Yesterday morning (that's Saturday in case you're keeping track) I was out bright an early to get in some walking. Temperatures had been getting a little warmer as I traveled, especially in Elk City - which was actually unseasonably warm for this time of year. But it was in the high 30s (F) as I left the hotel in Santa Fe, and there was a little bit of a breeze. Needed a light parka, and definitely a pair of gloves. I hate it when my hands, or my feet, get cold!
My next stop was the Arts District. I found some galleries, and some good paintings. Nothing I wanted to take home with me; a lot of it was western - of course - and I found quite a bit of more contemporary art. It definitely reflects the various cultures of a very multicultural city. I can appreciate what I saw, but it doesn't easily inhabit my mind or my heart. Completely worth exploring though!
On my way out of town in the early afternoon, I spent some time just driving around, looking at things and trying to get 'the feel' of the place. I know that the town was originally laid out around a central plaza, with a radiating grid of streets around it. At some point, the city decided to try to create a more homogeneous look and that was what led to the Spanish pueblo look that is so common there. By the mid-1950s, I believe, rebuilt and new buildings (especially in the more historic areas) had to be built in the Spanish territorial or pueblo style. That means lots of flat roofs and lots of adobe, or in some cases fauxdobe (a term I heard last time in Santa Fe) construction.
I decided as I left the city to try to push through as far as I could toward Phoenix, figuring that perhaps I might stay the night around Payson, Arizona. Payson is pretty close to being the geographic center of Arizona, and is surrounded by the Tonto National Forest. This was the first time I had seen some snow on the ground in quite a while. However, when I got there I realized it was only about another 80 miles to the Phoenix area, and decided that I would rather keep going. Driving through and over the mountains was amazing, but I admit I was happy that it wasn't quite dark yet!
Anyway, I ended up at a hotel in Chandler, just barely south of Phoenix. That left me with only about 350 miles to get to San Diego, and 2 days to do it in. No long days of driving, and time to take some side trips along the way!
There will be more of that in my next post.
And by the way, as I pulled into the hotel in Chandler, I have now driven approximately 3,140 miles since I left on the 3rd of January. (That approximately 5,050 kilometers, if you prefer!)
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