Stacy: Day 9 (July 28, 2015) "What a shpadoinkle day!"
Abby said the day was explosive, but I think it was implosive. *rimshot* Obscure atomic humor...
But first, rocky tents! We visited another National Park-like thing, although this was operated by the BLM, not the National Parks Service. Kim knows the name of this park--my brain is incapable of remembering it. The simple name is "Tent Rocks."
This park has awesome geological features. Ash from volcanic eruptions came down and layered with other sediments over 6 million years. They became eroded, and the harder material remained. The leftover material looks like tents!
Anyway, it, too, was a nice walk, although much more strenuous on my leg than I would have preferred.
On our way to the Tent Rocks, we passed through my town (more like a community, really).
Then, we made our way to Los Alamos, where I was promptly turned away for having false credentials. Aegis needs to get their s*** together! [That's for you, Jeff!]
Guard: HALT! Show your pass.
Guard: Hmmm.
Guard: Hmmmmmmmmmm.
"Stacy": What?
"Stacy": If I could only see what she's writing...
"Stacy": Did I pass inspection???
"Stacy": Nope. Drat it.
Funny thing, that is a bathroom at the rest top right outside the city. Pretty clever!
We learned all about Fat Man, Little Boy, and Thin Man at the Bradbury Science Museum. They had absolutely wonderful exhibits! I didn't realize they still did research there!!! I was able to see some trinitite [I managed to resist taking any with me, Jeff], and watched several recordings of bomb explosions (tests). I was able to freeze, rewind, and fast forward at my own pace because it was all freeze-framed, and connected to a small wheel that you had to manually spin to make it progress at all. That was fascinating! The split second-the speed-between detonation and the flash of light is mind blowing.
Then, we mozied over to Santa Fe, where we walked around the capitol building. It's the only circular capitol building in the U.S.--it's built like a kiva! It was quite pretty inside, and they had an art display with lovely quilts in one wing of the main floor. Each of them was extremely beautiful and intricate. I think the theme was "Red," and thus they had to incorporate red (or red things) prominently in the quilt. Most were of New Mexico-related things, like Native American tribes, red mountains, etc.
Downtown Santa Fe is really nice! Very tourist-friendly and pretty easy to get around.
After the capitol building, we walked the streets to find various landmarks. Even though the website said they were open until 6pm, (it was 5:02pm at the time this occurred), the Cathedral Basillica of St. Francis of Assisi was closed to the public. We opened the door, walked in, and were corralled by ropes into the Blessed Sacrament Chapel where daily Mass was about to begin.
We just stood there, outside the chapel door, quietly wondering/discussing what to do when a gentleman asked us if we were there for Mass. We briefly explained the situation. He smiled uncomfortable, yet knowingly, and said, "I'm going to get into soo much trouble for doing this..." and raised the rope for us to enter! We're assuming he's a parishioner.
So as not to be seen from inside the chapel, we crouched down as we passed under the half-windows. Quitely, and as reverently as sneaking into a church can be, we made our way through the Cathedral. It was beautiful! Especially in the evening darkness. We made our way over to the statue of Mary (the oldest in the U.S., I believe), and then snuck out of the Cathedral, once again crouching so as not to be seen. Oh! How this second time hurt my knee! Our angle of exit was slightly different than our angle of entrance, so we had to crouch down even more than the first time. It got better after a few minutes of normal (careful) walking.
Then, we walked around the main plaza, where many Native American vendors were sitting along the ground, under the outsides of covered, pueblo-like buildings. Just like with THALAMAC , we three bought matching pendants! This time, hand made (polished and hole-drilled) turquoise by a lovely Native American woman. She was really nice, and her name is "Jeannie," like my mom's! I didn't catch her tribe. It is required that they initial each of their pieces so that we consumers know it is an authentic piece, and not mass-produced somewhere. This requirement also protects them from having the market flooded with cheap knockoffs.
[PHOTO FORTHCOMING]
6:20pm was sneaking up on us, and we were all getting really hungry. We knew we wanted to try Southwestern food, so we looked up a DDD Restaurant. Making our way down Water Street, it began to rain! We made it to the restaurant just in time before it started POURING.
The food was fabulous!
~FIN
