Day 9 in ABQ

Ugh!  I forgot to take some medication until late afternoon, and felt out of sorts all day.  

My friend, Angela, led me on a walk around the neighborhood, pointing out the southwestern architecture and teaching me what an arroyo is.  (It's a drainage system, much like what I remember from Adam-12 where Martin Milner and Kent McCord would chase cars along the steeply banked "arroyo" until the crime perpetrator inevitably flipped over. "1-Adam-12 in pursuit!")  We walked through an amazing park that was parched soil with some dormant sagebrushes and cacti.  Angela said that roadrunners habitated the park, and I was hoping to see my first one.  No deal.

I climbed up the top of a massive, angled barrier to see what was on the other side, and it was a beautiful view from there.  ON this trip, I am hoping to explore all kinds of experiences.  Near her home is the Flying Star Cafe, complete with nearly 300 different magazine titles you can borrow or buy, and free wifi. It's a bustling diner with concrete floors and multi-tiered seating arrangement that lets your see who else is eating at this place, and it prodly display articles and awards indicating it has the best desserts in the area.


I had been adamant with Angela that I needed a break from the sightseeing to have quiet time for business and writing.  I was besieged by technical difficulties on this day, and my blog for day 8 was posted with a degree of difficulty.  My phone was not working properly, and everything was in disarray.  A Mac user came in and sat next to me at the counter, and before too long, he started talking to me.  I asked him a question that has become a customary opener on this trip:  What should I see in this city that you would want to see if you were here for one day?

"This place," Richie said.  "The Flying Star Cafe saved my life."  I thought this was extreme hyperbole, until later Angela confirmed that several of her friends feel that way too.  Richie was the pinnacle of casual attitude, dressed in a predominantly red tie-dye shirt, rope-tied pants and tie-dyed socks.  But he said he just got a job that morning, despite his attire.  He said he had to go back tomorrow so they could see him dressed up.  He talked about ABQ being the coolest place to live because of the Flying Star, and the Sandia Mountains that take on a red glow at twilight.  I found his admiration of his city to be refreshing.   He liked Frog Angel, and my spiritual journey, too.


Angela came by later, and allowed me to take a few pictures before ordering me, "Get in and hold on!"  Hearing her say that struck fear into my heart.  I jest, because she merely wanted to get me across town to take pictures before darkness set in.  We went to the Historic Old Town, and then to Garduna's restaurant, where we enjoyed free happy hour Mexican seven-layer dip with mini tacos and wings plus cocktails for $8.  As a bonus, the Bruins-Rangers game was on television.  

Because I was rushed and slow of mind due to illness, I was unable to edit many of the photos from the previous night and post them.  I will add some here, because Santa Fe  was very nice.

Kerry and Angela in front of the Christmas lights in the plaza, a central square in Santa Fe.


A 12th century statue of Francis of Assisi.  It's stunning.


This madonna was so lifelike.  Amazing.


The Christmas tree behind the altar at St. Francis Cathedral Basilica in Santa Fe.


This was not the priest who said Mass.  They just had the same coiffure.