Guest Author! Lee Ann Visits Albuquerque (Part 1)
Anna and Elliott invited me to visit them in Albuquerque at the end of March and I eagerly accepted, especially since I had not laid eyes on them since late December.
Day 1
Flying across Texas from Dallas-Fort Worth and entering New Mexico air space, I was immediately struck by the landscape I could see from the plane – brown, desert, and starkly void of trees. There were few physical features except for an occasional canyon and very straight roads. My first comment was, “Gee I wouldn’t want to run out of gas down there!” The landing at ABQ felt like a roller-coaster, but my seat mates (ABQ residents) explained that it was normal to feel the strong winds of the desert during a landing.
The ABQ airport was easy to navigate, and Anna was waiting in La Flama Blanca right at the curb. After a quick stop at Trader Joe’s for some provisions, we drove the highway through part of the city to a street with large, fenced lots and homes to Modesto Drive, north and uphill from the city. One direction is the Sandia Mountains (still a bit of snow on top) and the other direction lies a wide valley and the city stretching out into the western horizon.
The dry, desert climate is the theme in home landscaping, as every home offers varying interpretations of xeriscaping – landscaping with no requirements for water. Rocks of all sizes, gravel, rock, brick, adobe and stone walls, and many varieties of cacti and desert plants are the main elements found around every home.
Architecture ranges from adobe-style squared-off dwellings to Spanish style arches and terra-cotta tile rooflines to homes that would fit into the midwestern suburbs. Two large, friendly horses and a goat live across the street from Elliott and Anna’s current lodging, and there is a flock of chickens living up the street, but those are farm animal exceptions in this very family-oriented neighborhood.
Since I arrived on a Friday afternoon, we planned to find a good location to watch the sunset. County Line is a popular barbeque spot, and we found the perfect table to view a beautiful sunset across the broad valley to the west.
Day 2
The next morning, we hiked at the foot of the Sandia Mountains for about two miles. The elevation is over 7000 feet, so that distance and the terrain presented a good challenge for me and for Sally, the 11-year-old terrier mix who is travelling the country with Elliott and Anna. We returned to Modesto to clean up and set out for lunch and a professional soccer game. Lunch was a great discovery – an Asian-themed restaurant in a strip mall called Coda Bakery – well worth the trip!
The afternoon soccer match was played at the home of the Isotopes, the Albuquerque AAA baseball team. This stadium, located near the University of New Mexico campus, would rival any major college stadium and was vibrating with energy for the first home-game for New Mexico United against an El Paso team. Thousands of fans, many wearing team jerseys and team swag and carrying flag were enthusiastic and apparently very hungry, as every food vendor had long lines of folks waiting for food and beverages. This was only my second professional soccer experience, but I loved sitting near the goal line in the second row. It was a perfect afternoon for an outdoor event – light breeze, low-70’s and a mix of sun and clouds. We rounded out the day with a fantastic dinner (prepared by Elliott) and a viewing of “Mystery Alaska.”
Day 3
On Sunday we ventured to the Nob Hill part of town near the UNM campus for brunch at The Shop. This is a local phenomenon – a casual place where patrons order at the counter and find a table in the small space. The long line on a Sunday morning allowed us time to look at paintings by local artists and watch the diverse crowd. Anna and I split the blue cornmeal pancakes with lemon curd, fresh fruit and maple syrup – a dish I hope to replicate for company when I get home to Evansville. After brunch we headed to the historic Lobo Theater to watch “Raiders of the Lost Ark” on a big screen. Afterward we headed back to Modesto to cheer for the UNM basketball team as they played for a spot in the Division I Sweet 16. They put up a good fight against Michigan State but lost the game.
Day 4
Monday was a full-on work day for Elliott and Anna, so I made myself busy with a nice walk in great weather, and have continued this routine each day while exploring the neighborhood. It was fascinating to take in the many ways people present their homes here, with desert landscaping, decorative gates and a few oddities, like this metal sculpture I found in the neighborhood.
Since Elliott wasn’t feeling well, Anna and I found a great place for dinner – La Reforma - and I tried Pozole for the first time. This is a stew with slow-cooked pork, hominy, and a delicious red chili sauce topped with shredded cabbage, onion and lime juice. We brought a giant burrito home to Elliott.
Day 5
Anna and I went to the Albuquerque Museum on Tuesday and learned about the history of the city and its surroundings. My biggest takeaway was that, from the 1700’s, the population was divided between the native “Pueblo’ people, Europeans predominantly from Spain, and Mexican heritage. The museum is modern and well done, with a nice balance of traditional art, contemporary art, folk art and photography. In the evening, we visited the Boese Brewery for the “Geeks Who Drink” trivia night. The place was packed with teams and it was the first time I had seen a trivia contest online – smart phones were required to participate. We came in respectable fifth place.