Summer Vacation 2013: Day 7 ~ Santa Fe

We started our day at the Bataan Memorial Building, which served as the State Capitol from 1900 to 1966. (and which Claire misread as “Batman” Memorial Building and got all excited!) From there we took a tour of the current Capitol. The Santa Fe Capitol building is unique because it is the only state capitol that is round. It is casually known as the “Roundhouse.” Santa Fe is also the state capital at the highest elevation. It is built in the architectural style of Pueblo Indian adobe. The building forms the shape of the Zia Indian Sun Symbol, which is the symbol on the state flag and seal. After touring it, we walked to the Loretto Chapel and saw the “Miraculous Staircase.” When the Chapel was completed n 1878, there was no staircase to access the choir loft. The legend says that to find a solution to the 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, and the carpenter disappeared without pay or thanks. After searching for the man (an ad even ran in the local newspaper) and finding no trace of him, some concluded that he was St. Joseph himself, having come in answer to the sisters' prayers. It is quite stunning…even the carpenter Peter is impressed with it! However, he wished they had not added the handrail, and he could see it as it was originally built.
From there we visited the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi. It is the only building that is not in the adobe style, so it stands out from the surrounding buildings. In a side chapel, called “The Conquistadora Chapel,” is the oldest statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the United States to whom a constant public devotion has been maintained. It is about 36” tall and is carved out of wood. She is called “Our Lady of the Rosary, La Conquistadora.”
We did quite a lot of walking in and out of shops, and in one jewelry shop we visited, we learned that the owner had lived in Manassas several years ago. It is truly a small world. In another shop, the owner was telling us that she had taken a train trip along the East coast, while traveling to Florida to visit family. We were telling her how beautiful we thought the area was, and she told us that of all the places she has been, she thinks Virginia, especially in the Shenandoah Mountains, is the prettiest state. I guess perspective is everything!
Because the kids were tired, they headed back to the hotel, and Peter and I drove up into the mountains just to see a little more of Santa Fe. It started raining and we realized that there isn’t any vegetation holding back that red clay, so it all comes rushing across the road. Good times! We all went back to downtown for dinner and walked by the oldest house in the USA, that dates back to 1650 or the 1200s, depending on the source. We also saw the San Miguel Chapel, the oldest church structure in the U.S.
We love the mountains, the scenery, the town, and the architecture of Santa Fe, and were so pleased to be able to visit it once again.