Glorious Santa Fe - Part 2

Our first morning in Santa Fe was spent at their popular Farmer's Market, held on Saturday mornings in the Railyard area. I was amazed at the wide variety of food being sold. We saw everything from enormous orange pumpkins to bright green pole beans, purple onions, luscious red tomatoes and of course the region's famous red and green chili peppers everywhere we looked. There were all kinds of vegetables I've never seen before as well, with names I couldn't pronounce.

A number of vendors were selling decorative items for the home, including some very pretty wreaths made from red peppers that would have looked great on anyone's front door. Inside, vendors were selling locally produced soaps and toiletries, specialty honeys, home grown lavender sachets, wearable art, hand crocheted slippers -- you name it.

The Saturday Farmer's Market in Santa Fe attracts quite a crowd. Local growers offer a huge variety of fresh produce, much of it grown organically and sustainably.

Here, I learned how one of these talented artisans dyed and carded wool from the area's sheep herds to turn it into beautiful shawls, scarves and hats.

The colorful wearables in this booth generated lots of attention. 

The Artist's Market section, directly across from the produce growers, offered sculpture, jewelry, paintings, stained glass, wood crafts and other works at excellent prices, all accompanied by tunes from a live band. A darling little girl of about 5 or so stood on the steps of the market building, dancing enthusiastically to the music and drawing the smiles of passersby. A man walked past, gnawing on some kind of vegetable that looked like a gargantuan white carrot. The vibe was lively and upbeat, and everyone was smiling -- so typical of the residents of this amazing town, and for that matter, everyone we encountered in New Mexico.

Lots of art and Santa Fe's beautiful weather made for an enjoyable morning at the Market.

In fact, smiling seems to be everyone's pastime in this part of the world. People are so friendly it's impossible to feel like an outsider here for long. The warmth is genuine, the atmosphere totally laid back, and everyone goes out of their way to be helpful. It's an extraordinary place. We're already planning a return trip!

All text and images ©2013 Lynn Edwards