We arrived in Santa Fe that afternoon to a cold wind and spring snow. Upon check-in
at La Posada, we were assigned #100, one of the most requested and infamous rooms in the hotel. Named for its original resident (a story featured on an episode of Unsolved Mysteries), the Julia Staab Suite is said to be haunted by the tortured soul of a woman who reportedly committed suicide following the tragic death of one of her six children.
Located at the top of a grand staircase, was our huge master suite complete with comfy king bed, large bath and spacious sitting area. Next to my side of the bed hung the life-size portrait of Julia, ghost-in-residence. At night, the muffled sounds of patrons in the small bar/parlor room on the first floor provided a "homey" ambiance, reminiscent of evenings during my childhood when I would drift peacefully to sleep while my parents entertained their company.
Although we only had 2 days in Santa Fe, we used our time wisely. In addition to shopping and exploring the historic culture of downtown Santa Fe, we drove to the Tesuque Pueblo Flea Market to buy cowboy hats and spiritual crystals, enjoyed authentic Mexican cuisine while being entertained by a female mariachi band and treated ourselves to another luxurious massage at a wonderful holistic center in downtown Santa Fe.
Departing La Posada with only one day remaining, we set out to discover the countryside. The weather was warm, sunny and dry, a perfect day for a leisurely drive in our rented convertible. After consulting a local (my wonderful massage therapist, Lynn)for advice, we knew exactly how to best use our final day. and spent it exploring the grand majesty of "The Land of Enchantment". 
Taking the road to Taos, we went from downtown Santa Fe to the Rancho de Chimayo in the Sangre de Christo mountains. After feasting on authentic New Mexican cuisine, we stopped at The Santuario de Chimaya, known by locals as "little Lourdes." The tiny adobe-style church is the site of a yearly, 40 mile, Good Friday pilgrimage for some 30,000 faithful, the dirt from which is said to have miraculous properties.
Without knowing what to expect (which was part of the fun), we headed for our next stop. The scenic drive led us to the spectacular Bandelier National Park. Best known for its mesas, sheer-walled canyons and ancestral pueblo cliff dwellings, Bandelier also includes 23,000 acres of back country wilderness, waterfalls and wildlife. Sometimes scary, but always exciting, the view from the car itself was worth trip! While we didn't have time to hike, we got out of the car a few times to take pictures.
The icing on the cake was the ride back to our hotel that evening. With the top still down we saw the sun set slowly over the mountains, watching with awe as the colors changed with the coming of the night sky. We ended the evening back where we started our "girlfriend getaway", at the El Tamaya on the Santa Ana Pueblo. Drinking mojito's under the stars, beside a glowing chiminea, we talked about all of the places we'd like to explore on our next "girlfriend getaway".
In fact, we had such a great time that we decided to develop a series of "goddess getaways" designed to discover the goddess within. But we'd love to hear from you.
What kind of "getaway" piques your interest?
Would you prefer Spa? Beach? Shopping? Wine? Cruise? And where would you love to go? Miami? Charleston? Sedona? Napa Valley? Drop us a line and let us know. We'll share the comments with you.
Here's to adventure, friendship and self-care!
All the best,
Eileen
Simply Juicy Travel
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