Santa Fe is an artists town and I had now realized this was where Mel-Mel was based but since she was now enjoying herself in Thailand wouldn’t be available for drinks. The place is full of galleries but we weren’t looking to buy a load of paintings, we’d rather concentrate on seeing something cheap. We took Mikes suggestion and had a drive up to Taos which was a small road with lots of character and spectacular scenery. Heading north we finally arrive in town which was coated in a light covering of snow and pulled up to the tourist information place for some maps and ideas of things to do. There was plenty of suggestions but highest on the list was the local Pueblo where the local Indian people live in traditional dwellings still. There was also the 3rd highest suspension bridge in the US nearby as well as drives around the snow capped mountains and trips up to the local ski fields. It looked like they we about to have a good season too but we were hardly prepared for skiing. That would have to wait.

After a wander around town and a coffee we headed up to the Pueblo to check that out and it was a lovely afternoon to walk around the mud houses with the crystal clear blue sky lighting up the snow covered buildings. It was $10 to get in as well as $5 for cameras and they seemed to be doing a roaring trade in traditional jewelry too with small shops dotted about the village. We were supplied with a small map with a self guided tour and we followed the school children as they jumped off the big yellow bus and ran home to their strange houses that looked like huge brown bricks at the feet of the nearby mountains. Round mud bread ovens gave off a few wisps of smoke and the local men shoveled show from the bridges that crossed the small, nearly frozen stream that ran through the town. We played with the local dogs who looked half like wolves before it was time to head back to Santa Fe before it got dark.

That night we posted a meeting on the Couchsurfing Santa Fe group and met a couple of locals, Amanda and Emma, again in the Cowgirl for a few beers and some more of their excellent food. It was karaoke night but I didn’t want to do Karaoke without Miriam and besides, non of the songs took my fancy at all. The selection was really rather poor so I was content to let the locals make fools of themselves instead. Dani was tempted to sing a Spanish song but in the end I couldn’t persuade her. Pity! The guy that had suggested dinner cancelled on us but still it was nice to sit and chat with other people, I was sure Daniella was getting sick of listening to my nonsense by now. I think Amanda and Emma had had enough after a few hours :p



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