Guest Author - Lee Ann Visits Albuquerque (Part 2)
Day 6
On Thursday the kids worked until early afternoon, and then we headed for a BIG adventure up the mountain. The Sandia Mountains dominate the eastern landscape of Albuquerque, rising over 10,000 feet above sea level. There is a Swiss Alps-style tramway at the foot of the peaks that takes passengers up to the top. We arrived at the tramway station about 4:00 pm and got in line for the ride to the top. The tram is suspended from a set of cables attached to a very large pulley system that connects to two giant towers placed strategically on the mountainside. The trams go back and forth between the lower station and top of the mountain.
The tram itself reminded me of a small subway car with large windows, where most passengers stood for the 15-minute ride across the rocky and nearly vertical landscape. We travelled about 3500 feet to the top and disembarked to an amazing view of the valley below. At the top terminal, there are several viewing platforms, various hiking paths, restrooms and a restaurant perched on a cliff called 10.3, which designated the elevation at 10,300 feet. As we looked down the side of the mountain, our eyes caught something overhead – a hang glider was circling above us! Yes, a person hanging onto a 15-foot wingspan was soaring lazily on the updrafts coming up from the western exposure of the mountain. As I often say when I travel, “Not something you see every day!”
We hiked a couple of short paths and found some great views, and after a short wait, we were able to get three seats at the bar of the restaurant. We enjoyed gorgeous views looking both east and west. The western side overlooks the city of Albuquerque and the valley beyond the Rio Grande. The eastern side of the Sandia Peak has more of a slope and offers a few ski lifts and runs during colder months.
We read that this peak could receive over 100 inches of snow in the winter, and there were still a few snow-covered patches in the shady areas. The restaurant was busy, the cocktail menu featured themed titles like Sandia Pink and Feldspar, and the food was prepared and served perfectly. The bar and wait staff were cheerful and friendly, and it was obvious they knew how to make us feel welcome. We were able to catch a sunset shortly after 7 pm, but the sky was very hazy, and it was tough to get a nice picture that evening. We rode down the mountain in the dark, our tram feeling the impact of the strong winds ever so slightly.
Day 7
Friday was another beautiful day, and Elliott was pinned down with work. Anna and I wanted to explore the collection of petroglyphs located to the north of the city. The Petroglyph National Monument of New Mexico is a collection of different sites around Albuquerque “featuring designs and symbols carved onto volcanic rocks by Native Americans and Spanish settlers 400 to 700 years ago.”
We chose to visit the Piedras Marcadas Canyon site, which offered a 1.5 mile trail with opportunities to view the many designs on huge black rocks that tumbled out of a volcano 200,000 years ago. In the bright sun, we had to train our eyes to find the seemingly random rocks that displayed (what we supposed were) cows, birds, insects, human hands and feet, people with large hats and the occasional cross. From the marked trail, these markings were anywhere from 5 feet to 30 yards away, but worth the trouble to locate and appreciate. The area was several acres bounded by suburban homes and shopping, but we enjoyed a peaceful and natural feeling as we walked through a bit of history on a sunny day.
Friday evening, I stayed home with my sweet “grand dog” Sally while Elliott and Anna had a date night in Albuquerque.
Day 8
We got an early start on Saturday to visit Santa Fe. Miss Sally went to doggy daycare and the three of us drove about 90 miles north to Santa Fe with a full agenda.
Our first stop was Meow Wolf – and interactive museum-like experience occupying a former bowling alley. This was a completely new experience for me. Each room has an artistic, quirky theme of color, texture, light and sound. Visitors step onto the porch of an early 20th-century home with antique furnishings and accessories. We quickly discovered the hidden passages and staircases leading through enchanted forests, space travel, a neon undersea forest, a treehouse and even a passageway through the refrigerator in the kitchen. The whole place is filled with creativity, color, lights and fantasy.
Another fascinating and creative stop was a room made completely from recyclable and “throwaway” objects from everyday life. The entire floor was made of soda bottle caps, and every wall surface was an artistic creation made from everything from discarded toothbrushes, old keys and automobile emblems, soda straws and a million other items. Just look closely at this photo to identify many everyday items used to make art.
Meow Wolf is well-known in the region, as it is one of the main sponsors of the New Mexico United soccer team, and we had seen the unique logo everywhere during the game we attended. IMHO it is worth a visit if you are in Santa Fe.
We continued our Santa Fe adventures with a walk through the “Old Town” to find the Coyote Café for lunch. The rooftop restaurant provided a great setting on a sunny day and was bustling with tourists by the time we left. The Old Town is great for strolling and is full of shops featuring souvenirs and western clothing along with the usual coffee shops, bars, etc.
Our next stop was the Santa Fe Railyard to catch the Skytrain for a ride through the hills of New Mexico. We were seated in the first-class dining car of an historic car with bar service, live music, and a storyteller who shared the history of the area from the 1500’s until more recent times. The adjoining car allowed for some open-air views of the countryside, so I snapped a pic of my companions. I must admit – after our big lunch and a couple of cocktails, the rocking train and the unchanging (read monotonous) scenery - it was difficult for all of us to stay alert for the entire excursion. On a positive note, we learned about the “Harvey Girls,” a large number of young women who staffed the many hotels and restaurants located along the Santa Fe Railroad train routes coming west in the 1890’s. These young women and their stories were the subject of a 1946 movie featuring Judy Garland, Ray Bolger and Angela Lansbury.
After our “train naps”, we returned to the railyard and drove back to Albuquerque to enjoy another delicious “Hello Fresh” dinner prepared by Elliott. (P.S. He is a great cook!)
Day 9
Sunday morning Elliott went for a solo hike while Anna and I began the packing process. Anna was leaving for a work trip, but also packing to leave their post in ABQ and move to the next stop in Palm Springs. Lots to do! Sally came home from doggy daycare to help us, and we regrouped around 1 pm to set off for our next adventure – afternoon tea at Los Poblanos Historic Inn and Farm. We were a bit early for our scheduled seating, so we walked around the shady grounds, and I marveled at the amount of maintenance required. This was not the xeriscaped look or north Albuquerque, but a series of gardens with plantings I would see in Evansville – azaleas, hostas, boxwoods, etc. Altogether peaceful setting. The “not something you see everyday” moment was the discovery of a “Wellness Yurt” in a heavily wooded area.
Our tea was set in La Quinta Inn, an elegant room with huge windows and large fireplace. About a dozen tables were set with beautiful (unmatched) China and flatware. Our cocktail choices included Champagne Lavender Spritz and Lavender Gin. Our extremely attentive server brought a total of three different teas to accompany our savory and sweet delicacies. The whole experience was quite elegant, but I would not recommend attending with a big appetite, as the servings are delicious, but more snack-sized. After tea, we shopped in the Farm Store on the property and found many tempting items to purchase.
We returned to our “casita” to continue the packing process and prepare for an early departure – both mine and Anna’s on Monday morning. Dinner was another excellent meal prepared by our 5-star chef.
Day 10
Sadly, this was farewell for me. Anna and I were both headed for Albuquerque airport for morning departures, and our handsome Uber driver and assistant Sally loaded us into La Flama Blanca. As we headed toward town, my last “Not something you see everyday” moment was looking at the western sky and seeing eight hot-air balloons floating above the city. It seemed like a personal invitation to return someday.
Saying goodbye to my beautiful daughter and her wonderful husband was tough, but we made plans to reunite in California and are all looking forward to the wedding of my son William and his beautiful bride Hanna in August.