DAY
3
For
an eye-opening breakfast on your final day, start
at the Tecolote Café, a Santa
Fe institution since 1980. The menu offers just about
anything you might need to get you going: vegetarian
burritos with spicy vegetarian chile sauces, blueberry
or Tollhouse pancakes, French toast made with assorted
homemade breads, and old-fashioned eggs Benedict with
thick Canadian bacon. Be prepared to wait for a table
in the sunny-yellow dining room with its charming
hand-painted walls.
Walk
off breakfast with a stroll through Jackalope,
a sprawling indoor-outdoor bazaar featuring imports
from India, Mexico, Pakistan, South America and elsewhere.
Whether you’re looking for the latest in world
music or a funny postcard to send home, you’ll
find it here.
This
would also be a good day to stroll Canyon
Road, dubbed the “art and soul of Santa
Fe,” a winding road following the course of
the Santa Fe River. In the 1920s, the area became
a haven for artists and sculptors. The tradition continues
today, with shops and galleries occupying tiny adobe
buildings. If time allows, stop to visit the historic
Cristo Rey Church, the largest Spanish
adobe building in the nation.
 |
New
Mexican cuisine |
For
lunch or dinner, settle down on the patio of El
Farol, one of Canyon Road’s oldest
and best restaurants. The tapas and paella made by
chef James Campbell Caruso are legendary, but the
kitchen also produces memorable steaks and seafood.
If New Mexican food is still on your mind, hop in
your car and head to Tomasita’s,
another Santa Fe institution. Located near the railroad
tracks in the historic red-brick station house, this
busy eatery serves locals, politicians and tourists
with the same speed and friendliness. Try the roast
beef burrito if you’re really hungry, or the
Mexican plate if you’re not. Another option
is The
Shed, where the green chile blue corn
enchiladas have been legendary since the restaurant
opened in 1962. Here you can also try the mocha cake,
which is one of the best desserts in Santa Fe.
You
will be glad for the much-needed fortification on
your next adventure. The Tesuque Pueblo Flea
Market, also commonly referred to as the
Santa Fe Flea Market, is one of the wonders of the
world. It’s located about seven miles north
of town, next to the Santa Fe Opera, at the intersection
of U.S. 84 and State Road 285. Colorful murals of
horny toads, roadrunners and quail decorate the roadsides.
The flea market, open Fridays through Sundays from
mid-March through November, boasts acres of jewelry,
clothing, antiques, imported items and toys. It promises
hours of entertainment and you might need to buy a
suitcase to take your treasures home. (Many of the
vendors will ship to your door.)
 |
| Santuario
de Chimayo |
If
you continue north on State Road 285 and head west
on County Road 94C, you will arrive at the legendary
Santuario de Chimayo. The adobe church
was built in 1813 and the dirt of the chapel floor
is said to have healing powers. You will find discarded
crutches, dog tags and handwritten testimonials at
the site. On Good Friday, Catholic faithful from around
the state make pilgrimages to the church, jamming
the roadways.
Take
some time to look around the village of Chimayo, which
is known for its excellent wool weavings and rugs,
before heading back south to Albuquerque.
Allow at least two hours from Chimayo to reach the
city, and a few minutes extra to return your rental
car. By the time you board your flight, you’ll
already be daydreaming of your next trip to Santa
Fe.
For more information, visit the Santa Fe Visitor Information
Center, Tourism Office, 491 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa
Fe, NM 87503, 505-827-7336, www.santafe.org.
| MORE
SANTA FE INFORMATION |
(Updated: 01/14/08 AK)
