GONE TO THE DOGS

It’s 6:30 in the morning and there’s something on the bed preventing me from stretching out. I give it a gentle nudge. Nothing. I twist around to face the mass. It’s breathing slowly. Well at least I don’t have to get out of bed yet. 

We’re in the hills above downtown Santa Fe, settled into a private compound and acting as the temporary guardians for two Black Labs and an assortment of fish tank occupants. 

After coffee and breakfast, the first order of business is to see how the dogs behave with us off-leash. So we load the crew into the K9 transporter and head for a short loop at the La Tierra trail system.

We quickly settled into a routine, starting with a little work followed by a morning urban or nature dog walk. After lunch (and email maintenance), we reserve afternoons for exploration, often with dogs in tow. Since we’re always checking out coffee shops, we had CrashMurderBusiness on our list. It’s a little off the beaten path (and it’s just little in general), but it has a great vibe and good coffee. 

The CrashMurderBusiness logo. There’s a good story behind the name. 

When we’re in Santa Fe we make it a point to view the latest exhibits at Site Santa Fe. As usual, this exceptional art space did not disappoint. The primary feature was a collection of pieces (experiences really) by Helen Pashigan, a pioneer in the light and space movement that began in the 1960s.

Adobe walls (or more recently, stucco over block) are one of the key components of Santa Fe’s pueblo-style architecture. These walls frame yards, define public and private spaces, and create intimate courtyards in what are often very tight living situations. Because this style is more organic than something built with less malleable materials, there are endless variations in construction, finish quality, and details. These walls, and imagining what might be behind them, are one of the many things that make urban Santa Fe interesting to explore. 

In many ways, the appeal of Santa Fe is reflective of the overall appeal of New Mexico in general. It’s a little off the radar; you often have to work to uncover its treasures. When you start digging, you’ll find narrow, twisting, dusty backstreets, crumbling adobe houses, hidden acequias, a vast trail system throughout many parts of town, and a collection of residents with backgrounds ranging from particle physics to art history.