Santa Fe, NM

[Tyo]

What's it like there? Is the weather good? Is it a good place to get some sun during the winter? Is real estate expense? Are there scorpions there?

[wildhorses]

1. why? are you moving there?

:shrug:

[Tyo]

3. Not sure, maybe at some point.

We are looking for a nice WARM place, but not a massive polluted oven like Phoenix, where we could afford a little condo. I should probably post on the New Mexico board too. Should be gay friendly and relatively scorpion free.

[Floogeldy]

2. I saw The Roches there, late eighties.

Great town.

:)

[Tyo]

5. I just checked them out on AMG

They're nice. What did you like about Santa Fe?

[Floogeldy]

7. Small, clean, artsy, pretty.

;)

[Hand]

4. Short answers:

Weather: Generally beautiful, but VERY dry and sometimes blazing hot. Gets fairly cold in the winter as well, but rarely subzero.

Winter sun: Plenty of it, but it's cold in winter.

Real estate: Last I looked, astronomical.

Scorpions: No doubt, but not all that common in paved areas.

Overall: A beautiful, unique historical city with strong Native and Hispanic roots that's regrettably under assault by whitebread yuppies.

Hope this helps!

[Tyo]

6. Sounds great

except for the cold-in-winter part. Well, the real estate part doesn't sound that promising either. Hmmm.

[Hand]

11. You should definitely visit!

Santa Fe and New Mexico generally are among my favorite places in the world--extraordinary mix of cultures, beautiful wild landscape, and a sort of odd combination of elegance and funk. My parents retired there and lived there for many years, so I was down there a lot when I lived in Colorado. They don't call it the Land of Enchantment for nothing! :loveya:

I should mention, BTW, that New Mexico is one of the poorest states in the US, and the contrast between the wealthiest and poorest people is particularly vivid there. It really was supposed to be part of Mexico, but got grabbed off in 1846 along with California, Arizona, etc. :hi:

[Tyo]

14. I think we need to visit

Sounds like the kind of town we'd be comfortable in except I had no idea about the poverty. That's not good. But that aside you obviously love it and that's a good sign when people are really excited about a place

[fizzgig]

8. can't speak to any of that

but the margaritas and green chile were fantastic.

it was too dry even for me and i'm a dry-climate girl

[momophile]

9. awesome. beautiful. great spa.

Stay a night at Ten Thousand Waves - rocks!!

[lizziegrace]

10. I've driven through

on my way to SW Colorado from Albuquerque. It's very dry and in late September, it was pretty warm. I wish I'd had more time to look around.

ZombieNixon knows that area.

[Tyo]

12. Where is the nicest sunniest warmest place to hang out

for an occasional long winter weekend away from the PNW rain? A place that doesn't cost too much or take too much time to get to.

[speedoo]

13. Probably southern cali.

Not my favorite area, by any means, but it's probably your best bet. I hear Santa Barbara is nice.

[Floogeldy]

15. Fucking smog-filled, cramped shitty place.

Go with Santa Fe, instead.

;)

[Tyo]

17. Sad, but probably true

But gotta be realistic I guess

[Tyo]

16. For practical purposes you are probably right

Since our own private jet is nowhere in sight we'll do what we can with our Alaska miles and call it good. B-)

[begin_within]

19. I'll tell you a secret beautiful place that is warm and sunny in winter.

The part of the Colorado River south of Parker Dam and north of the city of Parker, Arizona. It has large red rock walls on both sides of the river, and the river is turquoise. There are numerous resorts all along and there are campgrounds in the area. There are plenty of places to stay and eat in Lake Havasu City, about 20 miles north, but Lake Havasu City is flat, boring and touristy. The area between Parker Dam and Parker is the prettiest spot in the whole stretch of the Colorado River between Hoover Dam and the Gulf of California. Not a whole lot to do there except river-type activities like swimming, boating, waterskiing. The surrounding area is desert. It's usually in the 60s or even 70s in the winter, but way too hot in the summer. Look on a map for the easternmost edge of California and that's where I'm talking about. Here's one picture of the area:

[Tyo]

20. Wow! nt

[tigereye]

31. every year I toy with the idea of going to a prof conference there

there seem to be pleasant and affordable hotels....

[Whoa_Nelly]

18. You can get sun there in winter, but it does get cold...high altitude

Santa Fe is one of my favorite places! Was just there in June, and spent a Thanksgiving weekend there a couple of years ago.

It is expensive to buy a home there, but there are so many really cool places, and great people. I love downtown and all the art galleries. There are great places to eat, and many events throughout the year.

There are probably scorpions, but have never thought of it as much as a problem compared to when I've lived in Tucson.

[Tyo]

21. Everyone seems to love Santa Fe

It sounds really nice and I think we need to go there, but the cold might kill it for us as a winter escape...

[catmandu57]

22. I don't know about Santa Fe, but

Taos is just north of there and it's a great little town. Very liberal, very artsy, maybe more gay friendly, there is an alternative newspaper called the Horsefly that you may want to look at, just type in The horsefly in search and it will find it.
If my wife's feet weren't set in concrete I'd be there tomorrow.

[bmbmd]

23. :My favorite city in the world...

Douglas Adams says that anyone who doesn't visit Santa Fe is a fool. Love the galleries, love the opera, love the climate. Try the Blue Corn Cafe, the Atomic Grill, and the Coyote Cafe. Nice little ski basin, great trout fishing nearby.

[ceile]

24. God's country

Not too deserty like Albuquerque, Taos and the ski valley are about an hour drive, one of the most gorgeous opera houses I've ever been to (it's an outdoor amphitheater) and the people are very nice.
I can't think of anything bad to say. Well, except the dryness-I think the humidity is in the negative there. :)

[Ryano42]

25. Crisp Air, Progressive People, Great Food...

Lived here on and off my whole life...graduated from SFHS and somehow found gainful employment!

(Education worse than national average)

More artsy fartsy and faux chic...much less down to earth in the last decade. And VERY EXPENSIVE to rent or own housing..unless you come from NYC! Jobs are low paying mostly... :(

Did I mention the FOOD? :9

[bmbmd]

26. Let's talk about the FOOD!!!

What's good with you, el loro?

[Tyo]

27. good idea! nt

[Ryano42]

28. There is Comida por Touristas

Then there is down home NM food!

Try to go to a lesser known places like the Horseman's Haven and The Shed for cuisine that is a bit more Santa Fe...

Though Coyote Cafe and such are great on anniveraries and such! :9

[Tyo]

29. So what is "down home" NM food? nt

[Ryano42]

30. Hmm

Mexican food...hot but with tons of flavor. Not like TexMex at all.

Enchiladas,


Burritos,


Carne Adovada (pork marinated in chile)


and SOPAPILLAS with honey!!!! :9


And a lot more!

[tigereye]

32. oh, those look luscious

I want to go there now!

[Ryano42]

35. Have it come to you! (for now)

http://www.foodsofnewmexico.com/ :)

[Mike03]

33. All I know is that

The greatest living writer, Cormac McCarthy, lives in Santa Fe. If I didn't love Arizona so much, I would seriously consider New Mexico. The rumor is that there are great bookstores and good sources of Indian artifacts, if you are into that sort of thing (my parents are, and they visit about once a year). Good museums, I hear, as well.

[TheCentepedeShoes]

34. I like Santa Fe

and Taos is nice too.