New Mexico: The Second Part of Our Summer Vacation (Finally!)

New Mexico: Colorful. Inspiring. Breathtaking.

If you can recall, back in mid-August we visited our friends Candis and Lyndon and their daughters in El Paso. They were fantastic hosts and drove us to Albuquerque and Santa Fe while we were on vacation. (We cannot thank them enough for their willingness to show us the Southwest.)

We stayed two nights at Casa de Suenos, a charming, yet very eclectic little bed and breakfast in Albuquerque. Our suite walls displayed asian art while our beds adorned converters and blankets with Native American colors and designs. I would have never thought to combine the two looks but it worked well with the rustic foundation of the room. The gardens and colors of Casa de Suenos were gorgeous – I fell in love with the turquoise door around the corner from our suite.

While in Albuquerque, we went up Sandia Peak Tramway, the world's longest passenger tramway. Miles showed no fear as we were pulled along the 2.7 mile long cable and looking (at the highest peak) 10,378 feet down. At the top, a measly 10,378 feet in elevation, we grabbed hot chocolate and coffee at High Finance Restaurant and Tavern. According to the sign above the bar, the restaurant is the highest in the world. Even though we went at dusk and it was slightly overcast, the view overlooking Albuquerque was stunning. Our trip down the mountain was in darkness and a tad spooky, but once again Miles didn't seem to mind. He fell asleep in my arms.



A trip to New Mexico wouldn't be complete without a stop in Santa Fe. We walked around the town square and visited numerous shops, perused multiple jewelry and art vendors on the streets and visited Loretta Chapel to see the "miraculous staircase." Legend says that the Sisters of the Chapel prayed for a set of stairs to the choir loft – one day a carpenter appeared, built one and left. However, "the staircase design was innovative for its time and the design considerations still perplex experts today. The staircase has two 360 degree turns and no visible means of support."