by Bob Ackenhausen | May 12, 2020 | Footnotes
The group on the Borrego trail
Panic!
Yes! Get out and hike! The COVID panic has utterly destroyed the tourist season here in Santa Fe. The panicky governor and hysterical mayor have shut-down all of the art festivals that make June, July and August in Santa Fe so enjoyable. Never mind that a virus can not survive in the sun and 80+ degrees temperatures. Not satisfied with destroying the art fairs they have closed all the wonderful shops. If you want to go to Home Depot or Lowes, fine. If you where interested in Indian art or the excellent Santa Fe shopping scene, forget about it. So what can you do? Get out and hike!
Are you in Danger?
Now it is true that the virus effects virtually no one under 50. If you are 60+ there is maybe a .5% of catching something. But don’t worry our hospitals have plenty of room! True they are laying off staff but on the .05% chance you need the hospital you will be welcomed with open arms!
The Santa Fe economy
The economy of Santa Fe is based on three main pillars. The art scene, tourism and state government. The government has deliberately destroyed the first two. So, what is a likely tourist supposed to do? Get out and hike!
Hiking trails are open!
There is one activity that the COVID dictators have not been able to crush. It is also one of the best parts about visiting Santa Fe. This activity is hiking the many trails around the city. They have closed the National parks like Bandelier and Tent Rocks but the hiking trails in the surrounding mountains are open.
Were can you hike?
A few days ago, I drove up Hyde Park Road towards the ski area. Cars filled the parking areas at the numerous trail heads along the road. I finally found a space at the Borrego trail head.
Free at last!
It was a beautiful day for hiking. The temperature up in the mountains was about 60. The sun was shining and creating incredible shadows through the trees. Everyone on the trail and in out of our Santa Fe Footprints group observed proper, if in my view unnecessary, distancing. The pure mountain air was invigorating and the exorcise got everyone’s blood pumping.
Don’t be a prisoner!
The lesson is don’t be a prisoner! The mountains and hiking trails of Santa Fe are waiting for you! GET OUT and HIKE !!!!
by Bob Ackenhausen | Sep 14, 2019 | Footnotes
The corn necklace is made of large dried then dyed corn kernels. These are then strung together to become a rainbow of bright colors. The necklaces are a testament to the importance of corn as a staple for the Southwest Indians. Corn is one of the ‘three sisters’ of sustenance, corn, beans and squash. Of the three, corn reigns supreme and is celebrated in myth, ritual and dance.
The best and most fascinating time to visit one of the pueblos around Santa Fe is during a pueblo feast day. A corn dance is a signature event in many of these feast days celebration.
Attending a pueblo feast day and witnessing a corn dance is a great experience for visitors of all ages. The Nambe’ corn dance held my 6-year-old twin grandsons utterly spellbound.
Your Santa Fe Footprints guide will be able to provide you with information on all the pueblo feast days and dances.
by Bob Ackenhausen | Sep 5, 2019 | Footnotes
Blankets have long been important for both Indian and early Spanish settlers of New Mexico. They provided warmth, shelter and possible most important, status. Many tribes had long established weaving traditions. Indians began to acquire machine-made blankets in the late 19th century. This was done mostly as a matter of convenience. These became known as Indian trading blankets. These trade blankets became a standard medium of exchange in the old west trading post.
Pendleton Woolen Mills was founded in 1889. They became a well-known manufacture of these trading blankets. Pendleton designers gathered information from tribes across the country to determine the preferred designs, colors and geometric shapes for this market.
The Navajo are celebrated for their excellent hand weaving skills. The Pendleton blankets are still considered an enduring symbol of their culture.
Your Santa Fe Footprints guide will provide you with the history of art in Santa Fe and also advise on the locations for excellent Indian blankets.
by Bob Ackenhausen | Aug 13, 2019 | Footnotes
This weekend, August 16 to 18 is the 98th annual Indian Market here in Santa Fe. It is the largest and most prestigious juried Native arts show in the world. Over 1,100 Native artists from the U.S. and Canada sell their artwork. The Indian Market attracts 150,000 visitors to Santa Fe from all over the world. Buyers, collectors and gallery owners come to Indian Market to take advantage of the opportunity to buy directly from the artists. For many visitors, this is a rare opportunity to meet the artists and learn about contemporary Indian arts and cultures. Quality and authenticity are the hallmarks of the Santa Fe Indian Market.
The artists are people from over 220 U.S. Federally recognized tribes and First Nations’ Tribes (Canada). To the casual observer, it may not be evident that there may be generations of artists sitting together under the same booth. Some artists have been participating in Indian Market 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and even 60+ years. Their artwork is the universal language, which speaks and becomes a part of our lives.
The Indian Market officially begins on Saturday, 7:00 am -5:00 pm and Sunday 8:00 – 5:00 pm. Saturday is typically when the die-hard collectors come to shop. Sunday morning is less busy and preferred by those Market goers who wish to take their time discovering and rediscovering the hidden gems of Market.
Santa Fe Footprints does not offer walking tours on Saturday and Sunday of Indian Market. Not only is it just too crowded, we believe you should be enjoying the market and not desperately trying to hear what our extremely informative guides are saying. We do have tours the week leading up to and the days following the market. These tours will help you understand what you are about to experience or if after the market, make some sense of what you have been through.
by Bob Ackenhausen | Jul 2, 2019 | Footnotes
The neck tie may be suffering a decline due to casual Fridays and Silicon Valley chic but out here in the west the Bolo ties is still the mark of a well-dressed man. Bolo tie? What’s that? The Bolo Tie is simplicity itself. A leather cord, usually braided, and held together with some sort of sliding clasp. Sounds simple doesn’t it? Ah, but here is where simplicity ends and fashion, art and craftsmanship take over.
The leather cords are not just any leather. The cord tips can be an endless variety of shapes made of silver aglets of the highest craftsmanship. The clasp is where the Bolo Tie really shines. Silversmiths, Native, Hispanic and Anglo, craft elaborate clasp made of the finest silver. A feature of a clasp can be a remarkable turquoise stone.
Bolos are not just for men! The ladies find them to be an excellent fashion addition that works with a gown for the opera or jeans for the BBQ. Your Santa Fe Footprints guide can point you to the best places to find the real thing at the best prices.
