So yesterday I had a bus going from Albuquerque to Amarillo. Easy as cake, right? No. Halfway there the bus kept driving to the side of the road. Something was wrong went the ventilator, or fan or whatever, and we couldn't go any further. A fellow passenger tried to help him out, got the thing solved at everyone was clapping because we were so happy to beback on some sort of schedule. Wrong. Again we had to stop every ten minutes, windows had to be opened until - finally - we had to stop at small town Santa Rosa, New Mexico, to for three hours until another bus came. The only thing nearby was a so-called food mart, which isn't filled with food at all, let me tell you that. A new bus came, and we were on our way again.
The good thing, though, is that everyone kept being happy the whole time. This was mainly because of the joyous driver and a Trevor Morgan-looking guy who kept cracking jokes that made everyone laugh. So really not that bad an experience even though I arrived at Amarillo at 9pm and DIDN'T get to see the Cadillac Ranch. So sad.
However, I did get to meet these two guys, Owen and Josh, who told me one of the scariest stories I've ever heard in my entire life. This is basically the reason I will not tell you guys about it. Hell, I had some trouble sleeping because of that thing. Scary. But if you want to you can ask me when I get back, then maybe I'l tell you... maybe.
Now I'm just waiting to go to Dallas. People tell me it's a dead city with a certain lack of personality, but I'll just have to see for myself. At least they have the place where Kennedy died and that's cool in its own way. Hopefully nothing will happen on the bus today. I don't want to be there any later than 9:30pm, he official time of arrival, which is still pretty late when you arrive somewhere.
Catch you guys later,
Nadia
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Uneventful, yet satisfying day
Things that is true about America:
1) They have curfews. They actually have curfews if you’re under some age, depending on the state. I know! It’s crazy!
2) Everyone sues everyone. They talk about suing on the street, they have billboards that encourages people to sue, and lawyers have way too many ads on TV (always with a catchy jingle to remember who to call)
3) And their commercials in themselves are awesome. They’re so corny, cheesy and downright embarrassing that I wish I could tape them. Again music is key.
There are probably plenty more, but those are what come to mind. However, I do love this country so far. Just like I’ve always done.
Today has been uneventful, but satisfying. I drank coffee in the morning while working on my budget – something that I love somehow; I guess I’m like my mother that way. Anyway, I was waiting for the Rail Runner which is the best transportation in the world! You want to know why? Because it’s actually funny. Every time it leaves the station it makes the sound of the Road Runner, and that’s brilliant. I had no idea transportation would be funny. Anyway, I got back to Albuquerque, went to the House of Hippies (which it is now called), and read the Charles Bukowski I got from Sarah, one of the earlier mentioned skater girls, before she left for Phoenix in the middle of the night. I finished Margaret Atwood’s Cat’s Eye yesterday and it was freaking amazing. Anyway, Marielle entered the house, we talked a while and then I went to Satellite, a coffeehouse nearby, to work on Freckles, my new novel. I stayed there until 10pm, then left, and now I’m here, again in front of the computer.
1) They have curfews. They actually have curfews if you’re under some age, depending on the state. I know! It’s crazy!
2) Everyone sues everyone. They talk about suing on the street, they have billboards that encourages people to sue, and lawyers have way too many ads on TV (always with a catchy jingle to remember who to call)
3) And their commercials in themselves are awesome. They’re so corny, cheesy and downright embarrassing that I wish I could tape them. Again music is key.
There are probably plenty more, but those are what come to mind. However, I do love this country so far. Just like I’ve always done.
