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.