Today we set off to go to Chimayo, a small village in the hills outside Santa Fe where there are a number of families that weave the traditional blankets and rugs of the region. But first we have to satisfy the early morning need for a coffee so we went to this French Cafe recommended and fell immediately into the lifelong trap of not being able to refuse so much deliciousness. They had it all, pastries, crepes, croques male and female. So, yes, I had a crepe ! and a cappuccino.
Then we hit the road. And spent the next 4 hours getting weaved out. Such beautiful rugs that, had I been able to transport them home, I would have gone heywire. Everyone wants to talk about their knowledge, their traditions, who has done the weaving, where they have come from etc etc. Again everyone is friendly beyond my experience.
We drove up through some more villages. There are pueblos all around these villages. We went to an old church, the Santuario de Chimayo. There are world famous pilgrimages to this legendary church for the healing dirt there (seriously). The Indigenous people swore this dirt healed people and some legend confirmed that it miraculously healed someone. I went to the church but refused to go and get my portion of healing dirt. Norjie did and reported crutches all around the walls that had been left behind and many photos of the healed. She returned with a little packet of dirt for me. Obviously that can’t come back to Australia with me!!
Time for lunch. We’d been told about the fabulous Rancheros de Chimayo Restaurant and off we went to find that. I couldn’t take another mouthful of Mexican food, so I had a delightful trout. And yes, half of it came home with me for dinner. Good tactic this. The restaurant and, indeed the US of A, is decked out in the red, white and blues at the moment with 4th July looming.
Back to Santa Fe after lunch and got back here earlier than usual so we are able to sit outside on a beautiful afternoon with a glass of wine and do whatever we need to get done. The rain seems to have disappeared and the weather is back to being perfect.
I’ve been sitting here trying to compare petrol prices…not easy because you have to convert from gallons to litres. But petrol is a good deal cheaper here than at home. It is around $3.20 – $3.40 per gallon. Now check my maths, but I think that is about 88c/litre.
That’s it for now. One more day in Santa Fe, then on to Albuquerque. Time is rolling along. I’ll be home before I can blink.