🚊 And We’re Off!! 🚊
Where to you may ask? Santa Fe for the day! Ryan and I celebrated our two year anniversary on June 4, 2022. I had no idea where we were going until our Uber driver pulled into the downtown Rail Runner station. Ryan explained that after two years with me he knows me pretty well, (he does). Now that he knows me so intimately, he wanted to redo our first date and take me on my dream date. He succeeded. It was SO romantic.
Our first stop was NM scoops, for boba tea and iced coffee! I ordered the Thai Mango boba tea, SO GOOD 🤤 It’s located in this little underground mall in the heart of Santa Fe plaza. This is one thing I love about Santa Fe Plaza. You can enter a door thinking it’s just a little shop and it opens up into this huge underground mall full of little shops. You never know what you’ll find.
Fun Exploring the Plaza
Like I said, I didn’t know where we were going until we were there. I’m a self proclaimed fashionista. I dress for the occasion, I take so much into consideration. Where I am going? Should I dress up? Is it outside, do I need a hat? or inside where I may need a sweater? Can I wear heals or will there be walking? So naturally I needed some hint from my sweet boyfriend. He told me “Wear what you would wear for a day in walking in Mexico City”. That told me everything I need to know. Mexico City is one of my favorite places in the world. It’s so glamorous and everyone is so classy and sophisticated. I knew just what to wear. Little did did Ryan know how many similarities there really are between Sante Fe and Mexico City.
Mexico City
It’s not surprising for there to be so many similarities. Both cities were originally home to thriving native cultures before being colonized by the Spaniards in the 1500’s.
Mexico City was once Tenochtitlan, home to the Aztec people. Cortez arrived in 1519 and placed King Montezuma II under house arrest and shadow ruled through him. The Aztec people were able to rise up and eventually drove the Europeans out for a short time. With Cuauhtémoc now ruling the Aztec people, Cortez returned in 1521 with a more deadly weapon known as smallpox. The Aztec people had no defense against this new biological weapon. The Aztec Capital fell to the Spaniards and Mexico City was built upon the ruins of Tenochtitlan.
Santa Fe
Santa Fe was once known as Oghá P’o’oge in Tewa by the Native Tewa and Tanoan people that settled in the Rio Grande valley for its water. Juan de Oñate arrived in 1598 and colonized the land, renaming it “Santa Fe de Nuevo Mexico”. Like the Aztec, the Pueblo people were able to come together and lead the Pueblo Revolt that drove the Spanish out in 1680. The parallels continued when the City was recaptured in 1693 by Don de Vargas through a violent campaign. Santa Fe went on to become Spains Provincial seat during the Mexican War of independence.
Spanish colonial architecture was extremely effective, and nearly all the cities were built around a central plaza. The plaza was used for gatherings, events, and ceremonies. Situated around the Plaza we’re usually a market place, the governor / mayoral palace, the federal/government buildings and the Church or Mission. This central design theme is present in both Santa Fe plaza and in the Zócalo in Mexico City.
Art
Both cities are also major art hubs of their perspective regions. Santa Fe plaza is surrounded by hundred of galleries containing everything from paintings, pottery, to the most exquisite turquoise jewelry. Mexico City has so much art I don’t even know where to begin. Mexico City was once home to celebrated artist, and a major inspiration in my own life, Frida Kahlo. Below are some photos of some me browsing some beautiful dolls from a local art vender in Santa Fe.
Native American Dancing
As I mentioned earlier, both cities were originally home to thriving Native people who still celebrate and continue to pass own their languages and traditions to the generations that follow. While we were in Santa Fe we had the pleasure of taking part in this beautiful culture. Here are some photos of a dance that honors warriors that have passed. It was after Memorial Day weekend and the plaza was full and I thought it was a beautiful dance to share with tourist that may never have otherwise seen anything like it.
Of course it once again sent my mind cascading down memory lane. While I was visiting the Zócalo I had the privilege of witnessing Aztec dancers celebrate and pass on their own traditions and cultural dances. These videos show a side by side of two very unique cultures separated by distance and how they can be so different yet underscores the way they connect and weave together.
Dinner and Drinks at La Casa Sena
We finished with dinner at La Casa Sena. It’s a scenic restaurant with a hidden little patio surrounded on all sides by beautiful fragrant rose bushes. It’s so incredibly romantic. I love art, I even consider myself an artist. Spending a whole day on an adventure taking pictures, exploring galleries, and reading all the history was my dream date. Finishing dinner at such a romantic restaurant was the cherry on top on a perfect anniversary. I guess Ryan does know me pretty well
Graphite and Jade 