wandering along the river
Welcome to summer! Today, June 1, is the first day of meteorological summer, as opposed the 21st of June which is the summer solstice. The 1st of June is more convenient for meteorologists to use as a point in time to reference the beginning of the summer season, which lasts through the month of August. Ah, the strangeness humans use to categorize time. Regardless, it is definitely feeling more like summer, making it a perfect time to explore and photograph the world as it appears now.
Walking from the Capitol Building to the Santa Fe River along Alameda Street (people from other places with more rainfall might call it a stream) is endlessly fascinating. There was new and beautiful landscaping in and around the state capitol area, and more planting in progress. My favorite little wildflower garden has been updated but was still filled with blooms, and the city of Santa Fe always seems to hold secrets I have yet to discover. Needless to say, the morning was filled with smells of breakfast burritos and the moist freshness of the river. Living in a place of little rain, it is always thrilling to see moving water.
Continuing along the river to Guadalupe Street and toward the Santuario de Guadalupe, you can take a jog onto a stretch of Alto Street - an area which is like something out of a tightly packed European city. Apartments and houses in a jumble together, almost on top of one another, reflecting generations of life and change. A number of compounds with walled-in courtyards and patios holding history and secrets whispered "come hither". Murals cover several walls along and above the river, including several by Carlos Cervantes. In the Louis Montaño Park, one mural - originally created in 1994 - carries the words "Analco Nuestra Barrio Querido Aztlan", shown below. Renovation was completed in 2018, with the help of young people from the Boys and Girls Clubs of Santa Fe.
Santa Fe - Louis Montaño Park mural 1 2026
The detail in the iconography is complex and stunning, including designs from Aztlan or the homeland of the Aztec people. I remember Dr. Frank Hibben at the University of New Mexico, shaping and almost contorting his mouth to pronounce the Nahuatl (or Aztec) words during Mexican archaeology classes. Some designs are similar to those found in Chichen Itza and many other archaeological sites in Mexico.
Santa Fe - Louis Montaño Park mural 2 2026
Santa Fe - Louis Montaño Park mural 4 2026
A nod to El Dia de los Muertos
Santa Fe - Louis Montaño Park mural 3 2026
This is the Alto Street entrance to the area.
Santa Fe - Louis Montaño Park mural 5 2026
The majority of the mural can be seen from the area just above the river.
Santa Fe - Louis Montaño Park mural 6 2026
During these summer months, my hope is that you have time to take many walks and explore. Who knows where your wandering will lead?
It was wonderful to receive so many comments on last week's Memorial Day blog including those from Victoria, Terry T., Tim, Pater, Earle, TTT, Ann A., Jean & Sam, Jim and Louise, Catherine, Christina W., Steve, Dick and Carol, Marilyn G.,and Sara.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
Comments
And speaking of tightly packed European cities, Tuscany is awash with towns and neighborhoods with no single family dwellings and streets bustling with humanity till midnight. On weekends children are still playing as the church bells ring in the new day.
Love to you and Fred from Cortona.