Monday, June 2, 2014

Fanta Se

Over the past thirty years or so, Santa Fe became transformed; but the changed appreciably affected the nature of the population of the City of the Holy Faith of St. Francis of Assisi (to translate its original name).

Despite being the capital of New Mexico, for a long time it had a small town, largely Hispanic and Indian feel to it.  The cost of living there was reasonable; and a number of hippies, as they were styled earlier moved there to experience the American Dream, including Indians too. 

But then the Beautiful People discovered it, and art galleries and luxury hotels sprang up.  It became increasingly expensive to live there, and to own a house due to the steep rise in property values.  Many Hispanics, Indians, and hippie offspring could not afford to live there unless they held down two jobs.

Santa Fe became a victim of its own success.  It lost its third world aspect, and became booming.

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