Travel Creatives Quickie Roadtrip Review
Forgive me for not writing you in two whole weeks. I was busy roadtripping and having a first taste of living nomadically for the first time (really). Those elements have brought me sparse internet, couchsurfing, and Motel 6 marathons. There was some hardcore driving through the Southwest in a dirty Suburban strewn with fast food wrappers and two happy, but raggedy kids. Five dollar footlongs and Taco Bell burritos have been part of the mealtime soundtrack of our lives as I’ve endured hours of tween music pumping through half blown speakers. Bieber in the desert just isn’t cool to me, sorry! There was a bit of couchsurfing with old friends and multiple couchsurfing rejections from strangers (which is why we never made it to Santa Fe or Taos).
I am proud to say that I did manage to successfully travel from Corpus Christi, Texas through El Paso and up and around through Albuquerque, Flagstaff, and Sedona. Sick as a dog from dry climate shock, I put the pedal to the metal all the way down to Phoenix, Arizona 3 days early…with a baby and a tween. I surprised my hubby at Tartanic’s last show on Sunday night at the Arizona Renaissance Festival with a little help from some of his bandmates. These photos mark the show at which I hid behind a small tree until John spotted his happy family smiling with our unexpected early reunion.
Cooped up in a cozy, little trailer at the Arizona Renaissance Festival I am nursing myself to health and orienting myself to our newfound “renny” life. The following is a chronological photo story of the past two weeks…When I am better, I will write thoughtful prose with more details!
Southwest Roadtrip in Photos
San Antonio, Texas, reconnecting with friends
We visited some great old friends Macie and Pat who I met in 1998 at my shop, Yin Yang Fandango, in Corpus Christi, Texas. Macie used to come around to our drum circles back in the day when the drum circles were rockin’ in CC. When I arrived in San Antonio, Macie had agreed to drum for a group of kiddos at a church who were performing a play for Black History Month. No other drummers showed up so I jumped in and drummed with her for old time’s sake. It was one of those “full circle” moments. I enjoyed sharing it and reminiscing with old friends.
The next day we went to a great Native Amercian PowWow before we rolled on into Austin.
Rain had a blast with Aladie, Macie’s daughter and couldn’t get enough of her new arrow.
Austin, Texas, friends and Sherwood Forest Faire
One of my dearest friends, Anne, had us over for a few nights and made us a rockin’ Philipino dinner.
Another night we spent with another dear friend, Seema, who treated us to pasta and wine!
I couldn’t miss opening weekend of the Sherwood Forest Faire outside of Austin, Texas on Sunday!
Rain bought a bow for her arrow. Here’s Anne giving it a whirl. I took a million photos.
El Paso, Texas was for a little baby time
Little Jaya hung out with the handsome Adonis. In El Paso I was able to reconnect with my friend Heather who I met at my old shop, Yin Yang Fandango, (in probably 2000) when she was a young, 18 year old free-spirited lass. Now our little ones are just about the same age. El Paso was definitely all about babies.
Albuquerque, friends and Pueblo Indians
In Albuquerque I hung out with Peg and Kelly, again, more friends I knew from my shop back in Corpus Christi. Peg painted this amazing portrait of me many years ago playing a native American drum. It currently hangs in my parent’s living room so I’m always reminded of her. Kelly is a successful chiropractor who is planning her Costa Rican escape into the world of a nomadic life of travel. We had an awesome homemade, healthy dinner, fabulous wine, and great conversation. The next day we went to the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center to check out the museum. Luckily, we arrived during an event celebrating African American culture and Native American culture. We were more than happy to get a free lunch of soul food and New Mexican cuisine–for free!
The Acoma Pueblo aka Sky City
We spent the next day touring the Acoma Pueblo (or “Sky City”) west of Albuquerque which has been built upon a 350+ feet sandstone mesa. This Native American pueblo was settled around 1100 A. D. and is one of the oldest continuously inhabited communities in the U.S.A. We happened to arrive at a very special feast day which was cool because there was a load of happy revelers and traditional dances. What wasn’t so great is that all photography was banned that day to protect the spiritual ceremonies. This was a bit of torture for me, but I took the opportunity to be very “in the moment” and visually take in the intricacies of this ancient village that is fully inhabited yet still rolling without electricity or running water. Here is a photo of Acoma/Sky City from a distance. It is a stunning vista and the pueblo is absolutely worth the trip. Even Rain, my 11 year old, enjoyed the guided tour.
Acoma Pueblo or "Sky City" on the mesa
Rain with Sky City in the Background
Flagstaff, some snow and a visit to my old nightmarish employer
By the time we get to Flagstaff, the dry climate is starting to get to all of us! We treat ourselves to Denny’s which is a bona fide oxymoron. Our organic diet has flown out of our Suburban window (along with our “sustainable” sensibilities). We are on the strictest of budgets which only allows for bean burritos and Subway sandwiches. But, in honor of Flagstaff, a place that holds special memories for me, I take my kids to eat at the exact Denny’s that I used to work at 14 years ago. That happens to be the last time I got rid of everything I owned and went nomadic for awhile. This is also commemorative of a time in my history where my life changed for the better. (Despite working for Denny’s) Arriving in Flagstaff was another moment of my life coming full circle. I could dedicate a whole post on this topic!
And, to Rain’s delight, it snowed that night!
Sedona in Snow
The next morning I decided that my allergies were kicking my ass and I couldn’t stick around a few more days in this snowy weather. I decided to surprise John at the Arizona Renaissance Festival while he is performing with Tartanic. As I zoomed down to Apache Junction outside of Phoenix, I darted over to Sedona to take some photos of its snowy landscape.
Our New Home at the Arizona Renaissance Festival
We’re home for now. We’ll be here through early April. I’ll write more when I’m well. Thanks for keeping up with us!
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Irene, John and Kids!
You guys are amazing, so inspiring. Currently I am an RN (wanting to get certified in Holistic Nursing) here in Corpus and married, we both have 3 children. Its always been my dream to travel the world and show our children what Mother Earth has to offer. You guys Rock!!! We go to Fandango alot, we are vegetarians and love that place. Are you guys “homeschooling” or “unschooling” your children on your travels? When husband is done with school, we definately want to start traveling further out of country. I am going to India on April 28th, to an Ashram for 2 weeks. Some Mommy time with the Devine. Keep up the awesome work Irene, LOVE what you do.
Hi Sandra! Thanks so much for checking up on us. It’s great to hear from you. I wish you a wonderful trip to India and a life full of amazing family travel. We waited many years to manifest our dream of travel, and it has been worth the wait! I don’t know what kind of “schooling” we are doing for Rain, but it is somewhere between homeschooling and unschooling for sure. Math, reading, and writing is certainly defined but many other subjects are presented more intuitively and organically. We’re doing the best we can. We certainly have an interesting classroom! We hope to squeeze in more international travel now that we are doing the ren faire thing. Thanks for the positive feedback! Good luck on your blog, too.