Trip to Santa Fe Vol.2

I felt much during this trip to Santa Fe, especially about the Native American.
I visited some "pueblos", the Native American reservations, and some feelings did not leave from my head.
I did not know much about the Native American culture and history, so I read some articles about them after I came back home. I learned each tribe had had many tragic stories in different ways after the settlers arrived. They had many battles to keep their lives from outsiders, but they lost their families, lands and ways of life.

It was interesting for us to see and know their traditional cultures and practices when I visited their pueblos. On the other hand, I felt it was like a museum. I mean they were not lively. The pueblos are actual villages they live in now, so they are always watched by the tourists curiously. They get the admission fee and sell their handwork to tourists everyday. Is that their natural life? It is OK they are happy under the present situations, but anyway I hope they live naturally outside of tourists' sight. I am just worried that they rely on their incomes from tourists and the government and keep the museum life I imagine. People tend to choose the easy way.

I know in this world everything keeps changing. We keep improving, destroying or repeating over history. The changes are very natural.

My point is I believe they have their unique power given by the unbelievable huge nature of America over centuries. I feel the power from their paints and arts. I just do not want them to lose this precious sense.
This trip was meaningful for me.

Trip to Santa Fe

Hiro and I went to Santa Fe and the suburbs during the Memorial Day weekend.
On Friday night we took the 8 p.m. flight to Albuquerque, and rented a car there. We stayed at a hotel near the airport at night. Next morning we enjoyed seeing many hot air balloons in the sky. They were very colorful and pretty against the clear blue sky. I had never known Albuqurque is famous for the balloons.

We visited many places and the weather was pretty good during this trip. On the way driving to destinations, we enjoyed the spectacular landscape. It was indescribable, and I felt the power of mother earth.

Next time I am going to write about my feelings for Native American reservations.

Chicago

I went to Chicago with my husband last weekend.
We stayed there for the Saturday night.

It had been so cold and windy that we gave up walking around downtown.
If it had been warm and sunny, we could have enjoyed window shopping and the view of the beautiful buildings.
It was the third time we visited Chicago. We enjoyed The Art Institute of Chicago and the view from the upper floor of the John Hancock Center last time. Chicago has many beautiful buildings and I like the view.

This time we went to IKEA, a swedish store, and we got some dishes, laundry stuff and swedish foods. IKEA's cinnamon rolls are my favorite sweets. They cost only one dollar each, but the taste is very good!
We also went to Mitsuwa. It is the biggest Japanese grocery store in the Midwest. we enjoyed shopping and ate Sushi and Ramen noodles at the food court.

On the way driving back to Indianapolis, we found a good place for taking a rest. It was Fair Oaks Farms and we could taste the delicious icecream. I tried the chocolate and the strawberry flavors. I recomend you to try the chocolate one. It was very rich... (actually I love icecrem and I always choose strawberry. But this time the chocolate one was better!)
If you have a chance to visit, try them! You can find it about half way between Indianaporis and Chicago along I-65 (Exit 220).