Alfresco at the Flying Star and the Santa Fe Opera

August 18-19, we had some
dramatic outdoor dining
experiences. On Friday
at Albuquerque's Flying Star
on Rio Grande, while sitting
on the dog patio with
Jeanne and Ross Burkhardt,we were treated to a few raindrops (see Ross and Ed under the blue umbrella), followed bya spectacular double rainbow and then a gorgeous sunset.

On Saturday, Ross drove us
through pouring rain on the way
to the opera in Santa Fe.

Clouds, still hovering in patches below the mountains, cleared as we set up our tailgate picnic: salmorejo, chicken, olives, eggs, fresh tomatoes with basil, prosciutto, cheese, salsa,
chutney, a baguette, blue corn chips, champagne, and tea and plum cake for dessert.

Then we attended a fabulous
production of Carmen,
with Anne Sofie Van Otter
singing the title role --
I called it "a thinking woman's Carmen."

As you can see, it was chilly -- we bundled up in everything we had.

(Click on the pictures if you want to see them larger.)