Hearing all the reports about the snow covering the Southern Plains, part of New Mexico (Tucumcari), Arizona (Flagstaff) and Texas, made me think of our Route 66 adventure in July 2010. It was a wonderful road trip and we had beautiful sunny blue sky almost the entire 10-day, 4,437 miles from St. Louis, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona (with a side trip to Hoover Dam in Nevada) to Santa Monica, California and back to St. Louis. Looking at these photos, I am so ready for another road trip!
Santa Fe is filled with Old World charm and historical buildings. Above is the manificient Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. Construction of this Romanesque church with French architechs and Italian stonemasons, began in 1869 and continued until 1887. The Cathedral was elevated to a Basilica by Pope Benedict VXI in 2005. 
A classic multi-story abode-style architecture, La Fonda Hotel (above) on E. San Francisco (off the Plaza) was called "The Inn at the End of the Trail". The current La Fonda was built in 1922. Trappers, gold seekers, soldiers, gamblers were regular guests at the hotel during the 19th century. 
Because of tight schedule, we did not spend more time in Santa Fe. I wish we could stay the whole day/night and definitely attending Mass at Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. The whole city, compacted with layout of a mini-village, filled with gift/antiques shops, outlets catering mostly to women (i.e. assocceries and jewelries), and galleries.
We watched and gave a thumb up to the driver of the above firetruck as he skillfully maneuvered the vehicle around the tight street corner on the busy, crowded and narrow roads. I also noticed that all the three firemen were very good-looking. Not sure if physical appearance was part of the requirement/qualification to be selected by the Santa Fe Fire Department or the men were on the way to be featured on a TV commercial for the visitors and tourism bureau!
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