They like their chilis in Sante Fe. Actually it’s the whole state. They have chili stands like we have Starbucks in Seattle. Sometimes you see trucks driving around full of dried chilis.
And they have Starbucks too!
We didn’t eat a lot of chilis but we did have some nice meals during our three full days in Santa Fe. It was warm and we were able to get tables outdoors for every meal. Breakfasts at Cafe Fina and Plaza Cafe Southside. Dinners at Cafe Fina, Andiamo, Harry’s Roadhouse and Gabriel’s. It’s been hot and the skies are very clear so the sun is strong. Hats are recommended! So is sun screen, but we managed to forget it every single time.
Andiamo was very pleasent. We sat under an awning and stayed dry while it rained. Then we had an amazing rainbow. The Italian food we had in Grand Junction was better, but the setting at Andiamo was great.
Most of these restaurants struggle to find enough employees to stay open seven days a week. The minimum tipped wage in New Mexico is $2.55/hour. Maybe that has something to do with it. Just sayin’…
We spent a fair amount of time with relatives. But we did find time to walk around downtown Santa Fe a few times including an hour wandering around a craft fair. We found some interesting, and portable(!), art for our house and for gifts for friends and family. The last time we were here we bought a table and had to have it shipped!
We like the Eldorado Hotel and Spa in downtown Santa Fe. Things are a bit different with the ongoing pandemic. New Mexico has a mask mandate but you wouldn’t know it from looking at most other guests. We’re looking forward to going back after the pandemic and feeling more casual and normal. And maybe use the Spa again.
Urgency is not something we typically associate with Santa Fe. Everything runs at its own pace. Posted store hours mostly happen. Sonner or later. We missed a favorite gluten free bakery because we got there at opening time and they weren’t anywhere to be seen. The Internet was out at one of the Starbucks; came to find out it went out in May and no one had fixed it.
Just the same, we enjoy Santa Fe quite a lot and will visit again and again.
Here’s a photo from downtown at sunset.
