Albuquerque

Did I tell ya we went to the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta last month? Way cool. 750 hot air balloons lifting off and filling the air at the same time. The dawn patrol, going up just before sunrise and flickering their colors in unison: wow.

We drove -- which was half the fun. It took 12 hours each way, but in Bob's FX, it was nothing. That car is so comfortable. You don't get fatigued. On the way, we swung through the Petrified Forest which was being visited by a busload of asian monk types in brown tunics. There were two guys with them in bright orange. We decided they were the leaders. They viewed the forest on their own and seemed to take great pleasure in each other's company . . . hmmm.

I bought a Zuni ring of a very angular -- almost tri-angular -- eagle with opan inlays around his head and tail.

We stayed at La Posada de Albuquerque, which was a gas. It's a wonderful old historic hotel in downtown with the most captivating bar in the huge lobby. I highly recommend it. Even the food was good.

If you go to the festival as we did, as spectators, bear in mind that it all happens between 6am and noon. Everythings over pretty much then until evening when there is another flicker fest and some fireworks. We used our off time to go to Santa Fe.
Bob picked up a couple of amazing pieces of jewelry: a necklace and bracelet made with snake vertibrae. The necklace also had a small leather pouch filled with magic stuff for protection. I have every confidence that the thing works. The pouch looks very old: like it's made of human skin. We drank some beer in Santa Fe.

We also spent time in old town Albuquerque, which is also well worth the time. We went to an art show where one of the desk guys from the hotel was exhibiting. It was a Mexican American show and he did camp/kitch decorated cutouts of saints in litle shadow boxes. Quite nice. We bought one of Mary cradling a dead and bleeding Jesus in her arms.

We also bought a batik from Gary Fey at the Festival. It's a near luminous rooster, done on patterend silk that shines and seems to change as you move back and forth before it.