Christmas Eve in Santa Fe

Our stockings are hung by the ice bucket with care.
In hopes that Santa soon will be here.

Happy Christmas... I'll let you know of the  success or otherwise of the stocking hanging.

A stroll along Canyon Road

Santa Fe sits atop the ruin of a thousand year-old Indian pueblo where women made pottery in the Anasazi / Tewa tradition; an art that continues to the present day in the surrounding pueblos.
Spanish settlers brought their folk art traditions of carved and painted religious images, called bultos and santos, as well as skill in blanket weaving, furniture making, blacksmithing, and tinwork.

 The unique mingling of fine art galleries with gracious adobe homes on winding, shaded streets is the essence of Canyon Road’s charm.

We strolled back, avoiding the black ice and snowy patches, to our hotel via the shaded the road one block south of Canyon Road and enjoyed the ancient stone-lined canal and the beautiful adobe homes, which have depended on it for centuries.

Snow on adobe

 Having traveled to Santa Fe for the first time in 2005 and seeing the photos of snow on the buildings and surrounding area I have always wanted to be here to see it.

This year Michele and I decided we'd meet somewhere else for Christmas. She thought it would be warm in Santa Fe!
It snowed the evening we arrived and overnight.

The sun was warm when it was out so the snow quickly melted. But the way the snow added a lovely white line on the buildings and surrounds made for fun photographing it all. 

We chose to eat inside at the restaurant.

Getting back

 In an effort to get back into blogging I have been thinking that I don't need to go through all the hassle of uploading all my photos but to select and think about them.
However even that has gotten away from me so here are a few photos with little commentary.

 The Christmas tree at Christiansted Government House

The marine and boating community on St. Croix invites residents and visitors to come out and enjoy a unique evening watching beautifully decorated boats sail through the Christiansted Harbor. The Annual St. Croix Boat Parade  has become a tradition among the local community.
 

The boat parade began at 6:00.
 
St. Croix's annual boat parade has been featured on the Travel Channel. Every year, dedicated St. Croix boaters organize this event for the St. Croix community and it has become one of the biggest boat parades in the Caribbean.

Looking up

 There is looking up from our spot on the roof having drinks

 Then there is looking down

 And looking and pointing up 

And then there is...

Looking forward through your telescope

 

And looking off to the right through your telescope

A shrimp on a barbie...

 ... this is so NOT an Australian expression. It's all Paul Hogan and the Australian Tourist Commission's fault.

But when traveling during my last trip home I did see some of our indigenous animals and some of  these roos seemed to be saying... "did you say throw a shrimp on the barbie?"

School Daze

 School really begins for me in September so a calendar is essential

The other essential is a notebook- for the past few years i have been creating books using snapfish and my travel photos. Helps stay focused on what i want to do in my free time- ie photography and travel!