My journal continues Day 2 - New Mexico Waking up in a casino parking lot is not that unusual an occurence in Vegas, but it was a first for us. Still feeling very Vegas (stringy hair, yesterday's clothes) we had a cheap buffet breakfast and stole extra stuff for our lunch on the road (we ARE unemployed after all)! Enjoy a little history at Hoover Dam, not to mention a morning 'constitutional' which makes road travel much more comfortable. I find early on this trip that a clean bathroom is my favorite destination. At Flagstaff, we get our kicks on a section of historic Route 66. I feel compelled to borrow a comb from someone named Kookie. On the stateline separating Arizona and New Mexico, Lorenzo and I meet Chief Yellowhorse. The Chief is a wrinkled old guy in cowboy boots, a true entrepreneur, who runs a string of 'Authentic Indian Souvenirs' stands beside the highway. The usual rugs, jewelry and pottery and some other stuff are on display but behind this store is his real draw...an Indian Cave Village. Remains of wooden ladders reach up the side of the rock cliff where about a dozen cave openings create the ancient Indian high rise. Yellowhorse has created a totally kitchy atmosphere around this ruin site using antiques of the period combined with plain old junk and tongue-in-cheek handpainted signs calling attention to things like the 'Offical Cave Dwellers Tram' a rusty old flat bed trailer with rickety benches bolted to it. Lorenzo's old friend, the Lizard, is our hostess in New Mexico. Why this pretty librarian is known as 'the lizard' has something to do with spiritual journeys, but (I think) more to do with 60's drug experimentation. Anyway she's very sane now and her adobe residence (a former church) is totally Architetural Digest. I dig it. Day 3 - Taos Hurray! I get to shower and wash my hair! The simple things are the most satisfying on the road. Today is a non-travel day. Lorenzo must ski. Fine with me. The town of Taos is nearby and I envision a day of communing with my spiritual self. Right. I find Taos is just a tourist trap built of adobe. Oh well. Take some pictures, paint a postcard and drink some coffee. Hey, I'm havin' a spiritual day after all. The Lizard and her hubby go all out for us at dinner. We all scarf down a ton of homemade green chili, tamales, hothouse tomatoes and tortillas. BURP! Gotta love that Liz! Next stop Texas...