5/18/12- What Are You Doing in Our Hot Tub??

"Our" hot tub at El Rey

This morning, mom and Becky got up early to go back to the iris farm to make a few purchases. Since she had to choose from photos, it'll be a surprise to see what the flowers actually look like. I'm sure they will be beautiful.


Once we packed up we said goodbye to Becky and Alexa and headed to Santa Fe. The ride up was uneventful and long. We got to Santa Fe around 3 pm and were surprised to find that the city rolls up the sidewalks around 4:30-5, even on weekends. Even in the short amount of time we had to drive and walk around I really liked Santa Fe. The entire downtown is a GIFT SHOP ALERT! Even the streets and plazas are filled with artisans showcasing their wares. It is an old-style Spanish town, built around a plaza, filled with gift shops, galleries and cafes. You could spend several days just exploring the narrow one-way streets (I'd suggest walking as driving can be frustrating) and discovering great little restaurants and shops. 

One definite recommendation we can give in Santa Fe is the El Rey Inn. It's a Route 66 staple that has grown into a 5 acre complex complete with a "junior olympic pool" and two hot tubs (one right across from our room). It is not the typical 66 motel price but the grounds are beautiful, our room was spacious and free breakfast was pretty good too!


 For dinner we had read in Road Food (a great guide for great food on the road) that the Plaza Cafe, conveniently located on the plaza, had a great quesadilla, and we were super excited. Unfortunately, a fire had destroyed the interior and it was still being renovated. However, a helpful shopkeeper informed us that there is a second location so we could "get our fix." The food was good but the quesadilla we were craving wasn't on the menu! I guess we'll have to go back to the original this winter...


Until we meet again, C