Well, we're back.* Went to Amarillo, Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Taso.* Stayed 2-3 days in each.
Amarillo:* Well, it's a place to stop and rest.* The Palo Duro Canyon is best thing there.* Went to see the outdoor stage play "Texas" and loved it.* Had horses and shootings and fireworks and was well-directed.* Worth the ticket price.* It's been running over 30 years.* We drove right past the Cadillac ranch and the smelly stock yards with hamburger on the hoof.* I’d seen both previously.*
Albuquerque:* Nice.* Still hot though we saw our first rain and lightning in awhile.* We did the hike up to see the Petroglyphs, which is a national monument.* We went to the Balloon museum and park which is cool.* On Oct 6th, there's* an international hot air balloon event in which 800 or so balloons take off (at the same time they said).* It took us about 2 hours to go thru the place.* Old Town is nice, but touristy.* Speaking of ER, I met a 79 year old guy in a book shop who told me he'd retire the day of his funeral.* We rode the Sandia Peak tram, billed as the world's longest passenger tramway and then hiked 3 miles roundtrip at the peak.* Also met a couple of other older gents and one lady, still working, all of whom had a great, positive outlook on life.* We ate at the Dari Thai in Albuquerque and in Taos.* I recommend it.* Also recommend Tito and Mary’s Mexican restaurant on 4th street.* Tito is dead, but 76(?) year old Mary is, you guessed it, still working.* *We drove up to Sandia Peak for a twilight picnic; saw a rattler lying in the road, stopped just as one of a couple of young ladies jogging downhill managed to step on the snake’s tail.* Rattle, rattle.*
Santa Fe is too rich for my taste and a definite tourist trap.* I’ve seen it before.* Lots of artsy places, museums, etc.* BTW:* The Catholic Church seems to own New Mexico.* They’re everywhere.* I can recommend the India House buffet in Santa Fe for eating, although Mexican restaurants are abundant.* On the plaza, the Indians hawk art and jewelry.* Went to the famous Loretto Chappel,
http://www.lorettochapel.com/,* with its famous staircase,
http://www.lorettochapel.com/stair.html .* Although a tourist trap, it is a functioning church, performing services and weddings.* Another old guy, still working, sold us tickets.* We went to the state capitol, where there are several million dollars of artwork inside the capitol building.*
Taos.* Took the ski lift to Snow Valley (not much there in the summer).* Then went rafting, using Los Rios River Runners (recommended).* Went out to the 650 ft deep Rio Grande Gorge; in fact, the rafting was in the Rio Grande.* Left Taos heading for Cimmaron.* It was 59 degrees when we left and 103 degrees just south of Amarillo.*
I was struck by the liberal attitude of the citizens.* A blue state, par excellence, with utter hatred for GWB.*I saw a car up on Sandia with bumper stickers, like: "Yee Haw, is not a foreign policy." and "Let's not elect him in 2004 either."* *When we left Sante Fe, citizens were demonstrating on the Cerrillos Road, with no war signs, and honk for peace.* I uttered expletive deleted, much to DW’s chagrin.* If I master the skill, I’ll post a coupe of pics.*
Overall, I recommend the State, if just to avoid the Texas Heat.* It is beautiful in the mountains.* I was struck by the apparent reality that people do things outside, like Hawaii.* Texas’ heat keeps people indoors.* Watch out for the trucks on interstate 44.* They drive about 85 mph.* Somebody told us that New Mexico has oil, lots of it.* First I ever heard of that.*
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