Greetings from the day after the Burn!

Dear Friends and Family,
Yawn. Good morning, er, rubbing eyes, I mean good afternoon.

Sunday after the Burn is always a little mellow in Black Rock City. Lots of folks, including me, were up until the light of dawn (or later) exploring the city and tasting the delights of Burning Man at its highest energy level and full scale celebration. Some nights you never want to end, and Burn night is one of them.

I have to confess that I didn't make it to the Fashion Show yesterday, I got a much needed massage instead. After 3 weeks working hard on the playa, I caved in to a little TLC. That's the great thing about Burning Man, and one of the few frustrating things about Burning Man at the same time: you can do or not do just about what ever you want. Sometimes even with the best intentions, you just don't make it to that party or event that you were trying to get to. It happens. Fortunately there was a whole team of folks documenting the Fashion Show and I think one of the Cafe doc crew got some good video footage.

The Burn last night was magnificent. Everyone brings their most impressive toys and wears their most impressive costumes to see the Man burn. There were so many large art cars around the perimeter that it seemed a small city had grown just outside the Man. The fire conclave had raised platforms so people in the crowd could see some of the fire dancers. The fireworks and firework "fountain" from the lighthouse were gorgeous. The fire was HUGE, causing another series of "ancestors" or dust devils to dance out of the fire. It's absolutely awe inspiring.

After the Burn, the city goes OFF! There is sound, light, music, dancing, fire cannons, and much, much, more everywhere, all night long. I hear that Rosin Coven rocked the Cafe eventually after the Burn. I never made it back to the Cafe last night. In fact, very soon after the Burn I got swept up onto the most beautiful art car in the history of art cars, a chariot of love drawn by a team of illuminated seahorses, called Love and Seahorses, and didn't step down until the light of day the next morning. I felt sort of guilty since I adore Rosin Coven as people and musicians, but you know what? They might have done the exact same thing in my boots. In fact, I'd recommend it! And maybe next year I'll get swept away on their flying bat?

Tonight is the International regional night entertainment on the music stage, which leads up to the Temple burn. A recent tradition in Black Rock City is the burning of an inspirational multi-tiered temple, constructed out of recycled dinosaur kit parts by David Best, on the Sunday after the Burn. This is usually a more somber occasion but equally awe inspiring, giving time for reflection and remembrance at the end of the week.