I know, I still owe you the story of my travels from NY to DC, the hang in DC and my time in West Virginia. I also need to fill in on my trip from Pittsburgh to Santa Fe, or as I like to call it- "The GreyHound chronicles". Nevertheless, for now we'll just skip straight to Santa Fe.
Arrived in Santa Fe at 10pm on Friday. When I asked about a cheap campground around- all I got from the GreyHound dude (and I do mean DUDE) was a slow shake of his head to the beat of whatever MTV clip he was watching instead of trying to give me directions.
So I found myself walking at night through the main drag of Santa Fe- and let me tell you- it didn't seem very friendly.
Stopped at a gas station and bought a loaf of bread and some peanut butter. You can't really go bad with peanut butter, now can you? The woman at the station was nice enough to direct me towards the motel area of town. After a bit of a walk, I found myself at 10:45pm checked into a motel, watching a bad western on a fuzzy TV, and having my dinner of PB sandwiches.
So I found myself walking at night through the main drag of Santa Fe- and let me tell you- it didn't seem very friendly.
Stopped at a gas station and bought a loaf of bread and some peanut butter. You can't really go bad with peanut butter, now can you? The woman at the station was nice enough to direct me towards the motel area of town. After a bit of a walk, I found myself at 10:45pm checked into a motel, watching a bad western on a fuzzy TV, and having my dinner of PB sandwiches.
Morning brought sunshine to Santa Fe and the bluest sky I've ever seen.
As I learned from my last visit to the US, the best place to start in a new town is on the Internet in the public library. The motel guy pointed me at it and away I went. On my way over I passed a guy on the street and asked for directions. He said he was on his way over there himself. We started talking and he mentioned a music festival that was going on in town, a little bit about himself and his work and the fact that there was a hostel I could stay in for 15$ (instead of the 45$ I paid for the motel and was complaining bitterly about). I wonder why the Greyhound guy didn't tell me about it...
After I told him what I was doing in Santa Fe and that I was looking for a way to get out to the park on Tuesday gave his phone number and told me that if I didn't find a better ride, he'll be happy to drive me up there- since his sister lives not far from the park.
I didn't end up using the offer, but when I tried calling him to thank him anyway- the number was out of service. Weired. I do thank him for the offer anyway.
I got to the library and left a very general E-mail for Dale (the ranger I am working under), saying that I was in town and asking if he wanted me to come in early since I'm already here. Also tried calling him- but only got the voicemail.
Since there was nothing else to do I headed towards the hostel. I had a quiet day in mind, a shower and some reading, walking around at night and getting to know the town.
After I told him what I was doing in Santa Fe and that I was looking for a way to get out to the park on Tuesday gave his phone number and told me that if I didn't find a better ride, he'll be happy to drive me up there- since his sister lives not far from the park.
I didn't end up using the offer, but when I tried calling him to thank him anyway- the number was out of service. Weired. I do thank him for the offer anyway.
I got to the library and left a very general E-mail for Dale (the ranger I am working under), saying that I was in town and asking if he wanted me to come in early since I'm already here. Also tried calling him- but only got the voicemail.
Since there was nothing else to do I headed towards the hostel. I had a quiet day in mind, a shower and some reading, walking around at night and getting to know the town.
The hostel turned out to be a cool spot. Nice and friendly people, big kitchen and pretty well stocked, and a bus stop right in front.
After dropping off my backpack and relaxing for a while I started talking to Karen from Denmark. She's been in town for over a week and got a job in a small french style cafe'. She had traveled the US with a friend and wanted to stick around in one place for a while. She offered to show me around Santa Fe, and I promised to cook dinner in return. I grabbed my Camera and we went out to the bus stop. After waiting for the bus for a while, and missing it because Karen had to run back in (Nature called at the wrong time, I guess), and catching the next bus we landed in the Plaza in the middle of Santa Fe.
It's a pretty neat town. It's all very touristy and fixed up, but it's fixed up to look like what it might have looked like, if that makes any sense.
After dropping off my backpack and relaxing for a while I started talking to Karen from Denmark. She's been in town for over a week and got a job in a small french style cafe'. She had traveled the US with a friend and wanted to stick around in one place for a while. She offered to show me around Santa Fe, and I promised to cook dinner in return. I grabbed my Camera and we went out to the bus stop. After waiting for the bus for a while, and missing it because Karen had to run back in (Nature called at the wrong time, I guess), and catching the next bus we landed in the Plaza in the middle of Santa Fe.
It's a pretty neat town. It's all very touristy and fixed up, but it's fixed up to look like what it might have looked like, if that makes any sense.
A lot of Jewelry stores, selling "authentic" Indian craft, a few fancy cafes and bars and a couple of really impressive churches. The churches date back to the Spanish influence in this region.
As we were walking around we stumbled upon this police car, and Karen couldn't resist but to go over and ask the cop where he would sit someone he arrested. He told her they have to call another car to come and get the suspect. 
Karen also showed me the Gallery area of town. A lot of artists work in Santa Fe and the town has a whole bunch a galleries. Only problem was it was getting late and they were all closed. Some of them do have some artwork outside, though.
Just when Karen said- "well, that's pretty much all there is to show around here" it started raining. At first it was kind of a drizzle, so we kept on walking towards the grocery store (we had thoughts about stir fried chicken), but suddenly it turned into a full out thunder storm, with heavy drops and lightning and all. Apparently this is the monsoon season in New Mexico.
The storm lasted about half an hour, and then the sun came out again. This pattern repeated itself three days in a row. It would be pretty hot and dry all day, at around 5-6 pm, it would rain for about half an hour and a nice warm evening would ease itself in. I could get used to that.
All that was necessary was the rainbow, and since we were both getting pretty hungry- the stirfried chicken.
All that was necessary was the rainbow, and since we were both getting pretty hungry- the stirfried chicken.
Got to the grocery store, bought the chicken. Went back to the hostel and cooked. Dinner was served and leftovers were kept. 
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