Santa Fe, NM

Yesterday Hector and I arrived in Albuquerque around 1:30 and were up in Santa Fe by 3. Since Kent and Bob weren't home yet we had a little lunch at the Plaza Cafe, did a stroll 'round the Plaza, then met the boys over at their house. Kent had rehearsal last night (he's directing an obscure musical that I saw the premier of in LA in the late 1970's... um... when I was two.) Bob and H. and I had a cheese/cracker/fruit and guacamole snack for dinner then we went to bed early.

Today, we arose all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and, after a delicious breakfast with Kent at Pasqual's, H. and I left early for a hike at Bandelier National Park. It was delightful weather, all sunny and warm. Not too many tourists. No snakes this time. But we did see a slutty-looking lady walking along the trail in STILETTO heels. We hiked around 5 miles in our ECCO HIKING BOOTS. The streams were gushing from all the rain this season and the park rangers were downright giddy.

We drove over to Chimayo because Kent wanted us to take some photos of the Sanctuario de Chimayo because his production company is shooting something there soon. So we became location scouts. It's a small church, everything is hand painted. Off the chapel is a small room with a round hole in the floor. This hole contains holy dirt and people come to rub it on themselves to be healed. The room is lined with crutches left by pilgrims. I smeared some dirt on my forehead like Ash Wednesday but so far nothing has happened. We then visited with a crazy Indian selling spices who wanted to know why we were wearing matching gold rings, flirted with a nutty old queen running a souvenir shop, and had a great lunch and a glass of sangria at Rancho de Chimayo. That's pretty much the whole village.

Back to Santa Fe. Went over for a quick drink with Charles and Akushla. They are adorable, especially him. She's all perky and Irish and fun. K. and B. call Charles a faux-mo because he's so huggable and gay-friendly. Then we ate dinner at Geronimo. It was just wonderful. I had a crab cake appetizer that was so good I had it again for my main course. Kent and Bob knew everyone there, including the owner. Back home, collapsed, feeling my [not that advanced] age.