On the Waaaay... To Santa Feeeee...

After days of Pueblo people, empty desert canyons, and mesa tops, it was time to head back to the big city (I would say 'civilization', but that seems kind of insulting to all the civilizations we had just spent four days learning about!)  We left Mesa Verde for Santa Fe bright and early on a Monday morning.

The highest point in Mesa Verde National Park, with great views in all directions, particularly of the plains below.

Some of the fall colours.

Free viewing telescopes!  Probably the only free thing in the whole park.

We took the scenic route to Santa Fe, driving through much of southwest Colorado before turning south into New Mexico.  I know I keep saying this, but the scenery was amazing - the Rockies in the background, hills full of trees with turning leaves, rivers, ranches, animals...  We went through Durango and Pagosa Springs along the way.

The river in the pretty resort town of Pagosa Springs.  We thought it was just another dot on the map, but turns out the springs for which it was named are hot springs, and there are bunches of resorts there so that tourists and locals alike can take advantage of the waters.

This formation looks fake - maybe like a volcano made for a sixth grade science project? - but it's actually a natural formation on the side of the road.  Smelly, steaming hot springs water is flowing out.

Just more mountains and trees along the way.

Admittedly, when we got to New Mexico things got a lot more boring and, frankly, Kamloops like for a while.  That is, until we came upon some of the red rocks for which the region is famous.

In Santa Fe we stayed at a classic Route 66 style hotel and headed downtown to explore.  I'll be honest - Santa Fe was not our favourite spot.  Although it grew on us after a couple hours, I think its shops and ambience are more like an adult Disneyland for middle-aged women.  The picture perfect adobe buildings and endless craft, clothing, and art shops didn't charm us for long.  Luckily we found a decent meal at a cafe with good, in house brewed craft beer, and managed to enjoy our evening!

Dad heads for the main square downtown.

Outside the big downtown cathedral.  If I hadn't returned our guidebook to the library, I could tell you its name.

This is a parking garage.  Yes, even parking garages are done in 'authentic' adobe style.

These I liked - bunches of dried chiles hanging everywhere.

And some of the public art wasn't so bad either.

Reminiscent of Chad and I? Yeah, I think not.  Just a random wall mural outside a bar downtown.