Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Ski Lessons at Ski Santa Fe
It's humiliating that the smallest kids ski better than I do. I'm guessing it's because they don't have as far to fall!
Views From Ski Santa Fe
At the top of the new quadruple chair lift, the other side of the mountain is extraordinary, even on an overcast day.
Snowmaking at Ski Santa Fe
Over 90% of the mountain was open on this day, and still they were making snow to be able to open the rest of the mountain. It looks like a fog rising behind the trees. I made the mistake of sking through it. It was like sking through a blackout
with ice crytals covering your face.
with ice crytals covering your face.Ski Santa Fe
The city averages 300 days of sunshine a year and even during a blizzard on the mountain, the sun struggles to break through.
Chair Lift View at Ski Santa Fe
Riding up on the new quadruple chair, you can look back to see the base of the ski area and surrounding mountains.
All the times that I have skied there, I could always get a chair to myself. There are never any crowds. At times it feels like I have the mountain to myself.
All the times that I have skied there, I could always get a chair to myself. There are never any crowds. At times it feels like I have the mountain to myself.
Going up Ski Santa Fe
The base of the mountain gives you 4 different lifts to take you up to incredible sking. (This doesn't include Chipmunk Corner for tots).
The lift shown is the newest quadruple chair addition that takes you to a full range of sking options, from double diamond (experts only) to cruises on green trails (easiest). A unique addition is an Adventure Land area with interesting structures to ski through and around - like Disney meets snow.
The lift shown is the newest quadruple chair addition that takes you to a full range of sking options, from double diamond (experts only) to cruises on green trails (easiest). A unique addition is an Adventure Land area with interesting structures to ski through and around - like Disney meets snow.
Winding up to Ski Santa Fe
The city of Santa Fe is already fairly high at 7,600 feet. (I insist that visitors take altitude sickness pills before coming here. Flu-like symptoms
get in the way of enjoying your time here.) A two lane road winds up the mountains to the base of the ski area at 10, 350 feet. If you are a very good skier (not me), you can ski off the hghest point of the mountain at 12,075 feet. That's high - and the view off the other side of the mountain is dazzling! Just to compare, the highest sking peak in California is Heavenly Valley at 11,500 feet.
Not bad for a small local ski area.
get in the way of enjoying your time here.) A two lane road winds up the mountains to the base of the ski area at 10, 350 feet. If you are a very good skier (not me), you can ski off the hghest point of the mountain at 12,075 feet. That's high - and the view off the other side of the mountain is dazzling! Just to compare, the highest sking peak in California is Heavenly Valley at 11,500 feet.Not bad for a small local ski area.
Ski Santa Fe is OK
Having skied off and on for 22 years, a major draw for moving to Santa Fe was being so close to a wonderful ski area.
In the past, going ski involved lots of planning, money, and travel time. Once there, I felt like I had to ski every available minute to justify all the expense and time to get there.
Now I can wake up in the morning and say, "I think I'll go sking today," or not. Ski Santa Fe has an inexpensive Bronze Pass that allows me to ski any week day for the entire season. If the temperature takes a sudden nose dive
, I can call it a day. There is always tomorrow....
In the past, going ski involved lots of planning, money, and travel time. Once there, I felt like I had to ski every available minute to justify all the expense and time to get there.
Now I can wake up in the morning and say, "I think I'll go sking today," or not. Ski Santa Fe has an inexpensive Bronze Pass that allows me to ski any week day for the entire season. If the temperature takes a sudden nose dive
, I can call it a day. There is always tomorrow....Monday, February 02, 2009
The Joys of Fake Tourism
Okey, I know this is supposed to be a travel blog, but I think it is appropriate to include fake tour destinations, especially when the fake tour is actually bringing in tourists and money. Actually the article about it in today's NY Times made me actually want to call my travel agent and go. And the article, "Battle Royal Lingers Over Head of State for a Czech State of Mind" is hysterical.
(Page A7)
It all started as a joke when a local photographer (Tomas Harabis) in Frenstat in the Czech Republic made up a fake kingdom which he called the Kingdom of Wallachia. Wallachia happens to be a real place in the northeast corner of the Czech Republic, 230 miles from Prague.
According to the NY Times article the fake kingdom has..."the requisites of authentic statehood, including a currency called the jurovaslar; consulates in the Arctic Circle and Togo; a Royal Wallachian Navy consisting of 40 wooden canoes; a bright yellow Communist-era limousine for use by visiting dignitaries; and a burgundy passport, covered with a picture of the pagan god Radegast, that Mr. Harabis says he has used to cross the border from Canada to Alaska."
When Mr Harabis decided to crown a local TV actor ( Bolek Polivka) as the new
King of Wallachia in 2000, the formal coronation was televised nationally and attended by 5,000 guests.
As the photo shows, visitors come to the region "partly because of the region's
status as an imaginary kingdom." It is also earning income from the sale of passports for the kingdom.
