Enjoying your tip report, and your pictures, Nikki!
If there is a Cape GTG, I will let you know. Have not heard from Sheila, so perhaps there will be not enough time for her.

Jbee, OK, this is why the internet makes for such a small world. Great food at Johnny's, by the way, and they seemed like nice people. Whew, glad I didn't hate it and say so in a public forum. 'Cause you never know who's reading. When I posted my Barcelona trip report, a Fodors poster who lives there recognized a friend of hers in my pictures. Something to keep in mind.

There's actually a school in Las Vegas? I guess it must be a bigger town than it looked.

Capecodshanty, thanks for keeping me posted. I know Sheila is going to have lots of company during her stay, so it might indeed be hard for her to schedule.

Nikki,

I loved your trip report. It has a nice rolling quality to it which puts te reader right there in the mix.

Hotel Santa Fe is my all time favorite hotel. I always stay there. I have never used teh shuttle though, as I don't find the walk all that long. Cowgirls is my favorite restaurant. I become the unofficial tour guide when dining there, as I know most of the back history of the women in the photographs. The Ice ceam baked potato is absolutely addicitive.

Bandelier is a great place to explore, although I think it takes at least two days to explore it properly. JOhnny's Kitchen is a great find for those brave enough to venture off the highway.

Thanks for sharing your trip! It has made me want to book a flight, catch ashuttle and spend a long weekend in Santa Fe!

Take Care,

Bit Devine

"Cowboy Craic - Call it Cowboy or Celtic, either way its one heckuva good time"

Such nice memories for me to read your trip! (After I type, I'll look at the pics!)
My college boyfriend's parents (cousin's uncles' dog ;)) live in Los Alamos and Lake Abeque (sp?). We'd drive from Boulder, to NM, then on the Texas when he moved there. Lovely, never-ending roads and highways. I have wonderful memories of camping near Bandalier with the Colorado Archeological Society (ironic, in NM)and eating at Gabriel's restaurant in Santa Fe. (my car is named Gabriella, after our last trip there). Taos Pueblo was lovely as well with two of our visits there. Your depiction was right on. La Veta is tremendous, I want to live there someday. The whole are is dynamic and very spiritual. Holy for Native American Indians, Buddists and Christians near Great Sand Dunes in SoCo. Fort Garland is neat to tour if given the chance, I recommend it. You are lucky to have done the trip together.

Hi, Nikki,
I'm coming upon this now as we prepare for and Oct. college visit trip between CO Springs and Sta Fe. Lovely report! I like your wit. Do the elk and the bikes turn around at border?One must chuckle.
Northern NM is my old stomping grounds. Ah, and wasn't Santa Fe different years ago, in a grittier time? I'm still hoping my daughter likes St. John's. Santa Fe always seemed to retain some integrity even as monied people poured in.

My Midwestern husband and two daughters and I visited NM when the girls were 3 and 5, and leaving Gallup he insisted that we not take the time to get drinks or groceries before heading north on 666 towards Canyon de Chelly. Why should we; there are convenience stores everywhere. Accused me of being obsessed with food.
Many hrs later he began to realize we weren't in St. Louis County anymore. When I read that the women in the Donner Party tried to argue for waiting until Spring to cross the Rockies, I nod knowingly.

Thanks for the nice comments, stokebailey. Enjoy your college trip. St. John's is a fascinating school.

Donner party, ha. I´m in Madrid right now, and drove here the other day from Portugal with my husband. When the gas low warning sounded, I started flashing back to Wagon Mound. Same result, thank goodness, we got to the gas station in time.

bookmarking

Glad you had a good trip to Denver and Santa Fe. I love the margaritas at the Cowgirl.

Just one piece of useful info. Never go back home for your boarding pass. You can ALWAYS reprint at the airport. Just use one of the airline kiosks and request reprint of your boarding pass. That way you won't have to worry about making up for lost time.