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Santa Fe, New Mexico - Where Cowboys Still Roam!

By Emily Medvec

Real Estate Broker/Owner with eXp Realty LLC NM Broker License 16161

March 24, 2010 08:47 AM

PBG Logo EmilyMedvec.Cowboy.002

If you wonder why Santa Fe, New Mexico is the city different after 400 years, this cowboy passing through downtown Santa Fe, New Mexico with his dog should give you a good idea. The spirit of the West is part of our story and woven into the history and legends of the Santa Fe Trail connecting pioneers, traders, families, adventures and anyone wanting a change in lifestyle to Santa Fe.

The legends of the Trail continue to instill interest in Santa Fe now in our 400th year. I wish I could tell you more about this unknown cowboy I photographed on the corner of West Alameda and Guadalupe. We were both waiting for the traffic light to change. He was walking his horse and dog and I was in my car. We never spoke. He waved when I gave him the thumbs up after clicking the shutter.

The image has remained with me like an unfinished silent film. Was he a lonesome cowboy just passing through town? Or was he a one of the "good guys" with his white hat taking a walk before going to work in one of the many films now shot on location here? Or was he a tourist looking for horse property? Or was he just in a parallel universe to mine when we connected accidently on the streets of Santa Fe?

My imagination is open to any of those possibilities because after all this is the Santa Fe I love! Everyone is welcome!

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Marlene Hoffman - Naples Beach Condos

Downing-Frye Realty, Inc. - Naples, FL

I like your imagination story; he is dressed for the occasion, isn't he?

Mar 24, 2010 12:30 PM

Debi Boucher

Real Estate Showcase Photography - Woodland Park, CO

"Realtor Showcase" - Real Estate Photography/Virtual Tours

Emily - I love this post! I'm so glad you shared it with us in the PhotoBlogger Group! I really like your thoughts about this ole boy, and how your imagination roamed.... I do love Santa Fe, and look forward to more of your posts here!

This post is Featured in the Active Rain PhotoBlogger Group!

This post has earned a Photoblogger Group Award of Merit!

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Mar 24, 2010 01:56 PM

William Johnson

Retired - La Jolla, CA

Retired

Hello Emily and Congratulations on receiving our PhotoBlogger group's Award of Merit.

The photo is intriguing and your story is excellent. I might add that your creative writing talent is superb. You certainly captured our imagination!

Mar 25, 2010 03:07 AM

Gloria Todor

Premier Property Sales & Rentals - Springfield, PA

& Doug Durren (484) 431-3686 in SE PA

Emily, Santa Fe a great place. It's great that he waved back! ---Gloria

Mar 25, 2010 03:36 PM

Emily Medvec

eXp Realty LLC - Santa Fe, NM

Broker | Realtor | Serving Santa Fe & Northern NM

Posting this image was like dropping pebble in a pond and watching the ripples fan out not knowing what to expect next. It turns out as I sent the blog link out to friends, one of our office staff, Myshelle Valentine, called me and asked me "how do you know my John Wayne?"

It turns out the cowboy goes by John Wayne and he rode into Santa Fe by following the historic Santa Fe Trail. Myselle met him on the street and asked him if he needed help. She helped him get to a small community south of Santa Fe and in between found him a place to stay on the way for his horse and two dogs.

Although Myshelle is in my office, we never knew we both knew her John Wayne. The post on Active Rain made the difference and ironically began another story. Who knows what will happen next?

Again, thanks everyone for your kind comments and award. What an unexpected gift activerainers continue to be.

Mar 29, 2010 03:52 PM

Melanie Hedrick

Elite Texas Properties, the best homes from McKinney to Dallas! - McKinney, TX

972-816-7205

Intriguing photo! Its funny how things can feel so modern in our world with our cellphones, internet, etc. And yet there's a whole other world that has chosen not to go that route -- prefering to travel the historic Santa Fe trail with their horse and dog. Interesting to see the two worlds mix!

Mar 31, 2010 02:15 AM

Marcia Hawken

WILLIAM RAVEIS - Naples, FL

Naples Luxury Specialist

Emily, By the look of those chaps, he is no drugstore cowboy. Nope, he just drove two hundred head of cattle from Butte and is headed for his favorite "watering hole". :-)

Apr 05, 2010 11:22 PM

John Novak

Keller Williams Realty The Marketplace - Las Vegas, NV

Henderson, Las Vegas and Summerlin Real Estate

"Waiting for the traffic light to change" ... This was a crossroads in more ways than one! Great story to go with a unique photo, Emily.

Apr 06, 2010 04:07 PM

Evelyn Kennedy

Alain Pinel Realtors - Alameda, CA

Alameda, Real Estate, Alameda, CA

Emily:

Your photo is priceless. The cowboy looks like he stepped out of the 19th Century. Thanks for sharing.

May 05, 2011 05:38 PM

Elisa Uribe Realtor #01427070

Golden Gate Sotheby's International - Berkeley, CA

Opening the Doors to California Homes -East Bay

waht a great shot. It looks so authentic! Good luck in the contest

May 06, 2011 06:13 PM

Mike Yeo

3:16 team REALTY - Frisco, TX

Great shot...almost like time stood still for this cowboy!

May 09, 2011 06:01 AM

Michael Delaware

North Sky Realty LLC - Battle Creek, MI

REALTOR®, CRS, GRI

My wife loves Sante Fe, and wants me to go for a visit there with her later this year if we can fit it in. Looks like a wonderful place.

Jul 07, 2011 04:07 AM

Emelyn Morris-Sayre

The Berkshire Group - Lakewood, CO

CRS, REALTOR, Lakewood/Denver 303-517-5116

I always stop in Santa Fe on my way to see my mother-in-law in Arizona. It is a photographer's paradise! So much history and your photo captures it.

Jul 07, 2011 08:27 AM

Brenda Whitman, Live in Laramie Real Estate

Live in Laramie Real Estate, Laramie, Wyoming - Laramie, WY

Broker/Co-Owner, Laramie, Wyoming

Awesome shot, Emily! He really looks like part of the usual landscape... and thanks for sharing the backstory that has occured since!

Jul 08, 2011 06:06 AM

John McCormack, CRS

Albuquerque Homes Realty - Albuquerque, NM

Honesty, Integrity, Results, Experienced. HIRE Me!

Emily..What a gem of a shot and so very true of Santa Fe the City Different. I like the parallel universe idea. Congrats on the reward. Your neighbor from Abq.

Jul 24, 2011 02:12 PM

Kristin Hamilton CA REALTOR

Berkshire Hathaway California Realty - Beaumont, CA

(909) 557-6966- Specialize 55+ Communties Banning

Hi Emily,

What a great picture! I loved westerns as a child and thought no one was better than John Wayne. This is a fantastic shot and looks real seasoned cowboy instead of some staged one. Thanks for sharing.

Sep 09, 2011 04:53 PM

Emily Medvec

eXp Realty LLC - Santa Fe, NM

Broker | Realtor | Serving Santa Fe & Northern NM

Kristin, like you westerns were my first favorite movie experience more my opportunity to see horses and the amazing landscape of the west. Perhaps, that is how I finally settled in Santa Fe, NM. And yes, this image is real and natural and how it happened. He is real and loves Santa Fe too. Thank you for your comment.

Sep 10, 2011 02:24 AM