I’m on a quest to finish visiting all 50 states. Might be silly, but I got it in my head it’s something I need to accomplish. So, here we are in New Mexico.

Staying in a super cute historic adobo home, built sometime around 1912. Has walls that are an honest foot thick. Very quiet.

Up at the crack of dawn – thanks, jet lag. Set out find breakfast. Found a cute little crepe place – parked ourselves there until the rest of the town woke up.

Took the day to wander around Old Town Santa Fe. Turquoise jewelry shopping bonanza. Ken, very patient. Talked to several Native American artists. Learned all about the different kinds of turquoise and Native American styles. Enamored with Navajo works. Bought myself some “Navajo pearls” – handmade, sterling silver beads that date to the 1500s in style. And a sterling Navajo “arrowhead” bracelet by an artist named Jasper Nelson. It’s beautiful AND supposed to keep my life in harmony. Or something like that.

Then: this is Anthony. Anthony made a stunning bracelet I bought for my friend, Haydee. Anthony lives on the Tohajiilee Reservation, which is where Breaking Bad was filmed. Remember the deserted windmill? Right there. I might go see Anthony again tomorrow. Will check in with Ken’s patience first. Sidebar: Ken has never seen BB, so guess what we’re bingeing tonight?

So: SF has some elevation – 7,199 feet. Fucken altitude. You know what’s great? Oxygen. But this explains why I’m winded walking around. Locals said: drink water. Also: I think I am allergic to New Mexico. Have done nothing but sneeze since we got here. Locals said: culprit is sagebrush.

So I’m dehydrated and sneezy. You’d think I’d know better than to add alcohol to that mix. I do. But I did it anyway. Afternoon pit stop at Gruet Winery. Yes, New Mexico wine. Sparkling. Delicious.

Beautiful, colorful murals. Chiles? Everywhere. Ditto Talavera pottery. Stopped at a garden store w/ what felt like miles of Talavera. I was good – bought nothing. Although. There was this Talavera chicken at another store. Might revisit if I’m still thinking about him tomorrow. Also, found a whiskey I probably need to track down.