We seem to enjoy putting extra milage on the truck and trailer. From El Paso we went NE to Carlsbad, then W to Alamagordo, and then NW to Albuquerque. Our purpose in visiting Albuquerque? That's where Jack was when he wrote to propose to me! He was stationed there attending a weapons training that spring.
The wind was strong as we "blew in" to our campground on Central Ave (aka Historic Route 66). Grabbed brochures and settled down to planning our time here.
Old Town - The first place we visited was Old Town, a section of Albuquerque settled first by Indians, then Spanish in the early 1600's. Stopped at the visitor's center and learned about a Trolley tour which took us for an 85 minute tour of Albuquerque: Old Town, Downtown, Route 66 (where it goes in all 4 directions!), Nob Hill, U of NM, and sporting arenas. A fun tour complete with a quiz and PRIZES! Saw the location of many of the movie sets used in town and film clips as well. FUN! When we returned we visited the historic church, Sancta P. Neri, and ate lunch at the Church Street Cafe on....CHURCH STREET! DUH!. We had Posole, a soup made with maize and pork to which you added either green (mild) chili or red (spicy) chili. The soup is traditionally served at Christmas. We visited the art and History museum and sculpture garden, and did some shopping.
NationalMuseum of Nuclear Science and History -- Here we go -- BORING, above my head, blah, blah. Wrong! We watched a movie on the Manhattan Project, saw bomb casings like the ones used for Fat Man and Little Boy, the bombs that were dropped on Japan., learned about the history leading up to the creation and use of the atomic bomb, pictures of the destruction, a nuclear medical exhibit.
Petroglyph National Historic Monument - We walked the Rinconada Canyon to see some of the 5000 petroglyphs still visible on the rocks.
Acoma Pueblo (Sky City) is about 70 miles west of Albuquerque. The Pueblo has over 300 structures made of adobe and sandstone. The homes are owned by the female. Most Acoma people do not live atop the mesa year-round, but they periodically return to their ancestral homes for ceremonial occasions. The Pueblo is 370 feet above the desert floor and dates back to 1100 A.D. At the Cultural Center there is a Museum and Gift shop, and tourists climb onto buses for the 90 minute tour atop the pueblo. While touring we were able to examine and purchase the famous Acomo pottery, jewelry and Indian flat bread pies. Well worth the trip!
On Saturday it was on to Amarillo, TX.
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