Sometimes when we visit a town we wish that we had read more about it before going. Such is the case with Santa Fe, New Mexico where we have visited many times over the past 30 years. We visit all the really great places and shrines and churches and really appreciate the architecture, etc.
When we visited last year we ran across a new published book about Gay Life in the Santa Fe Arts Scene written by Walter Cooper. It is a great history of Gay Life in Santa Fe particular in the art scene.
Walter was born in New York, got his B.A. in American Studies from Hobart College and worked in New York City and Tokyo for 10 years as a copywriter. but yearned for more out of life. He then moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico in the early 1970’s and as they say, the rest is history and what a rich life he has had in Santa Fe.
Like many of us, he enjoys “people” in all forms, shapes and sizes. Walter’s artwork has been exhibited in major galleries and private collections. His work in graphic design includes opera posters, book and record album covers, wool rug, greeting cards and postage stamps. He is the author of two previously published books.
Santa Fe has always been a haven for artists and writers, poets and sculptors and the rest of the arts including their famous Santa Fe Opera which has become a world renown Opera. It is located just to the north of Santa Fe in the high mountains and draws thousands of visitors each year. Santa Fe has it’s mountains and scenery and chapels and architecture but it is PEOPLE that makes a community and Santa Fe has had a very colorful history of people from all walks of life.” Why be like everyone else” would be a good description of the people in Santa Fe ?
Walter Cooper’s book of more than 250 pages, including over 80 photographs, tells about most all of the people that he has met in his many years living in Santa Fe. And what colorful characters he has met and partied with ! From Grande Dames to artists, writers, entertainers, and just people who live there. Often it is those people who are most interesting to be with.
He tells his readers about his social life as well as his personal life with the different lovers that he has had. He tells readers about the dozens and dozens over extremely interesting characters that has met and become friends with. Readers will really get involved with his stories and wish that they were there enjoying the life as he has lived and continues to live. You will be introduced to so many VERY interesting people. This is certainly a book that when you start reading, you cannot put down until the ending.
The one thing that readers need to take home with them from reading his book is that one can have the life that he has had anywhere that they live. One just has to enjoy people and get involved with people on different levels of life. Being ‘different’ is a good thing !
Walter Cooper has now lived in Santa Fe and he and his partner of many years, Doug live in the countryside near Santa Fe. Many book stores sell his books or you can purchase them from Amazon.com. After reading his book all we can say is that he has had a life, well lived. Readers should take heed and live their lives more fully. Walter certainly as had a life well lived. Next time you are going somewhere to visit, try learning about the ‘people’ before going there.
And when going to Santa Fe the best place to stay is El Farolito Bed & Breakfast Inn. They are located at 514 Galisteo which is just a few short blocks from the Plaza. Their website is: https://farolito.com/ and their phone is: 505.988.1631 or 888.634.8762. Owners Wayne Mainus and Walt Wyass have owned the Inn for nearly 20 years and they have guests that keep coming back all the time simply because they are the BEST ! If they are booked up, which they often are, they also have another B and B, The Four Kachinas Inn, just a few blocks away, https://fourkachinas.com/
And on top of everything else about Santa Fe, they have a very handsome and WONDERFUL Mayor, Javier Gonzales. Hopefully he will be the Governor one of these days.
Always remember to have fun when traveling, meet new people and talk to everyone!
TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS GAY WORLD is written by Donald Pile and Ray Williams, Award-winning, Celebrity travel columnists who write for gay publications from coast to coast (And now legally married).
Proud members of the IGLTA. You can email them at gaytravelers@aol.com and visit their website at http://gaytravelersataol.blogspot.com/
new mexico
TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS GAY WORLD: High Road to Taos
The High Road to Taos of course is the road from Santa Fe, New Mexico to Taos, New Mexico. Actually there are two different ways to drive from Santa Fe to Taos, the High Road or the regular highway. Most people take the High Road to Taos and then take the four lane highway back to Santa Fe. Taos is only 70 miles from Santa Fe and takes just a little over an hour to drive on the four lane highway however it can take 2 1/2 to four hours when taking the High Road which is a very small two lane road that winds thru different very small villages.
From Santa Fe take New Mexico highway 76 all the way to Taos. The High Road to Taos is a scenic, winding road through the Sangre de Cristo Mountains., It winds through high desert, mountains, forests, small farms and tiny Spanish Land Grant villages and Pueblo Indian villages with plenty of galleries and studios selling weavings, hand crafted pottery, woodwork, pottery, paintings, jewelry and other traditional art work of the region.
