Nice ride to Albuquerque. Along the way I reflect on Southwest Style. Southwest architecture is Pueblo. It’s everywhere in New Mexico. Government buildings, businesses, apartments and homes. Pueblo Style is everywhere. After visiting cliff dwellings and villages in Colorado and Utah it’s clear where Southwest Architectural Style came from. Directly ‘borrowed’ from native americans. Modified with a pinch of Spanish influence. Official name given to native people of this area has been Anasazi but I learn there is a new official name: Pueblo People. Pueblo adobe construction's perfectly suited to desert living. Ancient innovators design is still being used in modern construction.Made it to Albuqueque and headed straight for Petroglyph National Monument. We walked a two mile trail through what appears to be barren rolling hills covered with black boulders scattered everywhere. Hundreds of petroglyphs on these rocks. Small rocks after seeing massive rock cliffs up north. This is no longer Fremont People country. By the way, how can you name a group of people after an arrogant dude who claims to have "discovered" them? Insane. Time for a reality check. Understanding differences between the Apache and "Fremont" peoples' glyphs needs study.
My mood changes.Feeling a void. A heavy dose of "what does anything matter?" Found a nice RV Park. Unhitched. Tuned in to watch Seahawks convincing victory over FortyNiners with help of satellite connection. The win lifts my dark mood a bit. Took a shower, did laundry. Cleaned up RV. Blues seemed to clear up. Drove into the old town of Albuquerque and nosed around. Walking into the main plaza I get a feel of the old west. Stepped into a few shops to check out local souvenir offerings. Nothing here surpasses my own work. I feel encouraged. Anywhere there are tourist visitors I could settle and make a living. This is one purpose of my journey, to find out some cool spots to stay.
I am a tourist. I relate to tourists. Aren't, we all just visiting? Traveling through space at 55,000 miles per hour. Amazing that your hairdo stays in place.
Been thinking about future, my future. There are a few directions I can go.
1. Keep making art for souvenirs and expanding this to cover other cities/destinations.
2. Start painting personal work and presenting in Fine Art venues.
3. Make and market licensing art.
4. Smell the flowers and retire early! Extend this sabbatical break and explore universe.Not necessarily separate pursuits. Could be some overlap here. Albuquerque is not in the running as a place I’d like to settle. One day here is long enough. Experienced a nice Mexican dinner at La Hacienda. Wait-staff look like kids. Colorful place with bright historical murals around. The ‘kids’ light a fire in the corner fireplace. Open beam ceilings. Plenty of bougiegangas (colorful nostalgia). Carved wood chairs. Bright rugs hanging. Spanish guitars playing. Combo meal is enjoyable. Waiter apologizes for delay but I don’t even notice. Deep in my own thoughts. In the morning I head down the highway, on to Monticello.