Chasing Clean Air

Northern California

I'm planning my N. California trip, starting in San Francisco to visit family. Any suggestions?

I'll visit Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, Fort Bragg, probably, Santa Cruz.

Where have you loved to visit and live in Northern California?

I'm interested in beauty, clean air, and a nice community with open-minded people.

Nice day in L.A.

Today, a blue sky beach day.

Santa Monica, California.

No wind, returned kite to car.

Walk along sand, and pedestrian walk... bicyclists, rollerblades, new running shoes on me. Feet hurt from so much walking, dancing, went to Frontrunners in Brentwood to get sized for new athletic shoes; they give great service. Ask for Shayla if you go, very knowledgeable, helpful, nice.

Ran into Timmy and her daughter at gym. Had lunch together. Here's my new shoes and hat with violet trim.

Regrouping

Regrouping. View from desk where I write now. Brentwood.

The Getty towers on green hill overlooking city...ivory white structure reminiscent of Greek and Israeli architecture, solid. Palm trees sway in mild Santa Ana winds, as I sneak a peek above my computer to enjoy view.

Getty was a man who gave to humanity while ignoring family members, foresaking caring for their hearts and minds. Everyone gives in their own way. Right now I enjoy Getty's gift to humanity. The architectural wonder of the Getty - a billion dollars in the making - parallels the progression of art through history within its walls.

It's a sunny L.A. Saturday morning, headed for beach walk and flying multi-colored kite.

I'll write you later...

Tent Rocks National Monument

  Off the 25 North, driving from Albuquerque to Santa Fe are Indian pueblos and their land.

We took the turnoff for The Pueblo de Cochiti, and discovered the Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, elevation 5,570 to 6,760.

We walked the loop, as rain started. Beautiful tent formations as result of volcanic eruptions 6-7 million years ago. Signs of human occupations span 4,000 years. The Indians inhabiting nearby pueblo are ancestors from settlers in the 14th and 15th centuries.

Walk in Los Angeles Park - Yeepee!

Glorious Day!

Sunshine.

Eighty degrees, light breeze, walk in Holmby Park.

Market broke 12000.

Here's today's photos in context of my new "Santa Fe" appreciation for Los Angeles. Hands down no competition a better place for me. This is my favorite tree. Delicate. Feminine. In spring orange flowers blossom.

My walk... in green park.

A day in Santa Fe, New Mexico

Light.

Beautiful light.

A draw for artists to Santa Fe, New Mexico.

And clean air seekers, Santa Fe is considered quite clean but be forewarned that the air is quite thin at 7000 feet, and some people, such as myself I'd learn, get altitude sickness.

People with asthma and lung disease in particular are known to be prone to altitude sickness.

I'm particularly happy with this photo of St. Francis Cathedral just off old town square. I took this at sunset after attending my first mass. Ever.

A young Hispanic woman sang like a seasoned pro. The priest wore green. A festive service, reflective of the ornate church inside.

Here's a view of Santa Fe from the window where we stayed off of Artist Road. I saw this view a lot, as I recovered from altitude sickness. I'd never experienced this sort of thin air before, and it didn't agree with my system. It made me very tired and gave me a head-ache. I learned we're supposed to drink a lot of water and avoid coffee and alcohol.

Here's the town square in Santa Fe.

You can buy Mexican food everywhere at anytime.

Santa Fe felt like a Mexican village with a PR face-lift to justify high prices.

Turn over more than half the items we saw displayed in Santa Fe stores, and you saw: Made in China. Made in Mexico. Made in USA.

All transported no doubt by polluting trucks.

I bought a few souvenirs: a mitt for kitchen with balloon design on it (Made in China), a Santa Fe mug (Made in China), a framed Georgia O'Keefe picture. (USA)

Here I am, looking puffy, feeling like I could pass out, in front of Georgia O'Keefe museum. I'm trying to enjoy our outting despite altitude sickness.

I enjoyed museum, I've always liked the abstract yet realistic nature pictures of the Southwest O'Keefe is known for. I bought a framed white flower we'd seen called Donnabella.

Georgia O'Keefe felt called to the Southwest, much like I don't. I'm sure it's wonderful for people that breathe well in high-altitude and don't mind dry air. I learned neither really agree with my system.

Anyway, Ms. O'Keefe enjoyed creating abstract paintings because she could choose what to emphasis, what had meaning for her in a visual display.

She particularly loved a mountain outside her Southwest home northeast of Santa Fe, in the desert where the landscape is bare, the air is dry, one's skin cracks easily, and I miss the big trees of Washington State.

And the oxygen.

Oops, it's sideways. You see an example of Southwest vegetation.

Dry brush, is how Fernando expressed it, his head aching, balance off, as altitude didn't agree with him either.

Here's trees in Santa Fe town square.

There was fall color, too, some leaves I particularly loved.

Here's my friend, Fernando.

If you're in Santa Fe, I recommend highly two restaurants:

Blue Corn Cafe on San Francisco Street has terrific Mexican food, and according to our adorable smiley-faced waitress, Stephanie, people have driven hundreds of miles for their corn soup. It was really good. Stephanie is saving money for massage school, an overpriced $8000, so I hope you tip her well.

Inn of Anasazi is an old, authentic Indian-styled Inn with an award-winning restaurant. The lime lemon salmon was one of the best I've ever had. We also shared a vegetarian sampler dish. Delicious.