SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO

Traveling In Our Fabulous Gay World - Santa Fe

by Donald Pile and Ray Williams

(Santa Fe Landscape)

     Santa Fe is so interesting and exciting. The city was established in 1610 and is one of the oldest cities in the country. The elevation is 7,000 feet. Everyone is welcome in Santa Fe. You won’t see verymany gay flags as they don’t need any. Actually it is the most gay-friendly cities in the country.  We always stay at the Inn of the Turquoise Bear which is owned by Robert Frost and Ralph Bolton. It is the estate of the former Witter Bynner, the famous poet and author who lived there for over 40 years. Actually the Inn is a “compound” with an adobe wall all around it. It is located just a few blocks of the downtown Plaza. You are really stepping back in time when staying there. Their guest list reads like a who’s who in the arts, entertainment and writers. We have met so many extremely interesting guests over the years staying there. This is just a very grand place to stay when visiting Santa Fe. Actually we think that is the ONLY place to stay in Santa Fe. Their website is www.turquoisebear.com  There are so many things to see and do when visiting Santa Fe. The “Plaza” which is the business square in downtown Santa Fe has been at the heart of Santa Fe which everything regarding the city. You will find all of kind of shops in the area selling Indian jewelry, bronze sculptors, an abundance of all kinds of art for sale. The shops on Canyon Road are extremely top of the line. There are many museums in the city including the Museum of Fine Arts, with regional art, oil paintings and watercolors and photographs. The Palace of the Governors built in 1610 as the original capitol of New Mexico is located right on the Plaza. The Museum of Indian Arts and Culture with exhibits of pottery, basketry, clothing, carpets and jewelry is a must see.

(Inn of the Turquoise Inn Bed and Breakfast)

     The Museum of International Folk Art houses over 130,000 objects from around the world. The Girard Room is truly spectacular. The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum has the largest collection of her works in the world. There are several other museums that you would also want to visit. For those interested in architecture Santa Fe has some of the most wonderful old churches, many dating back several hundred years. The Santa Fe Opera was established in 1959 and is considered the 2nd finest Opera company in the country, second only to the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. Check them out at www.santafeopera.org

(Mayor David Coss with Donald and Ray)

  

     One has to dine and we highly suggest La Casa Sena which is located at 125 East Palace Avenue.  Their website is: lascasasena.com.  No trip to Santa Fe would be complete without dining there SEVERAL times ! This is the ONLY restaurant in town to dine. EVERYTHING that they serve is fresh and wonderfu.  Their servers are great and the atmosphere of the  entire restaurant is superb.  You can dien inside or out and we HGHLY suggest they you dine outside.  This is Santa Fe at it's BEST ! Their menu is utterly fabulous as is their menu!  And for a special added treat visit their Cantina right next door in the evenings where you can enjoy wonderful LIVE music with a pianist and singers.  Trust us on this,  This is THE place to see and be seen and to see wonderful, exciting and fabulous people.  We have been going to Santa Fe for years and years and ALWAYS enjoy La Casa Sena and you will too.  There are other restaurants that you should try BUT La Casa Sena is the BEST OF THE BEST !!!  

 

 (The Famous La Casa Sena Restaurant)

  A  new bar recently opened in downtown Santa Fe right across the street from City Hall. The Rouge Cat has a nice lounge upstairs and then down stairs is their dance scene. It has been open only a few months however it has become a favorite among the locals.

(Downtown Santa Fe)

     Speaking of City Hall, we met with Mayor David Coss who is one of the favorite mayors that we have met. He also has a great administrative assistant, Marge Sandoval. Also a must see is the Juan Siddi Flamenco Theatre Company. You can visit their website at www.juansiddiflamenco.com For shopping, the Canyon Road Arts District is THE place to go. There you will find more than 100 art galleries and studios, unique specialty shops, restaurants and the historic adobe architecture that gives Santa Fe its legendary southwestern charm. There are numerous day trips that one can take from Santa Fe including driving up the high road to Taos thru the very small Indian villages and then visit Taos itself. The Bandelier National Monument close to Los Alamos is a scenic beauty and just 15 miles to the south is El Rancho de las Golondrinas which is a 200 acre ranch dating back to 18th Century. Check out santafe.org/ before going. And for the most memorable time visiting Santa Fe, be sure and stay at the Inn of the Turquoise Bear Bed and Breakfast. A special THANK YOU to Steve Lewis, Public Relations at the Santa Fe Convention & Visitors Bureau.

(Santa Fe American Indians selling their hand crafted wares on the Plaza)

Always remember to have fun when traveling, meet new people and talk to everyone! TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS GAY WORLD is written by Donald Pile and Ray Williams, Award-winning, Celebrity travel columns who write for gay publications from coast to coast. Proud members of the IGLTA. You can email them at gaytravelers@aol.com and visit their website at: http://gaytravelersataol.blogspot.com/