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Santa Fe: Massage Capital of the WorldBy Madelyn MillerThere are certain things you just expect to be wonderful in Santa Fe. Their art and galleries, the gourmet restaurants and spectacular shopping are all legendary. Throw in a few world class museums and cultural events and it is easy to understand why Santa Fe is so popular with tourists. And while some people would walk a mile for a Camel, I would travel cross country to get a great massage. Many people believe that Santa Fe is located in a healing vortex. And they certainly have more certified massage therapists per capita than anywhere else. Recently, I got a most memorable massage at the Spa at La Fonda. It wasn’t just that my skilled therapist, Mizi Montargil soothed my spirt and body, she also pampered my mind. I have never had anyone offer me so many choices to customize and personalize my experience. I didn’t just get to choose between six aromatherapy oils for my massage (I chose purifying), I was also asked about the room temperature, the choice of music, if I wanted to start on my stomach or back, and the amount of pressure she used during my massage. The best thing of all was at the very end when she asked me if there was any part of my body that still needed extra attention. I felt like I was being asked if I wanted a second dessert.
“Spa services at our new Fitness Center are designed to complement a stay in Santa Fe,” said James Bradbury, General Manager of La Fonda Hotel. “We’ve designed aromatherapy massages to counter the effects of high altitude and sun so that guests can relax and unwind after a day of hiking or gallery touring. Our expert massage therapists are all are graduates of Santa Fe’s world-class massage schools.” Treatments are by appointment only. The entire facility was created and designed by local designers and artisans, and construction materials used are all environmentally friendly. Summer rates at La Fonda begin at $249 per night for a standard double room, $269 per night for deluxe rooms, and $319 per night for luxury suites. La Fonda is surrounded by museums, shops, galleries, historic churches and other landmarks. But you might just want to get a massage, laze around the pool and soak up the culture vicariously. Another great way to relax is over a drink in the Bell Tower at the top of La Fonda. LA FONDA ON THE PLAZA Located at the end of the historic Santa Fe Trail, La Fonda Hotel is a member of the National Trust Historic Hotels of America. One of the oldest hotels in the country—and the only one situated on the city's downtown Plaza—La Fonda has retained its historic Santa Fe ambiance while acquiring all of the modern amenities. It has 167 uniquely decorated guest rooms and suites, including 14 luxury rooms built around a rooftop garden, and more meeting space than any other Santa Fe hotel. Further information is available at www.lafondasantafe.com for reservations, call 800-523-5002. OTHER INDULGENT THINGS TO DO IN SANTA FEBLACK BOOK FOR CHOCOLATE LOVERS (maybe I should say dark semi-sweet brown book) Café Paris Bakery, 31 Burro Alley, (505) 986-1688 Gourmet Fudge and Wedding Favors Bumble Bee’s Baja Grill 505-820-2862 Try anything baked by Katalyna Weil. She does a mean cowboy crunch and Mexican espresso brownies. I love the cowgirl kisses Kakawa Chocolate House, Mark Sciscenti, Chocolate connoisseur, Pasty chef and Certified Herbalist. 505-438-3402. sunsilver@earthlink.net Try his chocolate truffles and authentic historic chocolate drinks. My favorite was the chocolate chilli drink. FAVORITE FLAVORS OF SANTA FEPear Mascapone Soup at Fuego in La Posada. Chocolate Terraine at Hotel Santa Fe Guacamole prepared tableside at La Fonda RANDOM THOUGHTWhy does it seem that everyone is Santa Fe is either a chef or a massage therapist or has a family member who is? Maybe that is why you get such great food and massages in Santa Fe. WHAT TO DOBrowse Canyon Road. This gallery row features an amazing assortment of fine art, crafts, antiques, jewelry, clothing and restaurants. Santa Fe School of Cooking Take the taste of Santa Fe home by enjoying cooking classes featuring Santa Fe’s top chefs whipping up everything from traditional Northern New Mexican cuisine to contemporary Southwest. 505-983-4511 Santa Fe Opera. One of the most famous in the world. www.santafeopera.org. FLEA MARKET. If you are there on a weekend, check out the flea market by the Opera. Tesuque Flea Market is the official name, but no one calls it that. The land it is on is owned by the Indians. Only open in warmer weather. GET A MASSAGE Shanah Spa and Wellness Center at the Bishop’s Lodge Resort and Spa. Ask for Lanka. My favorite treatments are Native Purification Polish and Native Stone Massage. 1-800-9shanah. You will want to reserve ahead. SHOP FOR ART AND COWBOY BOOTS Stop by Back at the Ranch, where Wendy Lane has been
