Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Greetings from Albuquerque


As you may have noticed, my blogging has been nonexistent as of late. That's because I'm on vacation! I've been in Albuquerque since Saturday visiting family.

My opinion of the place has really changed - the first two times I went, I hated it. It was a brown, run-down wasteland. But then I got to visit all the boutiques and historical sites and see all the art and architecture and I love it! Central Avenue and Nob Hill are full of great places such as Peacecraft, AstroZombie, Stilo, Buffalo Exchange, and Masks Y Mas, where you can find the most unique and funky things imaginable. Even just walking the streets is a visual treat. The people here just live and breathe art. Even the highways and overpasses make use of color, landscaping, and sculpture.


Then you head to Old Town and find authentic Navajo and Pueblo pottery, weaving, jewelry, and crafts. I didn't realize how different the culture here is. New Mexico is very Hispanic and Native American and at times seems indistinguishable from old Mexico. When you've lived out East all your life you never think about American regional differences but I really felt like I was in another country. A modern suburb that's all adobe? Awesome. I wish New York had this much Native American influence.

So anyway, as you've probably guessed, I spent way too much money. Here's what I bought in Albuquerque:

Brazil Nut Tree pod candle (Peacecraft)
Painted bottlecap magnet (Stilo)
Small ceramic bowl (Hanselman Pottery)
Carved wood and painted coyote from Oaxaca (Old Town)
Ironwood carved coyote (Old Town)
Coyote magnet: "Sometimes you just have to howl." (Old Town)
Secondhand leather boots (Buffalo Exchange)
Secondhand Teva sneakers (Buffalo Exchange)
Secondhand homemade blue dress (Buffalo Exchange)

And then today I had to go to Sante Fe, which is like Old Town only bigger! I also bought:

Coyote sand-painted magnet
Coyote figure made of Navajo clay
Small woven square from Mexico

I love coyotes.

Tomorrow is my last full day and I think I'd like to spend it hiking. In the meantime, I have a full reading schedule with several books lined up. (Notice to Emily: Our Horses in Egypt actually did come but it went to my parents' house and they were saving it until I got there, right before I left for NM. I will start it as soon as I finish Silence in October.) Will return to regular blogging next week.

7 comments:

Short Story Slore said...

I've never been, but you make it sound lovely. I have an ex-coworker who lives there and she loves it. Enjoy your vacation!

Anonymous said...

Yay!! I haven't been to Albuquerque in several years, but I was born 2 hours west in Gallup so I have a strong emotional connection to the area. I LOVE NM, and I'm jealous of your travels. I'm glad you're having fun! More pictures, pretty please? :)

Emily said...

Enjoy your vacation, lady! No worries at all at all at all on the Belben. Get to it whenever. I had a kind of hilariously atrocious time the only time I've been to Santa Fe (through no fault of the place itself), which I really need to remedy by going back there.

Eileen said...

Short Story: I'm leaving tomorrow! But I did indeed enjoy this vacation and hope to come back soon.

Sarah: These aren't my pictures! I found them via Google Image Search. I don't own a camera, unfortunately, and my mother didn't bring hers, so we have no pictures! Alas.

Emily: Oh no! Well do come back. Sante Fe and Albuquerque are so awesome. Experience a different culture without leaving the US!

Anonymous said...

Hooray for vacations!

Richard said...

I've been to Albuquerque but not Santa Fe yet, E.L. Fay, and would love to spend more time in NM and AZ in general. Hope you'll consider doing a follow-up post on your trip--how lucky for you to enjoy some fun time away from home!

Eileen said...

Softdrink: Yay!

Richard: It is now Monday night. If I did a full follow-up post, it would be all about United Airlines misplacing my luggage and then having delivery issues. I have never yelled at customer service people before in my entire life. Having worked in retail, I usually sympathize with them! But I was so frustrated!

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