The Happy Wanderer

While wandering the Plaza in downtown Santa Fe, I stopped at Kiran's booth where she was selling some of her original watercolors and acrylic paintings. She has been living in Santa Fe for the past sixteen years and her subject matter focuses on downtown storefronts, churches, and portraits of people and animals. Kiran has visited many countries:  India, Spain, Greece, Nigeria, England and Sweden. In 2001 she earned a vendor license to display her work in the Plaza, directly across from the Palace of the Govenors on Palace Avenue.

War Memorial

The Plaza is the central attraction in downtown Santa Fe, and in its center is a tall Obelisk with an interesting history.  To see a photo of the Obelisk, click here. According to the Nile Guide, a travel website with interesting facts about Santa Fe, 

The obelisk in the center of the Plaza is called the Indian War Memorial Monument, and was erected in the 1860s to honor Federal troops killed in battles with Native Americans and Confederate forces. The inscription originally made reference to "savage Indians," but sometime in the 1970s a man dressed in a suit chiseled the word "savage" from the marble inscription. There are also pockmarks left by bullets in the monument. [I wonder why "dressed in a suit" is important in this explanation?]

Another website claims that the obelisk had been erected in honor of the men who fought in the Civil War and is called the Civil War Memorial.

Richard

Richard was sitting on a park bench in the Plaza in Santa Fe when I approached him.  He told me that he has been living here for 16 years, leaving Denver, Colorado to join one of the most beautiful women in the world.  She's still beautiful, but they are no longer together although they are both still residing in Santa Fe. I didn't press him for more details and he didn't offer any. I'd bet that there is an interesting story behind that!!

Coal-February Theme Day, 2012

I met Coal on a bright, sunshiny day in the Plaza.  Thinking that a dog with goggles is a bit unusual, I talked to the owner who informed me that Coal has a serious degenerative eye disease called pannus.  The sun could blind him if his eyes are not protected. He is a patient and loving animal.




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Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Student from Minnesota

While checking out the Plaza for some interesting photos, I met Zach.  Another coincidence; he was visiting from Mounds, Minnesota.  He told me that he'll be staying here for a short while because "his lady" moved here and is working at St. Vincent's Hospital  Shortly, tho, Zach all be returning to Minnesota to resume his nursing studies at the University of Minnesota- Mankato.

The Sweetest Face

Sometimes people in the Plaza quickly approach and just as quickly walk by.  While people-watching, I noticed a beautiful young woman with the sweetest face approach and pass by the bench on which I was sitting.  I was a bit surprised at the tattoo she sported on her back...just didn't seem to fit my first impression of  her "Madonna-like" face.

Busker

The Plaza is filled with buskers during fiestas, festivals, and art shows.  

Street Buskers

Very different from the summer months, Santa Fe in the winter seems to have less sunshine and more clouds, but the culture remains the same! I was quite surprised to see these street buskers entertaining in the Plaza on Sunday morning--it's not a common sight. If it's a festival or market, there is cultural entertainment, but I haven't seen buskers before; but then again, I'm not here year round. The music and song were a pleasant experience and brightened the cloudy sky that day.  Weather at this time of year is more than interesting.  The sun which seems to be constant in the summer by contrast in February shines brightly for awhile and then the clouds roll over the bright orb. It's a mixture of weather elements.  The sun, however, appeared to be brighter and lasted longer yesterday than it has since we've arrived.