Following an event-filled train ride from Vancouver, through the Canadian Rockies, to Toronto ( including delays that made us two days late for our next destination ; see "A Digression" posting above), we finally arrived in Santa Fe, New Mexico (where the surprises continued ; arriving at 9:30 pm, in an unfamiliar town and state, there were no taxis from the airport, because they went bankrupt: most places don't let Uber pick up at the airport, but luckily for us, Santa Fe does). Situated in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo (Meaning "The Blood of Christ" because of their reddish hues seen at sunrise and sunset) mountains, Santa Fe is the fourth largest city in the state.. This area had been inhabited by the Tanoan indigenous peoples for thousands of years, and called it "Oghapoge" or "White shell water place." One of their earliest known settlements was situated right where Santa Fe is now. The Spaniards colonized the area in the early 1600's, calling it "Santa Fe" - meaning "Holy Faith". Its formal name is "La Villa Real de la Santa Fe de San Francisco de Asis" ( "The Royal City of the Holy Faith of Saint Francis of Assisi"). Don Pedro de Peralta, in 1607, designed the settlement that would become the capital of the province of New Spain, later Santa Fe, making it the oldest state capital in the U. S. Following the Pueblo Revolt of 1680, the Spanish were driven out by the indigenous natives, until 1692, when the Spaniards reconquered it and made it part of Mexico. By 1824, Mexico had achieved independence from Spain. Twelve years later, Texas seceded from Mexico and claimed Santa Fe as part of western Texas; thus, leading to war with Mexico in 1846. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848 gave the area of New Mexico and Texas to the United States. New Mexico became the 47th state in 1912. Known for its pueblo style architecture, Santa Fe maintains its unique appearance.
The Plaza in the center of town marked the official end of the Santa Fe Trail ( commercial route from Independence, Missouri to New Mexico).
Adobe Pueblo style architecture is the prevailing look for Santa Fe.
Today, it also serves as the home to the famous Farmers' Market; largest such market in the U.S.