What Happens When you get up at Darktime

Getting up when the skies are still dark is not my preference, and something I will only do for very good reasons. This week, I’ve had a good reason two days in a row – which required sleeping until 9:00 a.m. on the third day.

The first of those two days, arising early was necessary to catch an early morning flight to visit a friend who lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico. I flew into Albuquerque where she picked me up. The trip was divided into two stages – the first was a layover in San Francisco, where we arrived in coordination with dawn.

Then on to ABQ, where my friend picked me up, checked us into the motel, and took me on a tour of parts of the city. First, a little park with a large pond, and lots of waterfowl.

This guy really intrigued me.

Then on to Old Town, where we toured an art gallery and discovered an artist whose works we fell in love with. It was really interesting how we saw different things in his works.

Dinner at a little restaurant off a side street where we thoroughly enjoyed a beet feta burger with fries and for me, a glass of wine.

The next morning was once again an early rise so we could attend the Albuquerque balloon fiesta, something I’ve always thought I would love to do. It was a lucky coincidence that the timing of this trip coincided with this year’s fiesta. There was a little too much of a breeze for the balloons to actually lift off, but they inflated and we got to see them up close and personal. Following is a small sampling of what we saw. It was Special Shapes Balloon day.

This last one is to prove I was there, standing in front of a balloon as it was being inflated.

On home to Santa Fe then after a stop at Cracker Barrel for breakfast and at Costco for necessities, with muscles that hadn’t been used enough in a long time letting me know they exist. I wish I’d worn my Fitbit because it would have applauded me.