europe. I have and shall certainly continue to miss my beautiful mountains majesty dotted with pinon trees, but I always knew that the enchanted land I grew up in was a place I would have to work my way back towards. It is an uphill journey, but I am determined to return to the Sangre de Cristo Mountains where, on the summer sunsets, there are the most beautiful operatic notes you shall ever hear. Ciao for now!
