Today was the second (and final) day of Indian Market. Now the flurry of Indian Market will end and 50,000 or more people will leave town, but there are still myriad opportunities to spend money on very unique Native American Indian products on any given day!
I maintained slightly better today than yesterday. My main purchase was a waiter’s knife (i.e. wine opener) inlaid with aventurine and jet from Cutlery of Santa Fe. I bought one from them several years ago, but no one is allowed to use it other than me! The prices have gone up (which is to be expected), but it doesn’t bother me much since I collect wine openers. Weird, huh?
I admit to looking at some concho belts of both sterling silver and nickel. They were half off at some store on the Plaza, but the nickel ones still ran around $300 to $400. The cheapest sterling silver one was $750 at half off! That means, it will have to wait for another time, if at all!
I tried to take a few more meaningful photos than yesterday, but still don’t feel as if my photos on this trip captured the real essence of Santa Fe. That just means I’ll have to return again!
On the other hand, I managed to finish ALL of my 3 meals today. Breakfast was New Mexico breakfast tacos at Casa Chimayo. They served 3 breakfast tacos (scrambled eggs, cilantro and what have you with salsa fresca). It was the perfect amount for me and only cost $6. The waiter told me that he left Cuahtemoc, Mexico years ago, lived in Chicago awhile, lived in Albuquerque, too, but finally settled in Santa Fe, which he loves. My lunch was frito pie at Del Charro Saloon. For $7 I got a huge plate of ground beef, chili beans, lettuce and tomato over Fritos. Somehow I managed to eat it all. For a change of pace, I had a dinner reservation at Tanti Luce for some Italian food. I ordered the pappardelle bolognese ($19) with a glass of Cotes du Rhone ($9). While it was good, it certainly wasn’t up to the caliber of either Ideale or E Tutto Qua in San Francisco! Even so, I enjoyed sitting on the terrace, until it began to sprinkle. At that point, a gentleman from another table dashed over and set up my umbrella for me. I took my time at dinner looking at the full (or almost full) moon and savoring my glass of wine. The restaurant is very sweet. There’s plenty of room inside, a huge terrace outside, hidden alcoves and a nice courtyard with a fountain. It would be the perfect romantic spot for a couple.
My walk back to the casita was more leisurely and less scary than Friday night, perhaps because it was earlier and I’d been drinking! The breeze rustled the trees along the riverbed and the shadows lengthened along the pathway. Far off I could hear the strains of Santana’s “Samba Pa Ti,” combined with the smell of BBQ (carne asada, perhaps?). Although it isn’t cold, I had a mad desire to soak in the tub drinking a glass of wine with the candelabra lit, then light the fireplace with the scents of pinon and sage. Alas, I have no wine and no one to share that fireplace with. Maybe next time…
