I walked for an hour stopping a at gallery that caught my eye along the way. There was an amazing painting (US$5,500) of a country scene out a window. The artist had captured the light beautifully. So I bought it and continued along my way. Just joking Geoff!

I walked past some beautiful homes on the way up to the Santa Fe Photographic Workshops in Mt Carmel Rd. I collected my new flash that I had had shipped there- the ladies in the office treated me like a long lost daughter. The Workshops look very professional with great facilities so I am very motivated and excited about my upcoming study.

On the way back to town, I looked at a jewellery shop. There was a stunning necklace in silver and No.8 turquoise with lots of different shaped crosses hanging off it. It was a bargain at $3,999 but since I had already bought the painting, I had to go away and think about it.

It was great to skype this afternoon and see the girls' lovely faces with their wonderful Daddy. It was very funny when I said to Geoff "Amelie is jumping on the couch behind you naked". She was meant to be getting dressed for ballet. As usual, Alessandra kept poking her tongue out and Mahalia kept saying she missed me.

I went for another walk around this afternoon. I ate a beautiful lunch at Blue Corn Cafe. It was a combo meal of chicken enchilada, beef taco and chile relleno (green pepper stuffed with cream cheese, deep fried and drowned in cheese and red and green chile sauce. I had a Tequila Diablo on the side- long island Margarita made with four white liquors, gold tequila, lime juice and cranberry. It was kind of like margarita meets cosmopolitan in Long Island- heavenly.

The food here is amazing- Lesleigh, Tessa and Cari were so right about Mexican food in the States- I get it now Ladies. I won't be able to eat it in Wellington again. I'm not bagging out Welly because i love it, but they just don't get what Mexican is about.

After lunch, I discover the Santa Fe School of Cooking. I booked in for a class tomorrow to learn to cook New Mexican style brunch. The guy working there was trying to persuade me to skip class next Friday to go on the restaurant tour of Santa Fe. I will have to see what my class schedule is like.

I spent the afternoon checking out the jewellery for sale at The Palace of the Governors at the Plaza. The Portal Programme has 1000 native New Mexican tribal programme members who are jewellery makers and artists. Each day, there are nearly 80 spaces filled by members selling their work. The quality was imrpessive and the pieces are mostly signed. It was interesting talking to them. I bought way too much but the pieces were small.

I met a man calle Chris Chavez who told me about his travels to Europe in 1966 as part of his lingustics degree at UCLA. He spent a year travelling through Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Egypt, Morocco, Greece and Switzerland. In each country he and his fellow students were only allowed to communicate in the local language. Unfortunately, the University would not allow him to complete his degree in lingustics because even though he was fluent in English, Spanish and his tribal dialect, he could not write in all three. Instead, he majored in biology and worked as a scientist for many years. He was a jewellery maker on the side during those years.

It is fascinating to hear the stories of these artists, particularly about the way the craft is handed down from one generation to the next. I really like that there is a quality controlled artisan registration programme in place, not just for the sake of the artists' livelihood but also so the buyer can be assured that the product is genuine and that the artists are getting a fair price directly.

Sorry I can't tell you any funny stories from today. Unless you count the number of cowboy dudes strolling the streets with handle bar moustaches and too-tight jeans. I will try and get some sneaky photos. If I keep eating like this my jeans are going to be even tighter and my muffin-top more pronounced than usual.

I am keeping my eyes open for a Wal-mart so I can get some shots to send to our friends at peopleofwalmart.com Alternatively, I could walk around a Walmart and see if anyone thinks I am worthy of photographing for the website.

Signing out......

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written by  annwyn_tobin on March 5, 2010 from Santa Fe, United States
from the travel blog: Santa Fe Photography Workshops
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Annwyn how wonderful to hear all your news thus far....keep us updated and look forward to hearing all about your journey. Missed you in the torture chamber - it's just not the same but don't worry your place is being kept warm for you. Huge hug to you, will be inviting Geoff and the girls out.....love Maria

written by  nospam2 on March 6, 2010

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Hi lovely Annwyn, I am really enjoying your blog and hearing all the news. (have been laughing out loud and relaying bits to Robert). It all sounds fabulous, you brave warrior! Miss you loadsa, hugs & love, saskia xx

written by  Saskia Manktelow on March 6, 2010

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