Winter Break has started and we are planning our trip to Palm Springs, California. As I got busy jotting down a few fun activities in my planning diary, I see my dreamcatcher. The dreamcatcher that I got from Santa Fe, New Mexico last December during the Christmas. The dreamcatcher is an object that the Native Americans would use at night with the hope to catch some dreams. The dreamcatcher also brought back memories of our trip to Santa Fe that is still so vivid in my mind.
Last year we did a road trip to Santa Fe and Albuquerque in New Mexico during Christmas. The New Mexicans have a very set tradition of lighting Farolito lights. Farolito Lights are chinese inspired lantern made out of paper bags. They are stuffed with sand to keep it stable and a little candle is placed on top of the sand. On Christmas Eve, everyone starts lining up the front of their house or shops with these Farolito lights from early afternoon. As it starts to get dark, everyone lights the candles in hope that the lights will guide the spirit of the Christ child to one’s home . The main street to see the Farolito Lighting is the Canyon Road. This street is full of art galleries and wonderful art pieces that reflects the Native American culture. We got lucky because it had just snowed. The crisp snowflakes on the paper bags gave it a completely new look. The temperature was sub-zero, but the energy was high.The street was as packed as the New York Time Square. As we walked down the Canyon road, the locals made it easy for us tourists to tackle the cold. They had set up wood burning fireplace at regular intervals along with hot chocolate stands. It was a amazing sight. Powdered snow covering the night sky while people walked down the beautifully lighted street admiring the Farolito decorations. Completely awe-inspiring and memorable.
The next day we woke up to a white christmas. It was as white as it could get. Clearly it had snowed the whole night. We drove around Santa Fe and also drove to Taos Pueblo to see the unique architecture of the place. Pueblos are adobe houses built very close together and stacked five or six stories high. They go narrower as they go higher, to provide stability. For more information, please visit – https://taospueblo.com/. Taos Pueblo is fully accessible ♿️ by wheelchair or mobility scooter. This was possibly the most interesting and memorable Christmas as far as I can remember.
- The Canyon Road is very uneven. It can get very risky with crutches. It is advisable to use either a mobility scooter or a wheelchair.
- Some of the Farolito decorations may need you to go down a few stairs. In that case, it is safer to get the view from a distance.
- The Old Santa Fe Inn is a very accessible hotel with some of the parking right in front of the rooms.
- Some of the art galleries on Canyon Road are not wheelchair accessible.
- There are no accessible parking near Canyon Road. It is best to park on the adjacent Paseo De Peralta and then walk over to the Canyon Road.
- A portable restroom is available at the Acequia Madre School parking lot.
*** Please comment below if you have any more accessible tips.
