Santa Fe Plaza, New Mexico, United States

5Nostalgiyeah 5:00 PM Oct 15, 2022

Quaint and charming plaza at the heart of Santa Fe
The Santa Fe Plaza is a beautiful adornment to the vibrant and colorful capital of New Mexico. This unique plaza is located in the heart of the city. The Palace of the Governors, Basilica of St Francis of Assissi and the New Mexico Museum of Art are all located within the plaza. There are a number of shops selling Native American jewelry dotting the plaza. There are a number of cafes, art galleries, ice cream shops, restaurants and shops selling local souvenirs around the plaza and the presence of all of these ensure that the area around the plaza is very vibrant and happening. There were a number of musicians, adding to the vibe of the plaza. The traditional architecture of the buildings around the plaza give it a unique feel. There is a park in the middle of the plaza with a few benches to sit on, it is a lovely spot to rest and soak in the vibe of the plaza. Canyon Road opens out from near this area, and it is an excellent place to walk around with its multiple art galleries. The St Francis Cathedral is an exquisite piece of architecture, I really enjoyed walking around the cathedral building. If you love photography, the Santa Fe plaza with its unique New Mexico architecture and combinations of colors is going to give you oodles of opportunities to show off your skills. I would highly recommend anyone to enjoy a stroll on the plaza with a coffee or enjoy a warm dinner at any of the restaurants that surround the plaza - a magnificent way to relax and enjoy probably the prime attraction Santa Fe has to offer!

4on_the_go_98765 5:00 PM Oct 21, 2021

In October, they celebrate Indigenous People's Weekend (instead of Columbus Day)
Our week-long stay at Otra Vez was only a couple of blocks away from the Plaza and we were fortunate to be there for the end of the Indian ceremonial dances and presentations. It's not as hectic a time of year as the Indian Festival is and this was an opportunity for the original people to demonstrate their heritage. We were really looking forward to a vendor's stand selling the Indian Fry Bread like they do when the summer festival is in full swing but there was only one lone little food cart selling tacos and other similar fare. We actually did get to see some of the authentic dances instead. The two performing groups were made up of young people dressed in ritual clothing accompanied by drums and chanting done by the elders. Typically, two elders and a group of 5 dancers would perform in front of the gazebo. Weather can take a rapid turn for the worst this time of year and it did. Rain put an end to the demonstrations immediately. Northern New Mexico can get like that (and it does). For us, we admired the outfits worn by the performers/dancers but wondered what the significance of the animal pelt hanging from the back of the male dancers' waists signified. Had it not been raining so hard, we most certainly would have asked! The young ladies wore beautiful dresses with scarves draped off their shoulders. Keeping the culture and the stories alive is such a valuable cultural gift that we were glad they shared with us all.