by Bob Ackenhausen | Jan 27, 2020 | Footnotes
What to do after the great tours in Santa Fe
For those of you who have had a great time on one of the wonderful Santa Fe Footpirnts tours the question is what to do next? You have had a great experience, be it the Historic Walking tour, a Hiking tour, fun on the mountain with a Ski Santa Fe tour or a fascinating tour of a local Pueblo. You must experience the Sandia Tram. Most of you either arrived in New Mexico via the Albuquerque Sunport (ABQ) and or will leave the Land of Enchantment from that excellent airport. Please add a little time in you travel plans to take the ride on the Sandia Tram to the top of Sandia Peak. I recommend taking the tram just before sunset. You will not regret it.
My Sunset Ride on the Tram
This Sunday we did and Albuquerque afternoon. Part of this experience was checking out the new restaurant at the top of the Sandia Tram. The ride up the Tram is impressive no matter what time of day. To achieve the maximum experience you must do the sunset run. As the sun set the clouds turned pink and red. Venus was shining bright just above the silver crescent of the moon. The lights of Albuquerque began to twinkle. It was an Incredible sight !
The Ten 3
The sun set and the light came on. It was time for us to check out the new restaurant called Ten 3. The name Ten 3 refers to the altitude to Sandia Peak, 10,378 feet. I was impressed with the space. Fantastic views both north and south. The bar is very cool. I had a good local craft beer. We shared an appetizer board, which actually substituted for our dinner.
The twinkling Lights
The ride down was just as impressive because the lights of the city, the moon and the stars were shining bright. Let me conclude that either before of after you take your memorable tour with Santa Fe Footprints, you must experience the Sandia Tram.
WWW.Santafefootprints.com
by Bob Ackenhausen | Dec 3, 2019 | Footnotes
Leopard walking around our Land Rover in South Africa
Back from Africa! We have recently returned to Santa Fe after 2 week trip to South Africa. 7 of those days were spent on a photo safari near Kruger National park. These were some of the most incredible days of my life. You can go to the best zoos in the world and see elephants and rhinos. You can also see lions and leopards in ‘realistic’ ‘Lion Country’ display areas. Those are all impressive and I don’t mean to degrade those experience. When you see them in the bush, walking just a few yards or in the case of the leopard pictured above, just feet away from our Land Rover, you can not appreciate the magnificence of these animals.
Of course not everyone can go to Africa. But you can come to Santa Fe. The snow is on the mountains. The Plaza is glowing with Christmas light. You will not see leopard or elephants but there is a chance you may see a coyote or a bob-cat on one of the many hiking trials in and around town. Don’t worry, they will not walk up to you as the leopard did to our Land Rover, they will be gone in a flash. So come and experience all that Santa Fe has to offer. Start with a Historic Walking Tour to get your feet on the ground of this incredible city.
by Bob Ackenhausen | Jun 5, 2019 | Footnotes
A Walking tour group and the Loretto Chapel Miracle Stairway.
For visitors to Santa Fe the Miracle Stairway of Loretto Chapel is a MUST SEE.
The Chapel choir loft is 22 feet above the floor, but with no way to get there. Legend says that to find a solution to this problem, the Sisters of the Chapel made a novena to St. Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters. On the ninth and final day of prayer, a man appeared at the Chapel with a donkey and a toolbox looking for work. Months later, the elegant circular staircase was completed. Then carpenter disappeared without pay or thanks. So, was this mystery man St. Joseph himself? Had he come in answer to the sisters’ prayers?
The design was innovative for the time and some of the design considerations still perplex experts today. The staircase has two 360 degree turns and no visible means of support. The staircase was built without nails—only wooden pegs.
Santa Fe Footprints Historic Walking Tour fills in the details and provides a discount admission to wonder at the Miracle Stairway.
