Relaxing in the Land of Enchantment

It’s time for rest and relaxation with Samantha Brown!

Just like the dude ranch episode, this is a repeat of an earlier episode. At the rate I’m going, I may be able to recap all of Sam’s Great Weekends!

This time, we’re in Santa Fe, NM.

Friday afternoon: Sam decides to go for a hot air balloon ride. I give her credit. My fear of heights would probably prevent me from getting off the ground. But that is one great way to see the city and the landscape. Her tour guide shows her five inactive volcanoes on one side and the Rio Grande on the other. It reminds me of the time we flew to Disney (I know, I know, which time, right?) and the pilot came over the loudspeaker. He said if we looked out to our right, we could see the Washington Monument. If we looked out to our left, we could see Hurricane Floyd! Of course, we were several miles away from the hurricane so in no danger, but it’s a bit unnerving and awe-inspiring to look out an airplane window and see the arms of a hurricane. It’s an image I’ll always remember.

My trip down memory lane is complete and so is Sam’s balloon ride! She touches down somewhere near Albuquerque.

Friday evening: Sam hitches a ride back to Santa Fe to take in the art scene. She walks down Canyon Road, just lined with art galleries and parties. Sam arrives to one where they already finished the cheese. She even meets one of the artists as she admires his glasswork. Sam decides to try her hand at art—namely pottery. Sam makes her own bowl.

Saturday morning: Sam trades in her jogging shoes for a bike helmet. She goes biking along Santa Fe trails, enjoying the smell of sage as she climbs uphill. She heads away from the city and into the mountains, enjoying the view of the Rockies’ southern most point.

Coming up: Dance lessons and New Age things?

Saturday afternoon: Sam talks about the Spanish influence on the city and goes to get a Flamenco lesson. Sam jokes that the people in the apartment below her are going to love her new skills as she learns the different feet sounds in the dance. She then moves on to the fan part of the dance. Once they add the music, Sam gets the feel of the dance and does well. Sam decides to explore some of Santa Fe’s alternative healers. Also known as New Age stuff. She goes to Louisa, a medicine man. Er, woman. Louisa invites many spirits and ancestors into the room, which seems to take a while. She then takes a drum to play…What tribe is Louisa associated with? She then gives a reading. She tells Sam to continue to do her shows. I agree!

Sam then goes to visit Millie, who uses color therapy. Okay. She plays different tones for Sam, who hopes to cure her altitude headache. It does lull Sam into a sleeplike state, you know the one where you’re between sleep and being awake?

Next: Sam hits the bar and the hot tub.

Sam is staying in the Inn of the Five Graces. It looks beautiful, with mosaics and beautiful patterned sheets. Sam lies on her bed, enjoying the view of both her room and the outside.

Saturday evening: Sam goes to the Pink Adobe, the restaurant by her hotel. She particularly goes to the Dragon Room, the establishment’s bar. The barkeep makes her a martini and lets her assist. She raises a glass with everyone sitting at the bar and enjoys her drink. Sam then takes a shot of tequila. Did that last week. Three of them. And it turns out the Pink Adobe is haunted and the barkeep had an experience. He was alone in the restaurant and heard a woman say “Look at me” but there was no one there. Sam asks if he was scared before saying that the next time he tells the story, he should start with “It was a dark and stormy night…”

How cliché, but we’ll forgive her.

Coming up: SPA!

Sunday morning: Goes to a Ten Thousand Spa, Sam gets into the hot tub. Today, everyone is in bathing suits because of the cameras but usually the women are au naturel. Sam decides to take the plunge—into the icy water tub. After that shock to her system, Sam goes to get some treatment with basalt stones. Sam finishes her weekend in Santa Fe in her own private bath.

Now that’s what I call pampering yourself! Another great weekend for anyone who wants to press the reset button.