Erin French, proprietor, decorator, hostess, and cook is an artiste! Her restaurant officially opened with a 5-course meal in the beautifully renovated Freedom Mill, and it was flawless! Each item on the table had been carefully thought out, and each course lovingly prepared using the freshest of ingredients and cooked to perfection. I can’t wait it go back!
Category Archives: FOOD
Two extremes
We took a run out to Santo Domingo Pueblo – I was hoping to find some jewelry makers ‘open’, but no luck. Will stop over at the Plaza tomorrow where the portico of the Governor’s Palace is lined with amazing, licensed jewelers and artists. Photos are discouraged in the pueblo, but these are stealth-on the move shots.
We then drove to Canyon Road, the renowned ‘high end gallery strip’ in Santa Fe. The sculptures on display are amazing and, needless to say, there was n0 point delving too deeply into the galleries. – other than to view. The road itself is charming with the traditional adobe buildings.
We had to return to Jambo’s, the African restaurant we went to last week, for another amazing meal. I love that place!
The piece de la resistance was our first attempt at a memorable New Mexico sunset. We have seen beautiful sunsets all over the country, at home, and around the world, but I really wanted to experience one here!
Variety is the spice of life
The farmer’s market at Santa Fe’s Railyard district was fun – especially seeing the different types of beans and chili powders. Finished off the New Mexico History Museum at Governor’s Palace.
Sunday took us to Albuquerque to the Indian Cultural Center to see some native dances and view other exhibits, plus have a delicious lunch at their cafe and bakery.
Monday we took to the hiking trails in the mountains north of Santa Fe searching for some geocaches – success 3/3!!!
San Antonio, TX
A three-day interlude visiting friends on our drive from Maine to Arizona. The lovely warm weather, being able to sit outside, and their tremendous hospitality has made this a welcome break.
We took in some of the sights of San Antonio – the Alamo, Riverwalk, and two of the four missions on the Mission Trail.
Firstly the Alamo and Riverwalk.
And then to lunch at The Green restaurant at the Pearl Brewery complex and near the Culinary Institute of Arts.
I loved the pipe warmers!!!
Then on to the Mission Trail for Missions Concepcion and San Jose.
From Florence to Astoria, OR on Rte 101
We were lucky to have a spectacular day on November 30 to drive the coastal route to Cannon Beach. We spent so much time stopping and enjoying the scenery, having lunch, visiting cheese factories, tasting wine, etc. that we arrived in Cannon Beach too late to see Haystack Rock. Our hotel, The Wayside Inn, was very nice and we especially enjoyed the upgrade to a two bedroom suite with gas fire.
Unfortunately we awoke to drizzly, misty weather that turned to rain. The beach with crashing white surf and the rocks shrouded in mist was still worthwhile.
Day 10 – Cuzco
Before leaving the hotel we were treated to a “session” with a Shaman from Chinchera. He brought a bundle of offerings including coca leaves, which he distributed among us. After making his offerings and surrounding them with a piece of string and our coca leaves, he then wrapped up the bundle (for later burial on a mountain top) and blessed each one of us by touching it to our heads and doing a type of body scan with it!
Afterwards we drove out of town a little way to visit the Sacsayhuaman fortress, constructed of massive blocks of limestone (incan) with the largest weighing over 110lbs. Evidently, from the air, the complex resembles the head of a puma – one of the sacred animals (puma, condor, snake).
After our tour of the fortress we were entertained by a quartet of musicians who played their unique music whilst we stood in a fragrant eucalyptus grove. Preceding lunch, we had a demonstration on how to make the appetizer causa, which we later ate.
Day 7 – Sacred Valley (Ollantaytambo and Chinchera)
Our hotel (Casa Andina Private Collection) in Urubamba was a big surprise! Set in lush and beautiful gardens at the foot of a mountain constructed in chalet style with tile roof – beautiful!
We set off in the morning, in our first drizzle, for the ruins of an Incan Emporer at Ollantaytambo. What a magnificent site! We were some of the first tourists there and gradually climbed the steep stone steps ,to the sun temple and with fantastic views over the entire site. The intricacy, precision and fine work of those Incan engineers is absolutely mind-boggling – and all without the use of machinery, metal blades, cranes, etc. Our mascot dog (named Trooper by Nicole) stayed with us the entire time.
From there we headed into the hills to Chinchero where our first stop was at a small village school. The children were adorable and ranged in ages from 2-8 (it also serves as a day care). They sang for us and kindly let us take their photos. The school is supported, in part, by Gate 1 Travel who give a percentage of our tour price.
Then on to a weaving cooperative where we were also served a delicious lunch followed by a demonstration of the washing, dyeing, spinning, and weaving process. The host ladies were extremely gracious and the setting was lovely. Oh! And did I mention that Guinea Pig can frequently be found on the menu?
Day 5 – land and water around Lake Titikaka
An amazing day seeing the way the people of this Lake Titikaka area live. Our first stop alongside the road, on our way from Puno to the lake, was to watch a woman braiding rope from the tortura reeds which grow in the lake. Apart from the rope, she also makes mattresses from the reeds which are used by everyone on their stone beds – the reed mattress is covered with a layer of wool, and then blankets. Evidently she can make about six of these a day and each one sells for 15 soles ($5.50 or so).
we continued on using winding, country roads seeing the farmers preparing their fields with oxen and ploughs, bending over to manually weed and work getting ready to plant. We ended up at the delightful village of Liquina where we walked down from the road, through the village to our lunch host, the village mayor/elder/shaman who sees the benefit of tourism and has started a small B&B! A table was set up for us overlooking the lake and we were served the typical quinoa soup, lake trout and a variety of potatoes cooked by his daughter. Afterwards, he and his son played some music and we had a Q&A session that was both fun and informative.
After lunch we strolled to the lakeside for a boat ride back to Puno via the floating Uros villages Where the entire floating village is built from the tortura reeds. Amazing!
Day 2 – Arequipa
After a good dinner and night’s sleep we were running on fully charged batteries for our tour today, which took us to San Carmelo market, the cathedral and Plaza des Armes, and the gorgeous Santa Catalina monestary.