HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!!

We drove to Sante Fe today, and the landscape is starting to grow on me, I think. Grass as yellow as the dirt that patches it, mountains fading away into the sky, small green shrubs that somehow resist the heat. The road stretches on relentlessly, with not a curve in sight. Every now and then we pass through a small, rusting town with four motels and not much else. I wouldn't be surprised if no one bothered to even put these towns on the map!

Just before we stopped for lunch (at a picnic bench that displayed a sign warning "Beware Rattlesnakes") we passed through Roswel, a town def. put on the map thanks to a supposed UFO sighting in 1957. Despite this occuring more than 50 years ago, the town obviously stil heavily depends on this - we passed a UFO museum, an alien gift shop and an extra-terristiel resturant, to name a few!

Our campground is a quiet, wooded area called Rancheros de Sante Fe, and our area was high above everywhere else, the endless stretch of semi-desert surrounding us. We were planning to sleep outside, under the stars, but there were sudden, massive storms - thunder bolts and lightening. Nevertheless, Johnny, still determined to sleep outside, stayed put by the fire.

I was surprised to learn that Sante Fe was the oldest capital city in America. The buildings look old, but in that fake-old-actually-new sort of way. Bright colours and smooth stone, they reminded me of Mexico - a cleaner version. Everything was quite expensive, but J. did finally find an indian blanket that he loved. Ever since Christina intorduced us to "Pedro", her yellow and black blanket, J. has had his heart set on finding on of his own. It is made of lots of different colours, and about 5' X 7'. He is yet to think of a name. Found some quirky beads, Mum - you'll laugh!