A Family Thanksgiving in Santa Fe
On Thanksgiving morning, J and I flew to New Mexico to meet my family.
In Albuquerque, I took the driver’s seat of my father’s massive truck and gunned it on the drive to Santa Fe. We arrived just in time to eat platters loaded with the delicious staples of Thanksgiving. Afterward, we walked.
Wall of color.
An eclectic display.
A traditional spread.
Portrait.
Santa Fe cricket.
An amazing residential gate.
Plenty of stones left to stick.
Can you spot the cat?
Foamy.
Hub wall.
Mary.
Sunset strut.
Gas striders.
Beautiful wall.
Me and the ladies.
Wall box.
Earrings.
Droopy.
Blaire Witch canopy.
Digging this house.
On Friday, we drove north through Española and up the 285 through the valley to Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort and Spa.
First, my sister, J and I went on a hike up the hill and along a dry riverbed. Along the way, we spotted lots of pyrite and mica.
Then, we checked into the the mineral springs. We changed in the sex separated locker rooms, then enjoyed dips in the variety of mineral, rich, and heated pools. My favorite was the covered soda bath, a rocky and salt encrusted room with the warmest water. I got a little lightheaded after getting out.
On the way back to Santa Fe, we stopped for a chili-smothered lunch at an old restaurant called El Paragua.
Pink chapel.
Piñon fire.
Rock stacker.
The trail.
Following the river bed.
Secco.
Hiking down into the valley.
Mica.
A patch of Dutch snow.
Looking down on Ojo Caliente and the valley.
Mary mural.
On Saturday, J and I met my parents at the farmer’s market, went to an interesting free gallery show, then walked around town and played Catan. That afternoon, a few of us went to check for beavers on the Twomile [sic] Reservoir trail, see the view of Santa Fe from the cross, and wander around the plaza.
Losing my cool.
Blue corn and berry donuts.
Father and son.
The green room.
Alternate western history.
Carved newspapers.
Gravel flood.
Colorful train.
Dangle peppers.
Mixed style house.
Mission critical control panel.
Decorative crosswalk.
This old house.
Colors of autumn.
Cattails.
Beaver evidence.
Ice.
A view of Santa Fe from the Cross of the Martyrs.
On our last full day in Santa Fe, we went on a wild horse chase to find wild horses in Tesuque Pueblo. After numerous detours, we stopped for lunch at the village market. No horses were ever found.
Afterward, we drove into the state park on Hyde Park Road and went on a 4.5 mile hike through the mountains. The air was crisp and smelled fresh of pine. Lots of people walked their dogs on the trail. My mother handled the climb wonderfully, though her knees required more caution on the descent.
Wild horse chase.
Camouflaged houses.
Warning.
Between the trees.
An icy section.
Snacking on dried jujubes.
Pine parasite.
J runs ahead.
Fallen tree.
The home stretch.
One last portrait before the sun set.
On the last night, we bonded over green chili turkey soup my mother made from leftovers.
I had chanced upon an article about the 2013 death of Elisa Lam and entered a rabbit hole of stories/theories surrounding how she died and ended up in the water tank above the Cecil Hotel. I found myself reading about all sorts of unsavory unsolved mysteries that night.
The next morning, we woke at 4:30 and my sister gave us a ride to the Albuquerque airport. We had many hours to kill before our flight, so I spent many hours reading about killings.
There’s a lot of weird stuff in the world.