Today has been uneventful, but satisfying. I drank coffee in the morning while working on my budget – something that I love somehow; I guess I’m like my mother that way. Anyway, I was waiting for the Rail Runner which is the best transportation in the world! You want to know why? Because it’s actually funny. Every time it leaves the station it makes the sound of the Road Runner, and that’s brilliant. I had no idea transportation would be funny. Anyway, I got back to Albuquerque, went to the House of Hippies (which it is now called), and read the Charles Bukowski I got from Sarah, one of the earlier mentioned skater girls, before she left for Phoenix in the middle of the night. I finished Margaret Atwood’s Cat’s Eye yesterday and it was freaking amazing. Anyway, Marielle entered the house, we talked a while and then I went to Satellite, a coffeehouse nearby, to work on Freckles, my new novel. I stayed there until 10pm, then left, and now I’m here, again in front of the computer.
Oh, and so many Americans don't even believe that I'm from Denmark when I tell them. They actually believe me to be American. Awesome!
That’s pretty much what has happened. And it’s kind of cool to know a city so well that you can choose not to be in it, and yet know where to go when you’re about to write some more on your novel. Tomorrow it’ll be all about Amarillo and if I get the chance I’ll go to see the crazy Cadillac Ranch, where some rich dude has decided to spend his money in an all too weird way. Maybe more about that later; maybe more about something else.
That’s pretty much what has happened. And it’s kind of cool to know a city so well that you can choose not to be in it, and yet know where to go when you’re about to write some more on your novel. Tomorrow it’ll be all about Amarillo and if I get the chance I’ll go to see the crazy Cadillac Ranch, where some rich dude has decided to spend his money in an all too weird way. Maybe more about that later; maybe more about something else.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Pop Art
Valentine's Day is gone and so are most of the Santa Fe tourists. There have been surprisingly many these last days, but now everything is quiet and very strange. After so much action downtown it was weird that there were no kids, and parents, and noise.
Today I went pretty much gallery hopping on the main streets downtown and took some pictures of Loretto Chapel while I was at it. This place is magical. It's like a giant museum filled with various great canteens and museum stores. That's what it's like. And then it was President's Day today which meant that the post office was closed. Bummer. I had some things I wanted to send out.
So sorry guys, but there's not much to tell. I've been looking at pop art all day walking every sidewalk of the centre, exploring the city so I can really say I've been here. You should be here too once.
Nadia
Today I went pretty much gallery hopping on the main streets downtown and took some pictures of Loretto Chapel while I was at it. This place is magical. It's like a giant museum filled with various great canteens and museum stores. That's what it's like. And then it was President's Day today which meant that the post office was closed. Bummer. I had some things I wanted to send out.
So sorry guys, but there's not much to tell. I've been looking at pop art all day walking every sidewalk of the centre, exploring the city so I can really say I've been here. You should be here too once.
Nadia
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Art in Santa Fe
I've had such a good day today. First I went to the Georgia O'Keefe museum for some famous culture and a short lecture on O'Keefe and her life. It was really interesting and a good way on what would become a day filled with art and conversations in one of the most beautiful places I've been in the US so far.
After this I went to Canyon Road, one of the most famous art roads in Santa Fe. There were so many galleries and it's easy to make pass here. Anyway, I went into this one gallery and was greeted by the cutest dog ever. "That's Gracy" a woman said. I hugged down and scratched Gracy behind her ears so that we could become friends. "Where are you from?" the woman asked. I stood up and told her. And then she told me of all the places she had lived in her life. Originally from Nebraska, she moved to Knoxville where she lived in her car until she moved to Albuquerque. She then got married to a Danish man and together they moved to Santa Fe. She told me about her son who had died ten years ago and the conservatism in the Midwest. It was so incredible to talk to her and hear about what she had experienced. Every time there would be people in the gallery she'd say hello to them, and then return to me with naming me Sweetheart or Sweetie. Like this: "so, Sweetheart, where are you going next" or "so tell me, Sweetie, where have you been so far?" I could've talked to her for hours on end, but when I had to leave she hugged me goodbye and told me to be safe. So if you EVER get to Santa Fe; go to Meyer East Galleries. A pretty rad woman works there.
