Most of us will likely recognize the flag New Mexico. What I didn't know until today was the meaning of the Zia Sun Symbol it features. To the Zia, four was a sacred number. The symbol represents the four directions, the four times of day, the four stages of life, and the four seasons. All are bound together by the circle of life. For many years, children in New Mexico schools recited the morning salutation: "I salute the flag of the State of New Mexico and the Zia symbol of perfect friendship among united cultures." Beautiful.
The architecture of the Santa Fe flows in very pleasing lines.
The St. Francis Cathedral accents the foot of West San Francisco Street.
The New Mexico Museum of Art, seen here, is a work of art in itself.
The monument at the Center of the Plaza was built in 1866 and dedicated to, "The Heroes of the Federal Army who Fell at the Battle of Valverde", the first of the Civil War Battles fought on New Mexico soil. Plaques on the other three sides commemorate other battles between the states and with Native Americans.
Here, on the walk outside the Palace of the Governors, Native Americans exhibit their beautiful craftwork.
Even the park benches are fascinating.
These are the work of Bill Worrell. They are based on cave paintings that he encountered by accident. This one has stood outside his gallery in the background for twenty-five years.
These knives and the corkscrew were featured at a shop just off the plaza. Ted admired a set of steak knives, but quickly realized that at $500 for a set of four, he would never allow anyone to actually cut a steak with them.
From the plaza, we went to Canyon Road. It is a very narrow, one way for most of its length, road that is lined with gallery after gallery.
One thing that became apparent very quickly was that the week that we had planned to spend here would be insufficient. It seems likely that we will return.
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