What started as a joke has evolved into a major lawsuit because of the large income generated by the imaginary kingdom!
A second fake travel income generator is the very funny spoof on travel guides; the Jetlag series from Woodstock at www.overlookpress.com. My favorite is "Molvania: A Land Untouched by Modern Dentistry," but there are at least 6 others including the very popular "Getting Around the Tofu Islands, South East Asia's Forgotten Jewel," and Surviving Moustaschistan, Central Asia's Forgotten Jewel."
In this time of severe economic problems, what could be better and cheaper than a fake tour?
(Page A7)It all started as a joke when a local photographer (Tomas Harabis) in Frenstat in the Czech Republic made up a fake kingdom which he called the Kingdom of Wallachia. Wallachia happens to be a real place in the northeast corner of the Czech Republic, 230 miles from Prague.
According to the NY Times article the fake kingdom has..."the requisites of authentic statehood, including a currency called the jurovaslar; consulates in the Arctic Circle and Togo; a Royal Wallachian Navy consisting of 40 wooden canoes; a bright yellow Communist-era limousine for use by visiting dignitaries; and a burgundy passport, covered with a picture of the pagan god Radegast, that Mr. Harabis says he has used to cross the border from Canada to Alaska."
When Mr Harabis decided to crown a local TV actor ( Bolek Polivka) as the new
King of Wallachia in 2000, the formal coronation was televised nationally and attended by 5,000 guests.
As the photo shows, visitors come to the region "partly because of the region's
status as an imaginary kingdom." It is also earning income from the sale of passports for the kingdom.
What started as a joke has evolved into a major lawsuit because of the large income generated by the imaginary kingdom!
A second fake travel income generator is the very funny spoof on travel guides; the Jetlag series from Woodstock at www.overlookpress.com. My favorite is "Molvania: A Land Untouched by Modern Dentistry," but there are at least 6 others including the very popular "Getting Around the Tofu Islands, South East Asia's Forgotten Jewel," and Surviving Moustaschistan, Central Asia's Forgotten Jewel."
In this time of severe economic problems, what could be better and cheaper than a fake tour?
Searching for Val Kilmer (Santa Fe)
The first question from Eduardo (gorgeous hair stylist extraordinaire
) was "why?" when I told him about my quest to to find the 60,000 acre Val Kilmer ranch.
It started on a morning over-fueled by coffee. Despite my well organized list of errands, I found myself driving into the Candyland shopping center on St. Michael's. Candyland is appropriately named as it sells new and used high-end stereo equipment, as well as an eclectic and international selection of CDs and DVDs.
There, on the counter, was an autographed CD by Val Kilmer.
"Val Kilmer has a CD?" I asked the clerk. I remembered the actor as the Iceman, Tom Cruise's buddy in "Top Gun," Jim Morrison in "The Doors," and Batman in "Batman Forever" - but a CD?
The clerk convinced me it was good and that Val comes in from time to time from his ranch in Galisteo, just outside of Santa Fe.
I bought the CD and an adventure began.
) was "why?" when I told him about my quest to to find the 60,000 acre Val Kilmer ranch.It started on a morning over-fueled by coffee. Despite my well organized list of errands, I found myself driving into the Candyland shopping center on St. Michael's. Candyland is appropriately named as it sells new and used high-end stereo equipment, as well as an eclectic and international selection of CDs and DVDs.
There, on the counter, was an autographed CD by Val Kilmer.
"Val Kilmer has a CD?" I asked the clerk. I remembered the actor as the Iceman, Tom Cruise's buddy in "Top Gun," Jim Morrison in "The Doors," and Batman in "Batman Forever" - but a CD?
The clerk convinced me it was good and that Val comes in from time to time from his ranch in Galisteo, just outside of Santa Fe.
I bought the CD and an adventure began.
Searching for Val Kilmer (Galisteo)
With Val Kilmer's new CD playing in the background, I went through guidebooks
and maps to plot my course to Galisteo. The music and Val's voice are excellent, although the lyrics are a tad obscure.
The trip to Galisteo was extraordinary. Route 25 runs almost east to west around the southern border of Santa Fe. Go west and it turns to go south to Albuquerque, about 40 miutes away. Turn east on Rt 25 and it goes toward Las Vegas (NM) and Patrick Swaize's ranch, about 40 minutes away. I drove east and 30 minutes later, turned south onto US 285.
The view changed dramatically into breathtaking surreal sculpted landscape. You would need the granddaddy of all panoramic cameras to capture a fraction of its' beauty. I finally understand why so many photobooks and landscape paintings of New Mexico are of enormous panoramic views. It's the closest you can come to capturing the actual experience.
