Santa Fe, Part Two

I hit up downtown Santa Fe. There really is no place like it. It's the first state capitol that was founded in America.

 

Unlike every other state capitol building I've visited, there were no security lines or metal detectors. The capitol building was open to everyone. Fitting, for such a friendly state.

There was wall-to-wall art. Without exaggerating, the building was, in most respects, more like a museum than a state building.













This is the state legislature chamber. No one else was around, and it was open to the public.

Santa Fe's main square is full of artisans, many a merry minstrel, and regular folks, basking in the desert sun.

This guy had a custom vehicle to carry himself and his harp. Have you ever seen anything like it?

This is the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi.

Below is Loretto Chapel. A rare example of non-adobe architecture downtown, its claim to fame is a staircase that was supposedly built by an incarnation of St. Joseph, sometime in the late 19th century. The staircase is a wonder to behold. It makes two 360º turns! Originally, it didn't have a railing. It was installed later. There was even a TV movie made about it.

The fellow at the information desk was full of information about the miracle of the staircase, although I was surprised to discover that it was roped off since the 1970s for "preservation." Why would a miracle need preservation?

Fortunately, Snopes cleared it right up. It was a lovely chapel, at any rate.