America the Beautiful - Grand Canyon, Arizona Part 1

The Grand Canyon National Park is one of the most spectacular natural landscapes you will ever see. Located in the state of Arizona, it was carved by the mighty Colorado eons ago. It is an artist's dream with all the colors that define it at any time of the day.

 

View of the Canyon from the South Rim

 Hiking on the Bright Angel Trail

 Hiking down the Bright Angel

Visiting the Grand Canyon is not complete without a delicious meal to top off the day

 

Enjoy!
Maria

America the Beautiful - on the Road in New Mexico and the Mohave Desert, Arizona

 The best part of being on the road is the road food!

 The best local beef hamburgers are served at the New Mexico Laguna Burger restaurant.

 Did I mentioned that they are 1/2 lb of beef, no fillers?

 The beef is fresh.

 The Mohave desert

 The desert

 The Santa Fe railroad going through the Mohave desert

 The desert

 The desert

 The desert

You need at least a pint to cross that desert!

Enjoy!
Maria

Geronimo Restaurant - Santa Fe New Mexico

One of the restaurants I vividly remembered from my visit to Santa Fe twelve years ago was Geronimo. It is still there and as great as ever.

We were treated to flutes of New Mexico champagne to celebrate my book launch and we had an exquisite meal in the well-appointed dining room with an imposing painting of a white horse,

 The fireplace

 The dining room with the painting of the white horse

Champagne!

 Salad

 Peppery Elk with baby vegetables

 Halibut

 Oh dessert was heaven, need I say more?

If I'm ever back in Santa Fe I hope I can have another meal like this one!

Enjoy!
Maria

America the Beautiful - Santa Fe New Mexico

Santa Fe is a town high in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, at 7,199 feet elevation, the highest US state capital. It was first populated by the Pueblo Indians in 1050, the Spaniards then took over and enslaved the Indians, built the Palace of the Governors, the Cathedral Basilica of Saint John Assisi among other buildings intact today. In 1912 New Mexico became the 47th US State with Santa Fe as its capital.

 Spring Bride in Santa Fe

 Loretto Chapel

 Palace of the Governors

Relaxing in the Plaza

 Pueblo Indian artisans

 Famed Black on Black pottery

The Cathedral

 The town of Santa Fe is a magnet for artists and sculpture and other art is everywhere

 Cowboys!

 Palace of the Governors

Nicholas Razzatos, the young Greek owner of the Plaza Cafe. Awesome pine nut blue corn pacakes and hospitality!

 Museum chapel votives

Museum Stage Coach

Santa Fe is a city of wonder. Adobe buildings, the Pueblo Indians, the Spaniard Conquistadors, the Texans, and the Americans. It is filled with history, museums, art galleries, lovely gardens and good restaurants.

Enjoy!

Maria