Only 30 minutes from Santa Fe and it is like visiting another planet.
and maps to plot my course to Galisteo. The music and Val's voice are excellent, although the lyrics are a tad obscure.The trip to Galisteo was extraordinary. Route 25 runs almost east to west around the southern border of Santa Fe. Go west and it turns to go south to Albuquerque, about 40 miutes away. Turn east on Rt 25 and it goes toward Las Vegas (NM) and Patrick Swaize's ranch, about 40 minutes away. I drove east and 30 minutes later, turned south onto US 285.
The view changed dramatically into breathtaking surreal sculpted landscape. You would need the granddaddy of all panoramic cameras to capture a fraction of its' beauty. I finally understand why so many photobooks and landscape paintings of New Mexico are of enormous panoramic views. It's the closest you can come to capturing the actual experience.
Only 30 minutes from Santa Fe and it is like visiting another planet.
Searching for Val Kilmer (Galisteo)
You have to be alert to see the turn-off to Galisteo on NM 41 south and then it's a short drive into the town(?) itself. You see the church first and a few
scattered buildings. Passing them I realized that I had already left Galisteo.
scattered buildings. Passing them I realized that I had already left Galisteo.Searching for Val Kilmer (Galisteo)
I went back and explored every street and dirt path I could find, including a one lane wooden bridge.
Searching for Val Kilmer (Galisteo)
In total, I found less than 20 buildings in Galisteo, including the church and several small ranches.Searching for Val Kilmer (Galisteo)
The description of Galisteo in Fodor's travel guide included a spa/ranch that costs $250 a night (Vista Clara Ranch) and a gourmet restaurant
(LaMancha) in an inn (The Galisteo Inn) located in a quaint historic building. I found none of these.
(LaMancha) in an inn (The Galisteo Inn) located in a quaint historic building. I found none of these.Searching for Val Kilmer (Galisteo)
Eduardo later described a wiccan gift shop and a sculpture gallery and garden owned by one of his customers. I found the garden, but not the shop.
Searching for Val Kilmer (Galisteo)
The buildings that I found were all ancient looking adobe that were made from the ruins of the original adobe houses before the town was deserted. Galisteo is being reborn from the ruins of its original inhabitants.
Searching for Val Kilmer (Galisteo)
After an hour of searching I found my first human - another Santa Fean out exploring and taking pictures. When I mentioned my Val Kilmer quest her first response was "Why?" She was better than Fodors with her local knowledge and insider's perspective on the politics involving Val Kilmer. In short, she said (1) Mr. Kilmer lives in Pecos, not Galisteo, (2) Pacos is basically the descendents of the original Pueblo Indians and Spanish who settled there and they aren't fond of Mr. Kilmer, (3) Mr. Kilmer is a good friend of our present governor
Bill Richardson (the same one who had to decline President Obama's cabinet offer because of potential shady dealings) and (4) Governor Richardson is encouraging Mr. Kilmer to run for governor. I've left out all her editorial comments that colored these comments.
Bill Richardson (the same one who had to decline President Obama's cabinet offer because of potential shady dealings) and (4) Governor Richardson is encouraging Mr. Kilmer to run for governor. I've left out all her editorial comments that colored these comments.Searching for Val Kilmer
The kind stranger recommended 
that I see the Galisteo graveyard and then take an unmapped route that cuts across from Galisteo (Rt 41) to Rt 14 and the picturesque mining towns turned art colonies of Madrid and Los Cerillos.
that I see the Galisteo graveyard and then take an unmapped route that cuts across from Galisteo (Rt 41) to Rt 14 and the picturesque mining towns turned art colonies of Madrid and Los Cerillos.Searching for Val Kilmer (Galisteo)
The Galisteo graveyard was eerie, with its ancient wooden crosses and headstones, over-grown with neon yellow weeds; haunting in the truest sense of the word.
Searching for Val Kilmer (Galesteo)
Leaving the graveyard, the road became a dirt path, and several miles in, a stone wall and large standing stone slab caught me by surprise. It was like a miniature version of our own Stonehenge. When the bumpy path finally dumped me onto Rt 14, I opted to go north, back to Santa Fe rather than south to Madrid and Los Cerilloss. In addition to the art and history of these two southern towns, they are supposed to be enclaves of Wiccans, the neopagan based religi
on, and that deserves its own trip!
on, and that deserves its own trip!Searching for Val Kilmer (Pecos)
Another beautiful day found me back on Rt 25 heading toward Los Vegas (NM) and 30 minutes later I took the exit to Pecos. The town is much larger than Galisteo and seems to consist of small houses, log cabins, A-frames, trailers, and dusty ancient general stores. I saw a Dairy Queen, several restaurants, a logging place, and several places selling natural gas. Pecos has more of an alpine feel with mountains, the Pecos River, and Monastary Lake. Hiking, hunting, and fishing are big.
Searching for Val Kilmer (Pecos)
Exploring, I was almost trapped following a dirt path called Lower Cow Creek Trail. It was actually a one lane road that wound UP the mountain with almost no place to turn around. The mud hitting the underside of the car was my signal to turn around.
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