7.23-24.14 Albuquerque, NM & Santa Fe, NM (Four Corners Monument)

Day 36-
Next stop: Four Corners Monument
We took a little detour by the Little Colorado River Gorge. We bought some crafts from the vendors at the Artisan Market. Hours later we arrived to the Four Corners. We each paid the $5 entrance fee and took our pictures while standing on Utah, Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico simultaneously. We shared some fry bread and I hooped in the desert before we continued on the journey.

More hours of driving and snacking in the minivan. We arrived in Albuquerque in the evening. We met our host, a friend of a friend. They were kind enough to host us on short notice. Christina and I still needed food so we went to a Mexican restaurant, Tacos Mex Y Mariscos. I ordered a plate of chicken flautas with rice, beans, and salad. I ate everything on that plate. During dinner we planned a self-guided Breaking Bad tour of ABQ.

We drove the Walter White's house, ate chicken nuggets at the Twister's that they used as Los Pollos Hermanos, Jesse Pinkman's house and Marble Brewery where Brian Cranston and the crew would frequent for drinks.

We met back at our host's home where I tagged along with him around the corner to briefly meet more of my friend's friends. I got more of an insight into his hard core punk glory days. It was good night.

Day 37 (AM)-
We woke up early to begin the travel north. In the haze and lack of routine, I left my keys on top of the van. They flew off somewhere on Interstate 25 as we were leaving Albuquerque. I realized my loss when we arrived in Santa Fe, NM. I was really upset but thankful we had brought two sets of car keys. To New Mexico - I leave my set of keys and big key chains.

In Santa Fe, we visited the Georgia O'Keefe Museum. I appreciate learning about her as an individual and not just her paintings. She was amazing. I thought it was interesting to study her struggle with identity in her time. As Alfred Stieglitz's wife and model, she was completely sexualized and that was how the public was introduced to her. She was a strong figure but critics could not see beyond that aspect of her femininity. Her paintings and genres did not captivate me before. They still feel like flowers and landscapes. I appreciate her use of color. I appreciate her life. I appreciate her strength and power.

After losing my keys, I was still in a funk. There is so much to see in Santa Fe. We wandered through the plaza and found Palacio Cafe for lunch. I got a vegetarian santawich with toasted whole wheat bread, avocado, tomato, arugula, cucumber, red pepper, onions, sprouts, and a honey mustard vinaigrette. I picked up a few brochures from the art museums. I know I will come back to Santa Fe one day.