--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In any other American city this size, the…" description: "\"“In any other American city this size, the road would have been paved. But in Santa Fe, raw earth is as chic as raw fish. The wealthier locals like it ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/280/walter-satterthwait-84016_nature_in-any-other-american-city-this-size-the_24363.jpg" --- # In any other American city this size, the road would have… ![“In any other American city this size, the road would have been paved. But in Santa Fe, raw earth is as chic as raw fish. The wealthier locals like it especially in the winter, when they can hop into their four-wheel-drive vehicles and feel like cowboys as they go whizzing down the mudslides into…” quote by Walter Satterthwait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/280/walter-satterthwait-84016_nature_in-any-other-american-city-this-size-the_24363.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/280/walter-satterthwait-84016_nature_in-any-other-american-city-this-size-the_24363.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/280/walter-satterthwait-84016_nature_in-any-other-american-city-this-size-the_24363.jpg) > ““In any other American city this size, the road would have been paved. But in Santa Fe, raw earth is as chic as raw fish. The wealthier locals like it especially in the winter, when they can hop into their four-wheel-drive vehicles and feel like cowboys as they go whizzing down the mudslides into town.”” Walter Satterthwait ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote highlights how Santa Fe's unpaved roads are embraced as a cultural aesthetic, contrasting with typical urban expectations of paved infrastructure. **In simple terms:** Santa Fe values raw, rustic terrain over conventional pavement. Key Takeaway Local identity is expressed through embracing ruggedness. Themes cultural identity urban planning regional aesthetics social status environmental perception Mood playful nostalgic ironic Type observational cultural critique When to use this quote - tourists visiting Santa Fe - winter driving experiences - local residents seeking authenticity - urban planners debating infrastructure Key Concepts urban design cultural symbolism social behavior Practical Applications - marketing Santa Fe's unique charm - designing tourism campaigns that emphasize rugged experiences Questions to Reflect On - How does the physical environment shape community identity? - What does the preference for raw earth reveal about local values? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Paved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paved/) [Santa fe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/santa-fe/) ## Related quotes > [I don't know anybody's road who's been paved perfectly for them, there are no manuals, you don't know what life has in store for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-barrymore/i-don-t-know-anybody-s-road-who-s-been-paved-perfectly-for-them-there/) [Drew Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-barrymore/) > [The road we're on may not be paved with gold, and it may get pretty bumpy, but there's no one else I'd rather be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/the-road-we-re-on-may-not-be-paved-with-gold-and-it-may-get-pretty/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [“In Santa Fe her whole yard had been crowded with different-sized terra-cotta pots, out of which she grew everything from rosemary and lavender to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-kate-lynch/in-santa-fe-her-whole-yard-had-been-crowded-with-different-sized/) [Sarah-Kate Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-kate-lynch/) > [I've always loved opera; it never occurred to me that I would write a proper libretto. 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