My day starts in a limo to the airport at 4:15 AM. Thinking ahead to mountain time, it’s a long day ahead. Flight is uneventful and with many children back in school, the airport is not as busy as earlier this summer. Note to self for the summer, travel on a Tuesday when the children are back in school. This trip is with my friend Shirley and my sister Judy. Shirley is picking me up at the Albuquerque airport where I quickly change from my traveling hiking boots to sandals. Temperature is 79 which is still warm when you are at 5200 feet elevation.

Before Judy arrives, Shirley and I are make a trip to a cemetery to visit relatives who are buried there – Shirley’s mother and step-father and Steve’s Uncle Bob, Aunt Betty and their children who have passed already. Their surviving daughter, Eden, provided me with the information for location. Last Summer, Steve gave a eulogy at Uncle Bob’s funeral in Oklahoma City, a tribute he felt very strongly about doing. I think of the Ross’s as my family too.

A beautifully laid out cemetery. Look in the background of the vista of Albuquerque., nice view. Not sure I’d like to be where the Applebee’s sign is hovering over me.

Back to the airport to pickup Judy and we are off to drive to Santa Fe on yet another interstate under construction – I-25. As we near, we see lots of lightning and dark clouds in the mountains. When we arrive at the Inn and Spa at Loretto, no rain. Accommodations are quite nice. The hotel was built on the original site of the former grounds of the Loretto Academy, a girls’ school and convent that was started in 1853 and operated until 1968.

The Loretto Chapel was completed in 1878 and is right next door to the hotel. We take a quick tour of the famous chapel with the staircase built without a nail by a traveling carpenter who was passing through the area. Every visit to Santa Fe includes this chapel because it is beautiful and the story never ceases to amaze me.

A short walk to the downtown plaza before we head to dinner. Santa Fe is filled with ‘eye candy’ because there is art everywhere. Even in our hotel throughout the lobby area and the ceiling in the living room area. I just love it.

Sadly the war memorial in the center of the plaza had an obelisk on it which was torn down during the crazy woke period in the early 2020’s. It was dedicated to Union Soldiers who died in the Civil War and Army Soldiers who died during the various American Indian Wars West of the Mississippi (1804-1924). Yep, trying to wipe out history.

Tomorrow breakfast at the Plaza Cafe, tonight dinner at Luminaria in the hotel. Delicious meal. Now, off to collapse after our long day.