SANTA FE,
NEW MEXICO:

It’s all about
the burritos.

Chrystie Hopkins
Published 11/15/03

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Flying into New Mexico is an amazing experience. I have become so accustomed to the rolling hills of New England covered with deciduous trees, that the terrain I first saw from my plane window, as we made our approach into Albuquerque, blew my mind.

Flat desert-like space extends for hundreds of miles. This vast expanse is occasionally broken by enormous mountains poking from the dry earth to reveal thousands of years of development and erosion. The terrain is speckled by sage and an occasional evergreen. Although sparse, the land is also very inviting. The incredible openness incites an overwhelming feeling of freedom and escape.

We flew into the Albuquerque International Airport, because the airfare into the Santa Fe airport was twice as much. Plus, the 60 mile drive from Albuquerque to Santa Fe provided a great opportunity to experience the vast openness.

Upon arrival into Santa Fe, you can see the immediate difference between Santa Fe and Albuquerque. Santa Fe does not have any sky scrapers or modern buildings. The city has retained its classic architectural style and maintained the atmosphere of the small western town. Santa Fe has a culturally rich and diverse history. The Pueblo, Spanish and Anglo influence is still visible today in the interweaving of old and new architecture and tradition.

Santa Fe has approximately 75,000 inhabitants, but tourists make up the biggest population of people walking the streets of downtown Santa Fe. The small downtown area is full of shops, restaurants and galleries. If you are looking for a weekend of viewing fine art, sculpture and photography, this is the place. The artist community is alive and strong. While most of the art was well out of my price range, I have to assume that someone is buying, providing the artists and gallery owners their livelihoods.

There are many restaurants to choose from when it gets to be grub time. This is a place where there is a specific and proud distinction between Mexican food, Southwestern, Spanish and, my favorite, Northern New Mexican. Considering that you are in northern New Mexico, I would recommend going this route. As a “Mexican” food connoisseur of sorts, I was amazed by the food at the Burrito Company located on Washington street in the heart of downtown. By every definition, this is a fast food burrito joint, which in any other city, would fall in the same category as Qdoba or Chipotle. Let me tell you the last two restaurants mentioned do not even deserve to be listed anywhere near the Burrito Company. A bean burrito is a bean burrito, right? Wrong. You have not had a burrito until you have been to the Burrito Company. Did I mention the Burrito Company? Go there!

If you are in search of a weekend that is full of never ending excitement, a rush of information and sites to absorb, New Mexico might not be the place for you. Santa Fe is slow. That is part of the charm. You must force yourself to slow down to New Mexico time and relax. Breathe in the clean, dry air. Soak up the sun and enjoy the clear blue sky.

Santa Fe is surrounded by the Carson National Forest to the east and the Santa Fe National Forest to the west, both great places to check out that blue sky and surrounding vistas. The Sangre de Cristo mountains are nature’s playground and an important part of what makes Santa Fe so amazing. The 13,101 foot Truchas Peak takes the prize for being the tallest of the Sangre de Cristos and is often climbed by avid hikers and mountaineers. (Continued on page 2, below.)