Endeavoring to enjoy myself while showing Elegant Friend the beauty of New Mexico, I embarked from home in Derby at about 7:30am (Central Daylight Time) on Friday, 10/14/2016, to pick up EF. About 10 hours later we checked into the Residence Inn Marriott - Albuquerque Airport. We spent four days and five nights, there, leaving on Wednesday, 10/19/2016 at about 6:30am (Mountain Daylight Time). We arrived home, last evening, at about 6:30pm (CDT) - weary, but having had a wonderful time. All told, we drove 1940 miles in 41 hours (actual driving time including twice when we sat for 10 minutes awaiting our turn to traverse construction along Highway 54), averaging 30.4 miles/gallon of gasoline. Forthwith, some photos. These (below) are photos that EF and I took using my camera.
Day 1, we prowled around my old neighborhood then, when it was late enough (10am), we went to prowl around Old Town Albuquerque. Unlike the forecasted weather, it was unbearably hot! EF took photos on her iPAD, of which I have none. We photographed my previous residence and the old church in Old Town.
Day 2, we drove to Santa Fe which, its being Sunday was crowded with throngs of tourists and their vehicles. We went by to see Elder Brother's former residence which, it turned out is now on the market. The house cannot be seen from the street (unpaved), but here's a photo of the entryway. EB lived in the Pygmy Forest, around the corner from the state's governor's house.
EF particularly liked the color of the Scottish Rite Center in Santa Fe.
Avoiding the throngs that clogged the square, we visited a museum featuring Spanish Colonial Arts. Somehow, I had misread the description on their website while planning our journey and thought it featured Spanish Colonial architecture. Instead, it was mostly religious stuff. EB enjoyed that more than I!
From Santa Fe we drove to Taos, visiting Harwood Museum of Arts. I've no photos from Taos, but lots of photos from our journey along the Rio Grande on our return journey to Santa Fe, along the highway to Albuquerque, and the stunning sunset in progress upon our arrival back at the Residence Inn.
Day 3, we drove down to San Antonio (NM) to the Bosque del Apache to do some birding. Absolutely, it is the wrong time of year to see anything, but we enjoyed being out in the wild. We didn't keep a listing, but I recall our seeing Great blue heron, Sandhill crane (one, lone!), See's phoebe, Lesser goldfinch (western), Northern harrier, Roadrunner, White-tailed kite (two each - previously known as White-shouldered kites - unusual for NM), Red-tailed hawk, Swainson's hawk, Baldpate (duck - not sure current name for it), and assorted lbbs (little brown birds). During the right times of year, there are tens of thousands of migratory birds.
Day 4, we went back to Old Town Albuquerque to browse through the Albuquerque Museum of Art & History and about 15 art galleries. Having time to spare, I took EF up to Sandia Crest. She took lots of photos up at the crest and I took one of her!
View to the north:
Views to the west:
No matter how wonderful the trip, it is always good to come home. In my case, Hunky Husband always assures that he, the house, and the lawn are in tip-top shape for my arrival.
I envy you the weather you had.
Here (Germany), it's pissing down with ample rain and cold too (4 to 8C) :-(
Posted by: Ole Phat Stu | October 21, 2016 at 04:48 AM
I now wish I'd made time to enjoy that part of the Country rather than just tearing back and forth on I-40. I can't even imagine the view from Sandia Crest when the dry winds have cleared the haze.
Posted by: Harold | October 21, 2016 at 10:02 AM
Stu--Nighttime temperatures in ABQ were in the 45-50 degree F range. Yesterday's high, here in Derby, was about 60-64 degrees F. No rain, either place. The climate was one of the things I so enjoyed when I lived in ABQ.
Harold--Oh, how could you NOT have taken an extra day to explore? We were just sorry that we didn't get to see the view from Sandia Crest, at night; although, the morning that we left (still dark), we had a beautiful view of the lights in the Rio Grande valley (most of ABQ) from the eastern edge of town - upslope from most of ABQ.
Posted by: Cop Car | October 21, 2016 at 08:37 PM
Thanks for sharing your adventure. I have only been to New Mexico once, on the Santa Fe train from Chicago to SF. Remember that?
Posted by: Hattie | October 21, 2016 at 11:30 PM
Wow - you guys managed to pack a whole lot of stuff in the days that you had there.
Pictures of the house in ABQ, Oldtown and off the Sandia Mts brought back good memories :)
That was a stunning sunset - thanks for sharing.
Posted by: bogie | October 22, 2016 at 02:31 PM
Hattie--I've only ridden a commercial train twice: 1950 KCMO - Pittsburg KS - KCMO and 1959 KCMO - Wichita KS. In the 1980s, I rode the narrow-gage railroad Durango CO - Silverton CO - Durango CO several times. As I recall, however, the Santa Fe train came through KCMO.
Bogie--It's easy to pack a lot of stuff in when a lot of time is not spent figuring out what to do. As you may recall, EF is not one who makes decisions. I had done some planning before we left Derby, so that helped.
Glad you had good memories of ABQ. You did a terrific job of over-seeing the building of that house and taking care of my affairs while I was TDY to Los Angeles CA, thank you, again!
Posted by: Cop Car | October 23, 2016 at 10:34 AM
Really enjoyed your photos. Beautiful country I haven't seen for over twenty years. That sunset is truly spectacular. First came thru N.M. in 1948 from Great Lakes area beginning my fondness for the Southwest.
BTW just noted your quote from Go Set A Watchman -- so true!
Posted by: Joared | October 27, 2016 at 02:34 AM
Joared--Glad you enjoyed the photos. I always enjoy going back to New Mexico. It wasn't as much fun as the trip to New Hampshire in September (no daughter to visit in New Mexico!); but, an awfully lot of fun.
I enjoyed the book. Bought it in New Mexico to have something to read at night.
Posted by: Cop Car | November 01, 2016 at 02:38 PM
Looks like you had a wonderful trip. My only visit to ABQ was over a July 4th weekend and they were having record heat, 100+ degrees. We did ride a gondola up to the top of a mountain that had nice views.
Posted by: Ingineer66 | November 03, 2016 at 10:53 PM
Ingineer--Oh, my, I am so sorry that you arrived during a heat wave. As dry as it was, I never suffered from the heat when living there. I didn't even over-heat when out for my noon-time, 4-mile walk/run!
Posted by: Cop Car | November 06, 2016 at 12:45 PM