Day 9 - Sat 24th May

Albuquerque to Albuquerque

This is the first time in over a week that we've been able to stay 2 nights in one place.

Got up late & missed breakfast, no change there, and drove into the old town.

Weather warming up from yesterday's rain.

The old town is not very big but it's really cool. There was a festival going on. We saw 2 mariachi bands and some flamenco dancers in the plaza.

Did some sight-seeing, including another church and had a Mexican brunch.

Boley felt really at home, being a Mexican bandido.

Drove back to the hotel, parked up and went to find the free music festival. It was only 2 blocks away.

We just caught the end of the 1st act, Indigenous. They were a blues/rock band. The lead guitarist/singer is an American Indian, hence the name. They were really good.

The next band, Ruthie Fisher were due on an hour later at 4 pm so the MC encouraged people to visit the many stall during the break.

The festival was to promote green awareness and to encourage re-cycling. There were many "alternative" stalls there and many middle aged hippy types.

We went to the stand housing the organisers and discovered that they were encouraging people to walk or cycle to the event. Boley told them that we were driving R66 which I thought was not the most diplomatically environmentally friendly opener he could come out with. However, because we are from England and are more environmentally aware than the US, he forgave Boley and gave him a free t-shirt. So I got one too.

There were many people with dogs wearing coats that said "Rescue Me" on them, and other folk walking cats!

The second act Ruthie Foster was brilliant. She and her band are from Texas. She looks a little like Tracey Chapman, but sings soul/blues/gospel and reggae. I would definitely check her out if she came to the UK.  

By this time, the weather had become really hot and I got sunburnt coz I was wearing a vest. So now I have burnt red skin and silly white bits where my vest was. Typical Brit abroad!

There was another break of an hour so we went for a beer in an Irish bar nearby.

I forgot to mention, Arnie was with us and was receiving quite a lot of attention and compliments. One couple asked if they could sit next to my armadillo. We saw the same couple in the bar and they asked us to join them. We had a chat and they said that all 3 acts at the festival were pretty big in the States, so it was quite a coup to have them in Albuquerque at a free event.

Also, the festival did NOT have a beer tent. I guess because you are not allowed to drink on the street. However, this made for a friendly atmosphere. I can't imagine having a music festival with no beer in the UK.

The final act was Keb Mo, a solo blues/folk singer. An Emmy award winner. He was very mellow, a little like Jack Johnson. All the seats were taken so we stood at the back. At the end, most folk were on their feet and many were dancing at the front.

When it was finished we went for a beer and something to eat then back to the hotel.

Boley had a nap while I blogged then we went out at 11 pm.

First to the micro-brewery bar (we like it there) and then to the Irish bar we'd been to that afternoon.

The yanks are very strict on checking I.D.'s on the doors of busy bars. As neither of us had I.D.'s with us we weren't allowed in.  A silly rule because it is obvious that the reason to check I.D.'s is for underage drinkers. I don't think that we fall into that category, however the bouncers argued that everyone MUST have I.D. on them. It is the state law. We could have gone back to the hotel for them, it wasn't far, but were we BOTHERED?

We went to The Atomic Cafe again. The previous night we were dressed in jeans & leather  as it was cool. This evening we were dressed like Miami Vice as it was warm. We looked very out of place amongst all the rockers. Did we care?

And guess what? Yes, Bob the Leicester fan was there. He didn't stay late as he was up early the next morning for the Iron Maiden gig.

We left and had a final beer in the micro-brewery bar again. (We really ought to have found out the name of that place as we spent so much time there)

Went back to the hotel and fell asleep blogging. Well it was Saturday night and custom has it that I fall asleep during MOTD.

Milage: 1633 (still)