Top 10 Things I Love About Santa Fe (Placitas: homes, to live)

[Towanda]

Hey guys.

I left the forum a while back for several reasons and one of them was that I could no longer take all the negativity and nasty cracks about Santa Fe, not just here in the SF forum, but throughout the site.

But this thread and some of the comments on "The messages on this board are depressing" have restored my faith that there are still people out here who love and appreciate Santa Fe.

santafe400 - THANK YOU for starting this thread. (I may work on my own top ten list )

[santafescribe]

Welcome back Towanda! Things were just desolate here without you. While nobody wants just Santa-Fe-happy-talk, this board used to be about exchanging real-life experience and information, as well as informed opinions. Just lobbing a grenade over the virtual wall and then disappearing is not what this is about. Let's get back to pre-grenade conversation!

[santafe400]

Let's get back to pre-grenade conversation!

Agreed. And welcome back Towanda!!

Also, I'm liking alot the addition of the railyard complex. The REI/Railyard Shops/Guadalupe/Plaza District seem to be converging to make a beautiful town center. The farmers market is indeed top notch! I also happen to be at the convention center for a reception last week. The center is absolutley stunning!!

[Towanda]

1. The night sky where you can see a billion stars, the Milky Way, the moon and even the International Space Station streaking across the sky if your timing is right.

2. Mass at the Cathedral Basilica de St. Francis.

3. Watching the weather approaching the area from miles away.

4. The umpteen awesome New Mexican restaurants in town - so many that it’s impossible to choose a favorite - but for example Tecolote Café where the green chile is so hot it makes your eyes water and your nose run … which is a good thing.

5. Being in a bilingual city and listening to Spanish wherever we go and finding after a while you are starting to pick up some phrases and words here and there.

6. The adobe architecture which I will never grow tired of.

7. The wonderful aroma of green chile roasting in late summer.

8. The incredible sunsets behind the Jemez Mountains nightly.

9. The quality of the light here - I can’t explain it, but it is different than any other area of the country where I have lived.

10 The mountains - oh the mountains!!!


On no! I got to #10 already and I still have more to add!!!!!

[Xavious Orgus]

Originally Posted by cynanthus

We might be, you never know! I think you'll have to look me up when you move to SF and I'll take you on a tour of my favorite places.

Cynanthus, thanks for the offer! But.... are you sure you don't want to back out of this one?!? LOL

Towanda, are you sure you don't work for the tourism industry?!? LOL

[GreatSantaFe]

I gotta get my list in here as well.
1- Sunrise - the air is cool and there's no sound but birds (at least here in Lamy) and oh, the light....
2 - Sunset - when the shadows are long and oh, the light....
3 - Night - when the sky is chock full of twinkling stars and shooting stars, and you can see the Milky Way.
4 - The city after a snowfall - white, quiet, peaceful
5 - The Film Festival, Indian Market, Folk Art Market, Farmers Market. Sooo much to do....
6 - Proximity to the pueblos so I can attend pow-wows, feast days, markets, dances....
7 - The Spanish culture - so different from my own, but so warm and beautiful
8 - The architecture
9 - The food
10 - And New Mexico wineries are finally producing pretty drinkable wines!

[santafe400]

In response to the reply posted by GreatSantaFe

#10 - That is a great remark!
#5 - Yes, I really love the SF Film Festival. Also, Indian Market can be fun as well.
#4 - And yes wintertime is wonderful as well. It's funny that outsiders tend to think of Santa Fe as a desert oasis that could be found in Arizona or California. However, we share the most climate wise with our neighbor to the north.

[EnjoyEP]

I have always been a bigger ABQ / Las Cruces guy due to my preference of desert and warmer weather and bigger towns, however, I have to say that santafe400 and towanda have thrown up some absolutely fantastic posts here!! They capture just what is so great about central New Mexico and make me remember why I love visiting SF as well!!! Tremendous stuff, folks!!

Viva NM!!

[SanfordR]

10 - "And New Mexico wineries are finally producing pretty drinkable wines!"

I second ( or third?) that one. We always stop at a few of the small wineries between here and Taos. Pretty decent stuff.

[Fischer_girl]

Originally Posted by santafe400

I thought I would start a post describing the top 10 reasons why I love and fell in love with Santa Fe and its environs. So here goes. (and nobody laught!)

10. The fantastic history of the region
09. Christmas time along Canyon Road
08. The way the city looks at sunset coming from any direction.
07. The real and true home of the best southwestern cuisine along with Albuquerque.
06. The quaint downtown streets on a cool and calm evening.
05. The unique cultural diversity
04. Having a wonderful selection of restaurants and stores without living in the big city.
03. Real and faux Adobe architecture
02. The amazing smell that oozes come winter time.
01. Making people a bit jealous that I call Santa Fe home!

I really like your never eight. That would be my number one through ten! Not sure about number nine..haven't heard of that. Do tell!