Santa Fe, NM is the first trip of 2019, where I got to see a dear friend and her family for the first time in seven years. It’s an artistic city, where artists like Georgia O’Keefe once lived. Native American influence is also prevalent. I went during the off-season, where it wasn’t crowded at all.

Snow in the high desert

Also known as the City Different, the small Southwestern city sits in the high desert at an elevation of 7,199 feet. For a sea-leveler like me, it can be a lot to adjust to. Altitude sickness varies for each person. It’s better to take at least a day or so to acclimate to the higher elevation than jump right into working out like I did.

The very first morning after landing in Santa Fe, I attempted to run 10 miles, which was an experience. I was so out of breath at mile 7. Pressure slowly built up in my head before turning into a full-blown headache. I slept the entire day afterwards.

When thinking of the desert, images could be cacti, cow skulls, and adobe homes under the bright sun. Snow doesn’t always come to mind. It’s the first time I saw snow in the desert, and it was quite a beautiful setting.

It is also extremely dry, so it’s a good idea to pack lots of shea butter and sunscreen. The UV rays are stronger in higher elevation. I kept rubbing shea butter on my hands every half hour to keep them moisturized. You may also need tissues, since the dryness can make your nose drip. A humidifier also helps when sleeping.

Santa Fe is a small city, and while public transportation exists, it doesn’t cover the whole area. The main lines run mostly near the attractions around the city, but there isn’t service from the regional airport. Ride sharing services such as Lyft and Uber are rare late at night or in the wee hours in the morning, which can be an issue if your flight comes in during those times. Renting a car would have been too expensive. I was lucky and found a Lyft to get me to my friend’s house at midnight.

A treasure trove of art and history

For $30, the Culture Pass provides access to multiple publicly funded museums and monuments in Santa Fe as well as several other cities in New Mexico. I highly recommend using it, as you can save money that way. There is also a free shuttle that goes from Museum Hill to the Plaza and even Canyon Road, so that’s also worth looking into as well.

Santa Fe has a vibrant art community. Modern art legends such as Georgia O’Keeffe lived in the town, the landscape often used as a source of inspiration. There’s a museum featuring her work, and it’s worth a visit. It isn’t covered by the Culture Pass, since it’s a private museum, but it still helps give a better understanding of her work and process.

Another day, I visited Canyon Road, a half-mile stretch of high-end art galleries inside old-world adobe buildings. Canyon Road features inspiring artwork ranging in style from traditional, to whimsical and contemporary. There are over a hundred galleries, boutiques, and eateries to brows through. A magical place like this makes it clear why many artists have made it their home.

There is another side to it all. I talked to one of the artists, and he said that he only paints what he does so that anyone with that kind of money can buy his work. He would like to paint what he likes, but it wouldn’t sell. While it’s always nice to be able to express yourself, it’s not a bad thing to make work that sells, even if it’s not what the artist prefers to do. It is, after all, a business.

Speaking of art, tomorrow I will go over what my experiences at Meow Wolf were like. It’s an art installation that is reminiscent of the Twilight Zone meets Alice in Wonderland, kind of. It’s trippy, delightful, and full of mystery. It deserves its own entry.

On being vegan…

The vegan lifestyle isn’t unheard of in the City Different, but not everyone is aware of what it is. There aren’t many exclusively vegan restaurants in Santa Fe, but there may be vegan options at a few places. Other than that, it’s easier to buy ingredients and prepare stuff at home. My friend graciously cooked dinner for us, since her husband is mostly vegan. She was a lifesaver.

Could I live here?

I visited Santa Fe to see and catch up with my friend… and also to see just how Ronnie-friendly is this city? The vibe is friendly enough. While I appreciated the art, the vibe caters towards people on the more upscale end. In fact, the only place where I truly felt like I belonged was at Meow Wolf, which will be a separate blog entry.

Santa Fe’s public transportation system doesn’t cover the whole city, but the bike trails might get you places as long as it’s not too icy. Finally, being vegan is possible, but options may be limited when it comes to finding a restaurant to eat.

Other than that, I very much enjoyed my stay. This is a city where I’d like to return again!