After Sante Fe we headed Northeast for Las Vegas, NM for a visit with Mitch’s colleague, Bob Rivas and his wife Donna, who were just getting back from a trip to Italy. We would see them the following day. We checked  into the historic Plaza Hotel, which was built in 1882 when Las Vegas was a thriving railroad town.

The old Santa Fe Trail runs through the center of town and for over a century Las Vegas was a major railroad stop for travelers. It was fun to walk the downtown with its historic buildings and antique shops. But if you think this is a town that time has passed by, think again. Las Vegas has a vibrant arts community, and Donna, a weaver and president of the Arts Council, is a key part of it. Since moving here, Bob has thrown himself into researching  the history of the town and is active in its historic preservation.

By Margarito R. Mondragon

Dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows Church

“El Compesino” by Peter E.Lopez dedicated to the San Isidoro Farm Workers

The first night, Sunday, we had dinner in the hotel’s saloon and Apollo had another chance to walk into a bar and carouse with heavily imbibed football fans.

The next morning we paid a visit to Bob and Donna, who before moving to Las Vegas lived in upstate New York and are recently retired to Donna’s hometown.  Apollo played with Lola and Lucy, the Rivas’ Golden Retrievers, who were left behind when we all piled into the Bob and Donna’s Highlander and dove up to Johnson’s Mesa (elevation 10,500 feet) for a picnic.

That evening Donna made a fabulous meal of slow cooked short ribs. We spent time together drinking wine and listening to Bob and Mitch talk about their social work conference escapades.