 |
| Santa Fe Ukulele and Culinary Adventure 2015 |
We are on our way to the New Santa Fe Ukulele Culinary Adventure! This ukulele retreat scheduled for November 4th - 8th, in Santa Fe, NM, features instructors Heidi Swedberg, Daniel Ward and Craig McClellend.
We arrive in Albuquerque a day early in order to catch the train at 4:26 p.m. on Wednesday.
This gives us most of Wednesday to explore the downtown area and work on our 10,000 steps a day fitness to take us to Old Town Albuquerque.
 |
| Riding the Rail Runner from Albuquerque to Santa Fe |
Walking to Old Town Albuquerque takes about 40 minutes from our hotel. The quaint town square is still showing signs of Dia des Muertos....or Day of the Dead, celebrations. (Nov. 1st - known as All Saints Day to those north of the border)
Today is colder than we expect, and cloudy as well. We pile on the layers and head out to experience a bit of the southwest, city style.
 |
| Almost blooming cactus |
 |
| Definitely Fall here in the southwest! |
 |
| Beautiful little side street walkway in Old Town |
 |
| What's with the RAIN??? |
 |
| Time for lunch and....yes....a brownie sundae with salted carmel and chocolate!! |
Good thing we're "north westerners...." prepared for sun, breeze, rain, wind, mist, .....and hail!
 |
| Walking on to the train station in the afternoon we find ourselves in a hard downpour....with HAIL! |
Once in the train station, our fellow ukulele peeps are easy to spot....because...yes....they all have UKULELES!
 |
| Here we go.... |
The Rail Runner is right on time and we find seats for everyone high up, in the upper level. We enjoy the ride and scenery, until it gets dark...and then....it's time to pull out the ukes and tune up. Heidi gets everyone going with a rendition of "Freight Train....Freight Train..."
 |
| Craig and Heidi and Steve |
 |
| Chrissy |
 |
| Heidi and Josh |
 |
| My uke is enjoying the ride....along with our workshop song book! |
We arrive at the Santa Fe depot and it's a fast transfer to cars and off to restaurant El Meson for tapas, wine and a Flamenco Show, featuring another instructor, Daniel Ward.
 |
| Fabulous choices on this menu! |
 |
| Ahhh, but how to choose? |
 |
| Daniel Ward |
 |
| Who knew Flamenco had guitar, song and dance??? |
Needless to say, we are SO tired once we arrive at the Don Gaspar Inn, late Wednesday night, sleep is not much of a problem.
And, we are SO surprised when we awake to....SNOW!? Why, I ask myself, did I take the down jacket out of my suitcase and stuff in the flip flops? Last minute...um...bad decision!
 |
| Beautiful breakfast every morning! |
 |
| Seriously??? |
 |
| Magical |
 |
| Craig McClellend heads up the intermediate group with "Movin' Up the Neck" (moveable chords) |
 |
| The chef (culinary) part starts with lunch the first day! |
 |
| Yummy southwestern chili....red and green sauce.... |
 |
| Q: Who plays ukulele, teaches ukulele, sings AND cooks??? A: Heidi Swedberg! |
 |
| Lunch salad Day #1....YUM! |
After lunch we join together for a session learning a few songs we will play together while we are "out and about" in Santa Fe. Really?
Elaine, fearless leader...and walker...takes a few of us who are ready to get outdoors and explore a bit, on a historic hill walk to the tippy top observation spot for a chance to admire the sunset.
Once up on top, we yes, admire the view...but celebrate our mini hike with a mini bottle of cinnamon whiskey!
 |
| Bottoms up! |
 |
| Nan and Elaine checking out Santa Fe from above |
Although the day has been long and full, the evening approaches, with a slide show by Baron Wolman, the first photographer for The Rolling Stone Magazine. Amazing shots of all the musicians we remember from 1970 to Woodstock and beyond.
 |
| Baron Woland |
While there are more workshops the next day...there are also more cooking to be done! This day I join Heidi in the kitchen to create Albuquerque Turkey sandwiches for lunch and posole for late night supper.
