Page 24 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL FALL 2021 DISCOVERING SANTA FE

ur senses kicked into overdrive in
Northern New Mexico. Food seemed
Oto taste better, margaritas definitely
were more potent. During the day, skies
seemed bigger and bluer, while at night, they
glowed brighter with clear stars and moon-
light. A lively soundtrack of street musicians,
Indian drums, and church bells greets your
ears as you wander the plaza in the old town.
Santa Fe is both exotic and familiar.
Santa Fe’s complex cultural mix is key to its
enchantment. At its heart are Native Ameri-
cans from 19 surrounding Pueblos, Spanish
families that have called the city home since
its founding, and pioneering European set-
tlers. Then add savvy entrepreneurs, culinary
magicians, artists of every stripe, musicians,
and a dash of rich and famous and you have
the Santa Fe of today.
Santa Fe has been around for a long time.
The Spanish conquistador Don Pedro de Per-
alta built a small European-styled community
here in 1609, more than a decade before the
Mayflower landed at Plymouth. It’s the oldest
capital city in the United States and the oldest
European community west of the Mississippi.

24 WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE FALL 2021