Jump up in the morning to catch the last day of the Farmer's Market on Guadalupe in the Railyard District, an area described as home to some of the "quirkier" dining spots in town. We'll have to investigate. The Market is great. Buy the best "just cut" flat iron steaks (grilled that evening and fab), fajita-cut steak, short ribs, some veggies and a marvelous roasted garlic flat bread.
On to The Plaza, the middle-of-town square laid out by the Spanish in 1610 as the focal point of the community, which it remains. The Palace of The Governors, (palaceofthegovernors.org) former seat of the Santa Fe government and now a museum, is the site where Native American vendors have been laying out their wares daily for over 80 years. There are over a 1,000 licensed vendors who vie for 63 slots handed out each morning by lottery.
Most of the items are jewelry with a bit pottery on display on the day we are there. Most items are not inexpensive, but they are beautifully done and the vendors are a delight to talk to. I pick up a couple of pairs of earrings that I just love, one hammered silver representing the circle of life with a small piece of turquoise in the center; the other hammered copper. I'm thrilled with them both.
We wander the streets around The Plaza poking into boutiques and galleries. As to be expected the shops run the gambit from the luxurious to cheap souvenirs. We stop for lunch at the Plaza Cafe. While I don't shy from spicy flavoring and Rick is a big fan, this is just too much....all heat, no depth of flavor in Rick's enchilada, nor my tortilla soup.
The Plaza is such a lovely area, perfect for walking. I suspect you could look about for weeks without being able to take it all in. We are so glad to be here we decide to spend the entire week. Will have to scramble in the morning to find us a great place to have Thanksgiving dinner.
Don't forget The Shed--hopefully better luck for lunch. (Or Pascuals if you miss breakfast there).
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