Santa Fe, New Mexico

We spent the day in Santa Fe, New Mexico.  It was 36 miles from our campground in Cochiti Lake.  When we got there we realized we hadn't visited the capitol when we were here in the past.  It's not your typical domed capitol in most states.

It does have a rotunda.

The place is overflowing with art and sculpture.  Some of it was interesting.  There was this bison head made of lots of different things, like paint brushes shards of pottery, lantern and stuff.

And a nice chair and carved bench.

 
On our way to the visitor center, we pulled into a pay lot, thinking to pay a couple bucks.  Nope.  $10.  But you could stay all day...We left. We arrived at the visitor's center, and there were vast numbers of parking spaces -- all reserved for official use only, and about 6 visitor spaces, 30 mins max.  We pulled into a slot toward the back.  But the signs all said  "Towed at Owners Expense!"  We saw a tow truck breeze through the lot as we were wondering if we could get by for a couple hours!  We moved.  At the visitor center we asked for a parking suggestion, and were told to go to the other side of the capitol, and there would be a free parking garage.  Yep.  And we had a shady spot on level 2.  Go there if you come.

Santa Fe, ancient town that it is, is a mess downtown!  Streets go off everywhere without rhyme or reason.  Some so narrow two oxcarts couldn't have passed.  We were on foot for over 3 miles checking it out and finding caches.  

Walked past a fire station where a couple men were hanging around outside.  Asked where we could get an inexpensive lunch.  We were directed to a restaurant near the capitol where these guys sometimes go for lunch.  When we saw the menu prices, I began to wonder if those firemen were a bit overpaid.  Lunch special $37.  We needed some bananas, so on the way out of town we headed for Walmart.  On the way we noticed a Mexican restaurant called Los Potrillos on Cerrillos Road (a major artery).  It was great food, excellent menu and reasonable!

Oh yeah, on our way in to town we stopped to snag a geocache.  Eloise was reaching down right next to a bunny rabbit.  She hadn't seen it, but was within just a few inches of it.  She took a picture of it, poor thing.  It's in the shade and hard to make out.

Well, it's there if you know where to look!!!

Tomorrow is moving day, headed toward Amarillo, one nite stop on the way TBD.