road trip recap: exploring Albuquerque

After a day of driving through and poking around less urban parts of New Mexico, I was ready for a day of city wandering.  On a day-to-day basis, I am really much more a city person, though I do draw a lot of strength from hiking through forests, gazing at mountains, and enjoying the waves crashing on the beach.  Albuquerque was a city I’d almost lived in, as I’d been offered a fantastic package to attend grad school there, and I was seriously tempted by the opportunity.  The American Southwest has always fascinated me with its beauty and history, and after visiting Albuquerque, I know I would have enjoyed my time there.

I woke up bright and early for two reasons: to check out of the creepy hostel, and to go and get a big breakfast at the well-known Frontier Restaurant.  I had to taste green chile.  I had to try sopapillas.  I had to experience New Mexican cuisine and compare it to my experience with San Diego-style Mexican burritos.  Even if it was 9:30 in the morning.

Yes, this food was as good as it looked. And I probably didn’t need to eat for the rest of the day. That’s the problem with food tourism — you get full and you don’t want to eat all the other treats you come across! After finishing my meal in the busy restaurant, I decided to explore a well-preserved section of Route 66, now known as Central Ave. I saw abandoned motel after abandoned motel, along with those still in use. Again, I felt a little silly hopping out of my car in run-down areas to take pictures of the signs, but others have captured them.

Then I headed back up the road to Old Town to wander around the square before it got too busy. I took pictures of the well-known church, wandered around a bit, and then headed off to see some museums.

I absolutely loved the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History. I got to see gorgeous paintings and photos by local artists, learn about the history of the area, and check out old maps of the region. The best part was that they offer free admission until 2 on Sundays, so it fit my budget. If you visit, check it out; I thought it was completely worth my precious time! Next, I headed to the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center to learn about the different pueblos and cultural practices/arts/textiles of the Native American groups of the region. As many know, this is a fantastic resource in the area, and I got lucky again, as they were having an artisan fair and performances of all types from the community, including a rock band and a traditional storyteller.

Afterwards, I headed back to Old Town to do some browsing in the shops. I love artisan-made jewelry, textiles, pottery, and crafts, so I wanted to see what was on offer. There was beautiful stuff, but I knew I planned on heading to Santa Fe the next day, where I could buy from the artisans themselves.

While I was wandering the plaza, I saw something completely ridiculous and amazing: a man singing from within a snow globe. A crowd gathered around him, confused and amused. Who knew?

In fact, this region has more Christmas spirit than anywhere I’d visited in a long time. Granted, the warm temperatures of San Diego didn’t lend well to that cozy winter feeling, but I did appreciate it, as it got me in the mood and more excited to return to my family’s home just in time for the holiday.

As it got later and colder, I decided to head back to Nob Hill, where the college students and young professionals of the area tend to hang out. I’d heard about La Montañita Food Coop, and always loving a good natural foods market, I grabbed some food there for my breakfast and lunch the next day. They have a great little basket with remnants of interesting cheeses, which you can sample before committing. They also have all the organic breads I love, perfect for someone on a road-trip.

Then, knowing that the hostel I planned on staying at that night did not have wi-fi, I checked out a local coffee chain, Satellite Coffee. I got a nice pot of tea and settled down in a comfortable chair to catch up on things. I also ordered a delicious wrap, despite the fact that I was still full from my breakfast almost 12 hours earlier. But most importantly: their staff was completely attentive and friendly, perfect for a lonely traveler like myself.

After a long, but full, day, I drove to my next hostel, the Sandia Mountain Hostel located just outside Albuquerque in Cedar Crest. I’ll write more about this lovely place in my next post, but I must emphasize this: stay here if you can!! It’s beautiful, designed to be a hostel, and so much safer and more comfortable for travelers than other local options. That said, I showed up during a small snowstorm and didn’t see the beauty until the next morning, as I spent that night in an empty hostel, with only the quiet and an FM radio to entertain me.

Next up: the Turquoise Trail and Santa Fe!