Rachel King

The Georgia O'Keeffe museum and research center today – ahhhh. Our docent, who was terrific, told us how nice it was to lead a group that had a very different level of questions and observations than the usual calla-lily platitudes.

The museum was followed by a marvelous lunch with writers Carol Franco, Nancy King, and James McGrath Morris; and the astounding poet Joan Logghe. Canyon Road galleries this afternoon, showcasing a wide variety of artists and media.

With full brains and aching feet, we went back to the hotel for a little down time, and then it was time for a lovely Shabbat service and dinner with Rabbi Malka Druker and Cantor Cindy Freeman. They were an inspiring team, and it was a lovely way to slow down and take time for reflection following the whirlwind of the past two days.

Have I mentioned how well we've eaten? Three-course gourmet meals for every lunch and dinner. I'm glad we've been doing so much walking on this trip – I need it, after my obliging consumption of all this food!

One wonderful meal was Thursday's Native American lunch at the School for Advanced Research, catered by Red Mesa. We got a fascinating discourse on the different influences in their food by Chefs Walter Whitewater and Lois Ellen Frank – who explained that she is half Jewish and half Native American: a perfect example of the cross-cultural mix here.