The adobe city. Santa Fe is larger than I remember. We stayed at a hotel right in the central area. There was a pool, but it was outdoors. There was snow on the lounge chairs. Nope. We got our act together this morning and set out to the Georgia O’keefe museum. This town has tiny streets and no parking. Not even parking angel could help, except that the city government lot across the street was open since it was Sunday. Not free, but thats ok. We had to wait for a half hour to get in to the museum, and I poked around the museum store while mom kept up with her emails. The exhibit was inspiring for us both. The colors and directness of the paintings is fresh, and mom appreciated the confidence of her abstractions.

Mom’s eyesight is getting worse, and she has been despairing of continuing to paint. But Georgia showed her a new way. I can’t wait to see what she does. We should have a bit of time to try a few paintings when we get to the Grand Canyon. So exciting!

We went to find brunch, and tried to go to Cafe Pasquale’s, which was very popular. Parking angel even got us a spot right next to the restaurant. But we didnt want to wait 40 minutes, we have places to go! We went to Santa Fe Bees, where we got lovely food, mine a huevos rancheros and mom a breakfast sandwich with Texas toast. They even had a parking lot.

We continued our pilgrimage to Abiquiu, where Georgia had a house and studio from 1949. We knew it was closed on Sundays, but wanted to see the place anyway. Up a dirt road maze with other small houses around it. Took a picture of the gate with the view behind it.

Then on to Cortez, CO. This part of New Mexico is really beautiful. The mountains are layered here, with one section set upon another. As the sun set, the colors and shadows created more drama. We would turn a corner and gasp at the new vista.

We made it to our hotel, an Indian casino. We had to walk all the way through the casino to get to the restaurant. I like chaotic ridiculousness, but mom hated it. It was also a long walk. And the restaurant and casino are dry, serving no alcohol, which surprised us. I thought that was how casinos get people to make bad bets. We can survive an evening without alcohol. No, really!

After dinner we hoped for a good take on the election by watching Bill Maher. Didn’t help. I went for a swim and a soak, yes, in the indoor pool!

Tomorrow we visit Mesa Verde and Canyon of the Ancients, on our way to Moab.