Spent a couple months living in the capital of materialism yet somehow solarpunk-adjacent Islamic metropolis known for pistachio chocolate. It was… a simultaneous state of efficient progress, vision & immediacy, and a deep reflection on the past - visible in the innate city-wide admission of growth and the self-referential architecture. Buildings represent the different eras - the ostensibly distant sand and plaster past, the current era of luxury oriented interiors, and futuristic sustainability integrations. Yet they were all woven with a thread from the same spool. Everywhere I live I end defending. Yet I always leave. Chase progress. Chase life.
Summer dump
Everything I do is meant to be novel and create differences in my days to delay the senescence of memories. But with irregularities becoming my regularity, it's hard to keep track of all the different things I do. Faced with the inevitability of forgetfulness, I'm gonna keep doing what I do best. Doing Dane things
Over 9,000 miles from CA to VA to ME
Met some NASA folks talking about the Hubble
Found some ancient arrowheads
Found some undocumented ruins
Picked up hitchhikers in the desert, some on the way to buy 40s
Bathed in 2 oceans, one cold, one frigid
20+ states (none new...)
Rolled up on some jiu jitsu dojos like a ronin
Saw some of my favorite people
And so much more...
October ‘23. Took a month long peregrination to Mexico. Infiltrated a mezcaleria. Had some of the best food and cocktails. Explored ancient ruins. Saw some fire shows and museums. Danced almost every night. Dislocated my thumb doing a judo throw. Ate a sandwich with crickets. Stumbled into a professional cooking class. Stood a foot taller than 90% of people in Oaxaca. Did a bunch of mountain hiking. Bought far too many modelos. Did you know modelos also come in liters?
Fire staff swinging, desert fiestas, moonlit siestas, gong solos and berimbolos, gypsy caravan vibes and manor mannerisms. Made some sculptures. Did some things. Went some places. Invented a new margarita. Dane activies
Learning how to build earthships in the desert, epic (crepuscular, mission focused) hikes, hot springs, staying at a castle, battling a fig tree to enter my room, and so many shenanigans
"Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiick" - The Stab
Dane doing Dane things, like his ancestors, the Danes.
Much love to my brother from another mother @cashgirardi who makes me laugh harder than anything or anyone, including Juan Manuel.
Shemalabuh.
Arizona appreciation post since that chapter is now over. It's been a wild couple of months. From hitchhiking hundreds of miles to studying under an architect to kicking it in the high desert it's been a time and a half. Thanks to all the people, pets, and places that made this time special. Until the next time.
