WFRV

Into every vacation a little tedium must fall. We were told by the rental
agent to get an oil change halfway through our trip and we're also in
desperate need of clean clothes. Mike heads out with the RV for the oil
change after dropping us off at the campground laundromat with three
gigantic loads of laundry. We look like the little dog Max staggering under
the Grinch's burgled bags. At 9:15am the laundromat isn't too crowded and
we find enough empty washers to get started. It's a sunny day, not too hot,
and we sit outside at a picnic table playing Hearts waiting for the washers
to finish. Three hours later the laundry is done, folded and put away in
the freshly-oil-changed RV and we're off to downtown Santa Fe.

I'm driving while Mike navigates us to an RV-friendly parking lot. We're on
narrow city streets and the parking lot is almost full; we end up blocking
traffic for a good five minutes before we can get in. By the time we park
in the last RV spot (not an easy proposition) the lot is closed. It turns
out that the annual Indian Market is this weekend and everyone's coming in
for the preview sales. The attendant tells us that the market is
world-famous and that Indians from as far away as India come to sell their
wares. It's the biggest event of the year in Santa Fe, and interestingly
when Mike and I were here fifteen years ago it was during the Indian Market
as well. We plan to check out the market after lunch at another restaurant
recommended to us by the campground; one of the employees is quite a foodie
and his suggestion is again an excellent one.

As we leave the restaurant clouds are forming overhead and we can hear
thunder in the distance. Santa Fe has had the most rain in thirty years
this year and some of the new construction on the outskirts of town has been
washing away due to floods. We start ducking into shops to avoid the rain
and there are plenty of shops to see. Santa Fe is the oldest city in the
U.S. and has a heavy Spanish and Native American influence so it's an
interesting place to walk around. The city itself is bordered by small
mountains on one side and a great plain on the other; the buildings are made
of adobe and there are a lot of flowers and plants. Mike and I loved Santa
Fe the first time we visited and he still dreams of retiring here someday
(it'll have to be with his second wife). We also visit the La Fonda hotel
and the Plaza, still walking around and shopping. This goes on until Ben
says, "Another shop?! I'm at my breaking point!" and we decide it would be
best to leave. No one's hungry after our big lunch so we settle in for
another round of Hearts (the kids have become addicted to the game) and an
early night. Tomorrow is another long day in the RV.

# posted by LDW @ 11:23 PM