But art dealers are pretty talkative in general, asking where you're from and stuff like that. However, some of them gave some really good tips. Like this one guy who wrote me down directions to get to San Diego from Los Angeles - which is something I certainly must convince Ivar and my mom to drive to when they get there in July. It's only a 1 hour drive!
Anyway, in the late afternoon I came back to downtown and bought the coolest hat ever (EVER!) that looked like a dog, and then went to see a play that was showing in one of the local bookstores. It was called Love Letters and had me in tears at the end. But that's the kind of stuff that happens in Santa Fe: art just happens here.
So come here at least once in your lifetime. Seriously, you won't regret it. I mean, I kind of want to move here.
Nadia
After this I went to Canyon Road, one of the most famous art roads in Santa Fe. There were so many galleries and it's easy to make pass here. Anyway, I went into this one gallery and was greeted by the cutest dog ever. "That's Gracy" a woman said. I hugged down and scratched Gracy behind her ears so that we could become friends. "Where are you from?" the woman asked. I stood up and told her. And then she told me of all the places she had lived in her life. Originally from Nebraska, she moved to Knoxville where she lived in her car until she moved to Albuquerque. She then got married to a Danish man and together they moved to Santa Fe. She told me about her son who had died ten years ago and the conservatism in the Midwest. It was so incredible to talk to her and hear about what she had experienced. Every time there would be people in the gallery she'd say hello to them, and then return to me with naming me Sweetheart or Sweetie. Like this: "so, Sweetheart, where are you going next" or "so tell me, Sweetie, where have you been so far?" I could've talked to her for hours on end, but when I had to leave she hugged me goodbye and told me to be safe. So if you EVER get to Santa Fe; go to Meyer East Galleries. A pretty rad woman works there.
But art dealers are pretty talkative in general, asking where you're from and stuff like that. However, some of them gave some really good tips. Like this one guy who wrote me down directions to get to San Diego from Los Angeles - which is something I certainly must convince Ivar and my mom to drive to when they get there in July. It's only a 1 hour drive!
Anyway, in the late afternoon I came back to downtown and bought the coolest hat ever (EVER!) that looked like a dog, and then went to see a play that was showing in one of the local bookstores. It was called Love Letters and had me in tears at the end. But that's the kind of stuff that happens in Santa Fe: art just happens here.
So come here at least once in your lifetime. Seriously, you won't regret it. I mean, I kind of want to move here.
Nadia
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Santa Fe is the best!
If you are in any way into art, you should come to Santa Fe. This is my kind of town.
I left Albuquerque this morning via the Rail Runner which cost me something like 4 bucks, and that's nothing next to the 36 I had to pay if I chose Amtrak. And I have to admot to you guys; I like Santa Fe a whole lot better than Albuquerque where I liked Central Avenue and then found it difficult to see if there was anything else there.
But Santa Fe is cultural! There are art galleries everywhere here, and they are good. When I got here I went for a stroll downtown, and went to a bookstore where there was also live music going on. That's what the town is all about: art. I love how I'm about to spend two whole days here. I have a feeling that Santa Fe is a pretty unerestimated place to Europeans, and I intend to straighten that out.
For it to be even better I'm staying at the cheapest and best place ever called the Sage Inn. It's pretty close to everything, the rooms are great, the breakfast is supposedly pretty rad, there's free everything (including Internet, thank you very much) and the people are so nice. And did I mention it was cheap?
Well, I'm off. Catch you guys later.
Nadia
I left Albuquerque this morning via the Rail Runner which cost me something like 4 bucks, and that's nothing next to the 36 I had to pay if I chose Amtrak. And I have to admot to you guys; I like Santa Fe a whole lot better than Albuquerque where I liked Central Avenue and then found it difficult to see if there was anything else there.