The first village is the Nambe Pueblo which is located about 15 miles north of Santa Fe. It has existed there since the 14th Century. We have been there many times and have seen their native Indian dances and festivals. All visitors and guests are invited to watch the different ceremonial functions that they have throughout the year.
The second village is Chimayo where the Ortega weavers are still producing high quality rugs, blankets and a sundry of other items which can be purchased from their gift shop. You will also find the 19th century Santuario de Chimayo Church, known as the “Lourdes of the Southwest” which attracts thousands of visitors every year.
Other small villages are Cordova, Truchas and Ojo Sarco which also have native American Indians selling their wares. In Las Trampas, they have one of the oldest churches in the country. It was founded in 1751 and is called Santo Tomas Apostol del Rio de las Trampas.
The village of Truchas is a remarkable village. When we were there many years ago, we got to meet Robert Redford who was directing his movie, The Milagro Beanfield War back in 1988. Of course all of these villages are very small however visitors are made welcome by all of the residents.
Then you will approach Taos, New Mexico and you can explore the sights and sounds of that town. Visit the major pueblo there as well as the entire town. Our favorite restaurant in Taos is Orlando’s which has been around forever. Their address is 1114 Don Juan Valdez Lane. Besides having the best authentic food in town they also have a very delicious special dessert, Frozen Avocado Pie!
Orlando’s is a very funky place and is always crowded. Their downtown plaza in Taos is a must see. After a driving trip on the High Road to Taos you will come back to Santa Fe with your camera full of photos of fabulous historical places where you have visited and toured. Even if you are not into religion, you will certainly appreciate all of the very old architecture of the area.
Then when you return to Santa Fe, ALWAYS stay at the Inn of the Farolito Bed and Breakfast, www.farolito.com It is the finest accommodations in Santa Fe. Wayne and Walt have owned and operated the Inn for many years and guests always stay with them whenever they return to Santa Fe. We have been visiting Santa Fe for over 30 years and always find it so refreshing and always see new things and meet new people every time we go back.
Always remember to have fun when traveling, meet new people and talk to everyone!
TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS GAY WORLD is written by Donald Pile and Ray Williams, Award-winning, Celebrity travel columnists who write for gay publications from coast to coast (And now legally married).
Proud members of the IGLTA. You can email them at gaytravelers@aol.com and visit their website at http://gaytravelersataol.blogspot.com/
Slip Away to Santa Fe
Long famed as a magnet for artists seeking sunny skies, Santa Fe conjures up images of Georgia O’Keefe, flashes of turquoise, and earthen architecture. So it should come as no surprise that the city has the most art galleries and museums per capita in the entire country.
Fewer people realize that Santa Fe is as much an adventure sports center as it is a haven for artistic pursuits. Come December, the dusty desert town takes advantage of its sky-high elevation and offers some first-class powder at Ski Santa Fe (SkiSantaFe.com) with none of the insane lift lines endemic to many resort towns.
Do a few runs on the beginner’s Santa Fe trail or risk it all on a black diamond, then hunker down at the lodge for a local beer. The perfect tonic for those apres ski sore muscles is Ten Thousand Waves (TenThousandWaves.com), a Japanese spa offering massages anchored around a communal soaking tub.
By Greg Garry – Full Story at Out
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White Sands, New Mexico – Globetrotter Girls
For my road trip from Tucson to Austin I was stoked about the two stops me and my passenger would make along the way: Big Bend National Park in Texas for the Santa Elena Canyon hike, and White Sands in New Mexico, which I had already visited during my New Mexico road trip a few years ago, and which I loved.
That shouldn’t come as a surprise – White Sands is a desert after all, and as many of you know I love deserts. White Sands with its bright white dunes is truly special, something I’ve never seen anywhere in the world (not even on photos of deserts around the world, but tell me if you know of any other white deserts so that I can add them to my travel wish list!).
I was excited to go on another hike in White Sands – and this time in a bit cooler weather (last time I came here it was over 100*F /38*C and we actually had to turn around before finishing the trail). Even though dune after dune might seem repetitive, no dune is like the other, and every time you climb up a dune, you have yet another sweeping view ahead of you.
By AUTHOR – Full Story at SOURCE
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