I feel very artsy as I walk through the downtown area of Santa Fe. Throughout the downtown area are art galleries, shops, and restaurants. I had a delightful time walking through the streets, although I felt a little out of place. I’m not typically “the artsy” type. I like art and I like the kind of ruggedness that Santa Fe portrays—with its backpacking culture being over watched by the remaining snow covered mountains, but sometimes I have a hard time combining them together.
Along the streets of downtown Santa Fe, you will see the art galleries—mostly modern or Southwest and Native American, but there are also a number of higher fashion shops and jewelry stores with handmade silver and turquoise rings and necklaces. Scattered along the streets there are also a couple of tourist type shops, but it is clear that those are those shops that are not tailored to the people that actually visit downtown Santa Fe.
The downtown area also has a small park in the center of the area. The park known as the “Historic Plaza” is a traditional downtown quadrangle park with grass, monument, and band stand. The park provides a great place to rest and experience all that is going on around the streets of downtown. On my first day in Santa Fe, there was a Native American dancing in traditional dress in the center area. On my second day there was a Native American Duet playing a drum and singing Native American songs. Surrounding the park are the shops and restaurant on three sides and the Palace of the Governors on the third. Along the side of the Palace of the Governors were local merchants selling the handmade crafts to visitors to the area.
During my two day trip to Santa Fe, I began to really feel a part of this wonderful town. I didn’t get to see everything that the city has to offer but I did get to see enough to experience and truly appreciate the Santa Fe culture and attraction Santa Fe has to offer.