Sad morning as today we leave Santa Fe and
are headed to Gallup, New Mexico. Not
for any particular reason other than it’s about a 3hr drive and that suits
us! We had wanted to visit another Indian
Pueblo named Acoma, but we can’t as today is their Annual Golf Day. Tried to organize one at Zuni Pueblo but they
are not open again until Monday and we will need to be in Flagstaff by
then. So we are a little disappointed
but also grateful that we at least managed to visit Taos!
Today is the start of the Fiesta de Santa
Fe – commemorating the rule of the Spanish conquistador, Don Diego De Vargas, who managed
to unite all of the Indian Pueblos with the Spanish invaders and broker a peace
which lasted 300 years. Other Spanish
conquistadors had insisted the Indians convert to Catholicism or have their
left foot removed. De Vargas convinced
the Indians to convert however, they could still intertwine their beliefs with
the Spanish.
Mission Statement:
To honor and preserve the annual Fiesta de Santa Fe in accordance with the spirit and letters outlined in the original Fiesta Proclamation issued by the Santa Fe City Council on September 16, 1712, while staying true to time honored tradition with goals of educating the community, portraying a positive public image, and upholding the historical significance of the festival.
History of Santa Fe Fiesta The cry of “Viva la Fiesta” has been reverberating through the streets of Old Santa Fe every autumn for 301 years. The sound generates a curious blend of thanksgiving, revelry and pride in the hearts of Santa Feans who celebrate Fiesta annually to commemorate Don Diego De Vargas’ peaceful reoccupation of the City of Holy Faith in 1692. The historic capital is one of the oldest in the United States. It was established by Don Juan de Oñate at San Gabriel in 1598 and moved over 30 miles south to the foot of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains where Santa Fe was founded in 1610. In 1680 the Indians revolted, burned the city and drove out the Spanish colonists, who fled to Guadalupe del Paso, now Juarez, Mexico. They rescued from the burning church the 29-inch wood carved Marian statue, La Conquistadora, originally brought to Santa Fe in 1625 by the missionary, Fray Alonso de Benavides.
We were up early and packed the car. Drove to the Visitors Centre to park and
walked to the Plaza Café for a last delicious brekky. We weren’t disappointed! The market stalls were all coming to life and
food being prepared. David and I were
given another front table and were people watching as well as looking at the
local constabulary and checking out the accouterments on their belts. It was also sad to see some of the
homeless type people looking through bins?
David also pointed out a woman who was selling papers but had a thick, black bracelet around her
ankle – the kind that offenders on parole wear.
Intersting place!
Market stalls all ready.
The Chilli & BBQ stall that had the great barbecue...
The entertainment in the square began at
10am. We were treated to an Indian dance
troupe performing an authentic dance.
You do not clap at the end, that is disrespectful. At 11am, the Mariachi group performed and sang
in Spanish. I loved it! Would have liked to have stayed longer but we
had to start driving to Gallup. The festival goes all weekend and is the last
fiesta until Christmas!
Indian Dance Troupe
Wonderful Mariachis!
It was 53 farenheit in Santa Fe this
morning – cool enough to want a jumper.
Now we’re headed back down to a lower altitudeand it is hot! Just bought fuel on the highway outside
Albuquerque for $US1.90 per gallon – think this is a good deal!
Roadside scenery
This is the countryside leading in to Gallup - love the different colours reflected in the afternoon sunlight!
Arrived in Gallup at about 4.30pm this afternoon. Stopped at the Visitors' Centre in El Malpais (The Bad Lands in Spanish) and found out about a few things happening tomorrow so we will have some planning to do tonight!
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