Locally Santa Fe - The best hike and dumpster diving

So my parents are not believers of "trying the local life' way of travelling; my dad is more "go and see quickly" traveler, and my mom is a "shop until you drop" lady.  When I told them that I have booked a 5 nights trip to Santa Fe, came the chorus of wines and complains that 5 days is just way too long to be in a place.. (what!.. they must not know me very well).  I decided to give them a little taste of my way of travelling.

We got to the rented house and fell in love immediately with this artist's home.  Warm, cozy and well spaced, this house oozes New Mexico charmed.  My mom perched at the recliner immediately and my dad paced nervously waiting for the next adventure (his style of travelling).  The house has a nice backyard area with BBQ, the owner lives next door .. and they let us play with their dog, Chulla, which is a plus.

My husband decided to stock the fridge by dumpster diving the local Whole Food store.  He just went around back and checked out things that are ready to be thrown out.  He hit a jackpot with carts and carts of bananas, cheese, chocolate, veggies, still cold from the refrigerators.  If you read my previous blog, my husband is a rather odd character and quite unpredictable... smile :)
We totaled all of his finding to over 300 bucks.. Crazy expensive cheeses.  BTW, he did it again a couple days later (Trader's Joe this time) and they threw away so many of their flowers and potting plants.  My parents was amazed of our wasteful way of life.

Dumpster Find! Free food

Places that we stumbled into and fell in love with.

Tent Rock - 30 min south of Santa Fe..  Wauza... you have to visit this place when you come to this area.  We decided to go after we saw a picture of this place in one of the galleries.  It looks like a combination of underwater caves and the surface of the planet Mars.  The hike to the top take about 1 hour each way and it can be a little challenging.  But if a height-phobic like me can do it.. anyone can do it too.

Every turn was more beautiful than before.. We were completely overwhelmed.. Bring water and sandwiches (in our case, we brought bananas and hard boiled eggs) to eat at the top.  

The town of Madrid - where artists and outlaws created a utopia 

Bring your wallet and shop for one-of-a-kind jewelries and arts.  One of the shop owners start playing a guitar made from cigar boxes just for us..  This town is full of interesting people.  Anthony had a blast talking to everybody in between climbing on the top of an old coal mines.  We stopped at Java Junction and perched for a couple hours to work and ended up learning about the town news.  Note: This coffee shop use thick pasta as stirrers (great "green" idea!).

Chimayo _ The Lourdes of the Americas

My dad's hobby is visiting holy places of the world.  Just during this trip he visited a couple in France (his stopover before US).  And since a month ago, he has told me that he had to visit Chimayo when we are in Santa Fe.. Fine.. fine.. fine.. I went because of him, but we ended up staying longer than expected and really enjoying the place.  Two very nice churches.. one is famous for its holy.. wait for it.. DIRT!  It supposedly has caused thousands of miraculous recoveries.  We prayed, dab the holy dirt.. Anthony brought some home with him.  And spend a nice day in the sanctuary.  A must if you are Catholic.. much cheaper than Lourdes.. 

Main Church, Chimayo

Rio Grande Gorge Bridge - Taos

A nice Barista in Taos told me to drive north and walk on this bridge. We did just that.. and it is scarily high.. I know that the bridge is super strong and there is noway that the little ol me will cause it to collapse.. but my heart rate beg the differ. We saw a girl histerically screaming her way to the other side of the bridge.. A site to see and an experience to have.. 

Rio Grande Gorge.. bridge.. wow!

Rio Grand River 

Full of campsites.. Great way to experience New Mexico great big sky - we heard that the trout fishing is awesome here (note to self.. do this next time)

Highlights of this trips:

Mom and Anthony dancing in the Santa Fe square to the live band.. spontaniously fun.

We ran into a huge antique car show in Plaza Square Santa Fe.  Awesomeness.. The best I have ever seen.

All and all this is a huge bonding experience with me and my parents.  See my dad remarried 3 years ago and this is the most time I spend with my new mom.  It is very nice to see my dad in love and well taking care off.  Love her to pieces..   Until the next adventure.