So we're somewhere different again.
I suppose that's the way these road trip things work.
I am writing this from a cheap road-side (and cowboy themed) motel just on the outskirts of Santa Fe. Assuming you knew as little about the place as I did before I came here, allow me to enlighten you with the knowledge I have gleamed about this city in the previous two days. It's the oldest capital city in the country and is nestled comfortably in the mountains at 10,000 ft so wherever you look there is a breathtaking view. It's picturesque setting lures artists from all over the country to move here and live a bohemian lifestyle fannying around in the hundreds of art galleries that line the narrow streets.
And it certainly lives up to the 'artistic' cliche. Every available wallspace has been adorned with the brushstrokes of painted murals, people walk around with paintbrushes deliberately poking out of their trouserpockets, and this evening on the plaza someone had managed to drag a harp onto the grass so they could out-pretentiousness everyone else by playing it whilst simultaneously singing opera. It's like the Mecca for all middle-class people trying to reject their upbringing by believing they have more talent at their hobby than they really do and attempting to make it in a career.
Can you tell I'm maybe not the hugest fan of the place? It's a shame because Santa Fe has been so built up by every American we've spoken to. Since Miami we've been told how beautiful/fabulous/artistic/inspiring the place is - but personally I find it a little lacking in soul. I mean, it's beautiful, but it's so..discovered. You can't breathe for the tourists swarming the streets (Yes - I know I am one so therefore I'm a giant hypocrite yadda yadda yadda), their arms bursting with overpriced (and largely pretty crap) artwork they've bought. Then traffic is terrible. The drinks are overpriced. In fact, everything is overpriced. So much so that Rich and I's dinner tonight consisted of a cereal bar, some nuts, and a can of V8 juice. But hey, what do I know? If the city was enough to lure the likes of Georgia O'Keefe and D.H. Lawrence then maybe I'm missing something.
The nature is still pretty good though. We took the scenic road here called 'The Turquoise Trail' which was utterly breathtaking and very fun to drive. Lots of swerving and steep drops and I longed for a stick-shift so I could tear it up more.
Today we retreated to the mountains and braved open nakedness so the sake of a more spiritual experience. We went to a Japanese spa called '10,000 waves' and its sole existence has made me warm to Santa Fe. For the small sum of $18 each, we were handed large kimonos and given unlimited time in the water pools. Set with the mountains as a backdrop we could use the hot spa bath, wet and dry saunas, plunge pool and sundeck while we watched hummingbirds buzz around us. Amazing. The place was so posh that the toilet seats were heated (!?) and had a button you could push to get your arsehole washed with a water jet!!!! The only slight drawback was that swimwear was optional and nobody was opting to wear it. There was a communal tub - which was supposed to be men and women's - but all the women were in the ladies-only tub. So when I tentatively entered with Rich in tow I was surrounded by more willies than a prostitute on a Friday night. Seriously - these men weren't shy about whacking it out there and dangling it in and out of the water like a Tetley teabag. I lasted about five minutes before I whispered to Rich I would meet him in two hours and hastily ran over to the ladie's-only tub, safe in the knowledge I will never want to eat any sort of sausage casserole ever again. Ewww.
So that's Santa Fe. Not my most uplifting of blog entries so sorry. Tomorrow we're driving to a smaller mountain town called 'Taos' and have made the brave decision to stay in an 'Earthship'. More details to follow in next blog - but I think it's going to be a strange couple of days.
Hope you are all well and not too pissed at the football. I am having to re-watch the game for the third time now in the motel room. Sigh.
Lots of love
Holly xxx
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