making fashion cowboy boots for the past 15 years. I believe she pretty much
"owns" this niche. She has lots of celebrity clients, including the Governor
of New Mexico. ART BROWSING SITE Santa Fe is located at 1606 Paseo de Peralta, Santa Fe, NM Minkay Andean Art The unique and original pieces on display include
brilliantly-crafted, ceramics, evocative retablos with hand-made figurines
using boiled potato and plaster by famed artist Nicario Jimenez. The
collection also includes colorful and intricate Andrean textiles, Alpaca
garments and objects used in the traditional folk medicine in the Andes. The Turquoise Trail leads to Hotel Santa Fe... Just check out the fashion-conscious these days, and what you'll find is a plethora of turquoise, the deep blue of a summer sky, the perfect contrast for a summer tan, and the stone that for centuries has been the sacred stone and favorite adornment of Native Americans. So where would you expect to find the turquoise Mother Lode? Just follow the Turquoise Trail to the Picuris Art and Gift Shop at Hotel Santa Fe, where Manager Joan Greer has assembled a stellar collection of turquoise jewelry gleaned from neighboring reservations and pueblos and at prices that permit loading on the treasures, Native-American style. For example, there's a 5-strand necklace of turquoise beads or a single-strand necklace of turquoise heishi - the flat turquoise beads that are a specialty of Santo Domingo Pueblo -- mixed with nuggets. Hand-hammered coin silver beads are interspersed with turquoise beads, while oversize nuggets of turquoise make impressive earrings. The pièce de resistance: an impressive silver-and-turquoise concho belt, guaranteed to create a sensation back home. GREAT TIMES TO VISITDon’t miss the ArtFeast benefit event in late February. Souper Bowl Project Wine and Chile festival Annual Santa Fe Market, a free public celebration of
the colorful arts, crafts, jewelry and cultures of Native Americans and the
American Southwest. Usually the first weekend in April GREAT GUIDEBOOKSHidden Southwest LET’S GO ADVENTURE GUIDE SOUTHWEST USA 2003 Ski America and Canada has the best and most detailed overview of Santa Fe from a winter tourist/skier/snowboarder's perspective. The new edition (15th) will be in bookstores about mid October. Available from most bookstores, Amazon, bn.com and www.worldleisure.com MORE ABOUT NEW MEXICOTHE OLD WEST MOON HANDBOOKS NEW MEXICO FOR MORE INFORMATIONSANTA FE: 800-777-2489 BEST FREEBIEThe Official 2004 Santa Fe Visitors Guide - A Free
Guide to Santa Fe: BEST WAY TO GET THERESOUTHWEST AIRLINES: 800-435-9792 |
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With La Fonda’s new state-of-the-art Fitness Center and
Spa, a stay at the hotel is now a rejuvenating experience in mind, body and
spirit.
The 1,800-square-foot Fitness Center, located on La
Fonda’s first floor, features a massage room, an exercise room with modern
equipment, and beautifully tiled men’s and women’s steam rooms and showers.
A large picture window overlooks the outdoor pool area, including a 45-foot
by 32-foot heated outdoor swimming pool and a double-tiered hot tub with a
cascading fountain that was hand tiled by local artisans. The facilities
are available for use only by guests of the hotel.
Fitness Center services include traditional Swedish
massage, aromatherapy massage, soothing herbal wraps and facials,
therapeutic massage, hot stone massage, Dead Sea full body mask, three-clay
blend body wrap, herbal body wrap, aromatherapy salt glow, body polish,
parrafin hand treatment, foot treatment, revitalizing facials. The massage
room can accommodate couples massages.