Beware....Chicks with Knives!~! And there are FIVE of us!
We learn that green chilis play a major part in this sandwich. AND that you should get the green chilis from the Frontier Restaurant in Albuquerque. Ok then!
Steve is first in line to try out this fantastic sandwich combination. We'll remember this one!
At 3:45 we head off for downtown Santa Fe on foot. Destination: La Boca Restaurant for tapas and drinks...with the secret mission of a flash mob to play for the cook (a personal friend of Daniel) "Hey, Good Lookin', What 'cha Got Cookin'?"
We find sculpute everywhere in Santa Fe. It makes walking around this town very interesting.
 |
| Steve and the Mermaid...and dolphins...in the desert? |
 |
| Nan and the dolphin....with kisses. |
 |
| Turquoise cow skulls? |
 |
| More |
 |
| So much jewelry!! |
 |
Finally we are enjoying La Boca...the best tapas in Santa Fe!? Oh, wait...that was last night!?
|
 |
| Our ukes wait quietly in the corner.....for the big surprise! |
 |
| Sangria! |
 |
| Josh and Roberta....Cheers! |
 |
| Trio tapas for Nan and Steve |
 |
| New Zealander, Kathleen |
 |
| Pat is ready to play! |
Our flash mob debut is...a first for the weekend...and actually, a last as well! People in the restaurant did get up and dance a little and many took out the iphones and started filming! We're almost famous!
Then, too soon, it's off for the next stop...Tiny's Restaurant and Bar for a performance by a group called "The Smoking Jackets." Hum....these folks look familiar! It's Craig, Daniel and Heidi!
 |
| Craig, Daniel and Heidi on stage |
 |
| Senor Daniel! |
 |
| Uh oh...Steve is wearing a fez! |
 |
| Good times... |
Time to head home after the show...and yet...there is more food waiting...late night posole supper. (remember those Chicks with Knives? They made it...so, we have to stay up and eat it!)
 |
Happy Heidi....
|
How can it be morning again? Already? But it is...and that means, get ready for our next debut at the Santa Fe Farmer's Market! The schedule says we play at 10:00 a.m. "under the Water Tower." What and where is that???
Ukes on our backs, we take off for downtown about 9:30...iPhone mapping leading the way. (and Elaine!)
Ah, HA! Definitely a water tower on the horizon! This must be the place.
 |
| What's next??? |
 |
| Elaine and Heidi share Saturday Market smiles |
 |
| Daniel and Heidi |
 |
| A "regular"at the Santa Fe Farmer's Market |
 |
| Donkeys galore |
 |
Here we are at our Saturday morning Farmer's Market gig!! You'll have to look hard to find Steve and Nan....we're there!
|
 |
| New Mexico chilis!!! |
 |
| Christmas wreath....New Mexico style! |
Then it's back to the inn, and a few more lessons....a fabulous lunch and dinner(once again)....and time to get ready for our evening jam together. Mix together new friends, new music and trying out some new skills (like preforming for each other)...and it's a recipe for a wonderful evening!
 |
| Strumming lesson with Daniel |
 |
| One more moveable chord lesson with Craig |
 |
| What???? The chocolate sauce is gone??? |
 |
| Our room at the Don Gaspar: Territorial |
 |
| Sunday afternoon....and it's time to say adios to New Mexico |
 |
| What a fantastic group! |
We arrive at the ferry landing on Monday morning, ready to be back on San Juan Island. First stop is to break the dogs out of the kennel and then, settle into our island home.
 |
| Headed home on the ferry....PNW colors for sure |
 |
| Ahoy...it's Friday Harbor on a Monday morning! |
Just in case you wonder why we are occassionally homesick....take a look at this incredible photo by friend, Chris Teren. Beautiful place....beautiful photography.
 |
| Our island home: Photo by Chris Teren |
 |
| Monday night happy hour at Froglanding.... |
 |
| Look who is waiting for the ball game to begin! |
 |
| Let the games begin! Everyone is home again!! |
Another ukulele adventure comes to an end...which means...there must be a new one out there....maybe just around the bend!
