Next stop on our road, the city of Albuquerque in the state of New Mexico. What a name! We couldn’t resist checking online where the name came from, and we weren’t surprised that it has Mexican roots. Wiki is unclear whether the name comes from the Spanish town of Alburquerque, which is a Latin name for White Oak, or if t’s derived from the word albaricoque, the fruit that the Spanish brought to Mexico. Either way, aside from the name you see Mexican the influence everywhere, starting with the state’s symbol. Did you know that the rays that come from the center all have a specific meaning? You can see it here in the picture.
Anyway, even though we were in town only for one full day, we were thoroughly impressed with Albuquerque. The Old Town has a great feeling to it, Mexican stucco buildings, little shops, fountained squares with terraces and the beautiful San Felipe de Neri church. In this Old Town even the system to pay for your parking is old and quaint: a board with holes for each numbered parking space, where you can insert your coins and bills, depending on how long you want to stay.
We wondered the streets, made discoveries in the small art galleries and overall enjoyed ourselves. I found a Mexican musical instrument that jogged my gaming memory, and of course I just had to buy it: an ocarina! Now to learn to play it as well as Link does…
The rest of our day was spent on the Sandia Peak, where you go up to the mountain and wonder at the views you see. No picture can do it justice, and it’s a perfect place to ponder life on a whole.
We loved this city, and noticed how clean and beautiful the public areas where landscaped. The colors used, the beige sand color, combined with ochre and terra gave the city a sunny feeling ( even though we had monsoon kinds of rain in the afternoon). Just take a look at this flyover: who said such spaces have to be basic and utilitarian?
All too soon it was time to leave again, and to get ready for our next stop: the Grand Canyon.
Thank you for the photos, it´s like i´m visiting this nice cities too.
Now that you have passed through city of Albuquerque, you are allowed to use the famous “Bugs Bunny” quotation when appropriate
: )
Lol Denny, ” I wonder if I took a wrong turn in Albuquerque”! Must be the way the I40 and I25 meet there, long live navigation systems!
I use the line – I must have taken a “wrong toyn” at – Albuquerque whenever I have to explain why I am late : )
I’m quite enjoying your travel blogs!
Thanks! I wasn’t sure they’d fit in on my blog, but I’m having such fun writing them.
I think they fit in perfectly well, but I do understand where you are coming from.
Enjoy the Grand Canyon! I’ve always wanted to see it!