But Santa Fe is cultural! There are art galleries everywhere here, and they are good. When I got here I went for a stroll downtown, and went to a bookstore where there was also live music going on. That's what the town is all about: art. I love how I'm about to spend two whole days here. I have a feeling that Santa Fe is a pretty unerestimated place to Europeans, and I intend to straighten that out.
For it to be even better I'm staying at the cheapest and best place ever called the Sage Inn. It's pretty close to everything, the rooms are great, the breakfast is supposedly pretty rad, there's free everything (including Internet, thank you very much) and the people are so nice. And did I mention it was cheap?
Well, I'm off. Catch you guys later.
Nadia
Friday, February 12, 2010
Albuquerque
First of all I need to tell you guys about the seriously amazing food that's going on in Albuquerque. Today I went to this cafe called the Gold Street Cafe and I had the best sandwich one can ever have. So good. Apparently this is one of the perks of New Mexico and I believe that's true. And apparently the food of Santa Fe is even better, so I can't way to eat my heart out there.
Other than that I went to the downtown area today and I can conclude this: Central Avenue is fantastic. It has local art all over the place and good art at that. There are colours everywhere, and it looks like a mix between the States and Mexico. But if you move away from Central you'll be bored and nothing will happen. It's a town that lives on a single street, and even though Central goes right down Old Town, downtown and Nob Hill, it's still not enough.
I went to this Museum of Intolerance where there was no admission and it was so sad and informative at the same time. Unfortunately there was a guy who worked there, who kept talking to me, and it took away a little of the positive experience. He also said that Santa Fe was boring and that "social workers aren't exactly rocket scientists", which kind of amused me when I came to think of the fact that he worked in the Intolerance Museum. Oh well.
Then it's cool that I met Sarah and Claire, two skater girls from Chicago. They came here only because Repo Man was filmed here and that's something I can understand. I told them that I really looked forward to Omaha, and Sarah asked why. I said "the music there is fantastic" and she looked at Claire and said "Saddle Creek". And anyone who responds like that are fucking cool in my mind.
At the end of the day I went to see The Wolfman at the downtown cinema and was surprised of how many trailers they showed. Eight! Wow. And now we are at numbers. How many people have asked me for money since I got here? Six. That's more than all the other places combined. Yeah, I'm not too big on Albuquerque, but don't get me wrong: Central is great.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Certificate of Bravery
Went to the Rattlesnake Museum today and was frightened. Actually I was so scared that I could hardly breathe at one point and I just stood there looking down on the ground. No, this was NOT because of the snakes. I love snakes! It was something else: Today I was forced to face my intense fear of huge, giant, hairy, scary, absolutely terrifying spiders. See, no one (no one!) told me ANYTHING about spiders, so I was happy looking through all the pretty snakes until suddenly I couldn't see it. I looked, I scouted, but there was nothing. And then suddenly I realized I was about 10 centimeters away from one, no way, the worst fear I have: tarantulas. I didn't scream. I've learned not to. Instead I kept my breathe (or rather, I stopped breathing) moved away quickly, and escaped to the corners where I realized that this was not the only eight-legged creature in here. Thankfully, they were all gone in the next room and once I told this to one of my (very) hippie-ish companions, MaryBelle, she embraced me and said "aaww". What a sweetheart.
Well, at least now I can say that I've been in the same room as those evil things, right? When we got out of there I got a Certificate of Bravery from the dude who owned the place and I still don't know if I should feel ashamed or proud of that fact. Hm.
Anyway, I'm staying at the craziest place. It's like a hostel even though it's not, and it full of vegan hippies. I kind of like it, and still I'm not aware of what's going on. But it definitely is interesting and very New Mexico.
Also, I went to the University part of town today. It's called Nob Hill just like the district in San Francisco. It was such a university place and all the kids there were indie and super chic. It made for some interesting cafes and boutiques, and even one where I could sell my earrings and get a sweater in return. Hey, that was a pretty good trade right there.
Tomorrow I'll hit downtown. For now I'll just go to sleep real soon.
Nadia
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