Inside the Land of Enchantment: Albuquerque

The perfect big city with a small-time feel. Albuquerque is nestled around the Sandian mountains and runs into the Chihuahuan Desert. Albuquerque's claim to fame comes through the famous Route 66 highway in 1926 which, before retirement by the US government, used to run right through the town. Now, route 66 has been relegated to a touristy scenic route, but the city has continued to grow and has become the 32nd largest city in the country with almost one million inhabitants.

By now you may be thinking, besides an old road, what exactly does this old New Mexican town have to offer. The answer is "quite a bit." Albuquerque is home to the largest university in NM, New Mexico University. Like most college towns, UNM has brought in quite a bit of local businesses including a number of delicious eateries like The Frontier, several bookshops and used bookshops (which are so underrated), and there is even a hostel. Yes, the US does have hostels.

For my stay, I resided at the Route 66 hostel. For my first hostel experience, I was pleasantly surprised. The staff and other visitors were extremely friendly. In fact, my last night there I got into a two-three hour conversation with a guy from Quebec and a guy from South Africa who were making their way across the US. The hostel provided a kitchen with limited food stuffs (cereal, bread, peanut butter, fruit, etc) which the could be used at any time. There was a fairly comfy, if small, common room. The main drawback to the place was the lack of AC in the dormitories. But, for the price and the pleasant company, I could easily put up with it.

Besides the university there are several other sites and fame claimers. First, never forget that New Mexico is huge when it comes to everything Native American. Albuquerque is no exception. Not too far away from the historic district is the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. This summer, they are featuring Zuni dances. As a historian, I find this museum (as I find most museums these days) saddening. However, as just a curious observer and tourist, it should provide at least an hour of entertainment and enlightenment. This summer they have a special exhibit from the Smithsonian on display.

Next to Old Town is the botanical garden, featuring southern and desert flora, and the aquarium. Then, there is the art. NEVER FORGET the ART. Just walking through central and downtown is an art experience, which is probably why there are several walking tours. And, if you are into movies and cinema, Albuquerque is beginning to boom as a studio and filming location. You never know, but you may get lucky enough to get caught in the background or see some filming going on. Of course, if you are in Albuquerque for any length of time and have the money, Albuquerque is also known for hot air balloon rides. Every October they have a festival where hot air balloons of all types are on display through parades, private businesses, and more.

Then, there is the Old Town. Old town has your stereotypical, but upkept, Old West type of structures which have been converted into art shops, eateries, jewelry sellers, and more. One of my best experiences of the weekend happened here. I just happened to walk into an art shop specializing in indigenous artwork by Daniel Ramirez (the owner), when he walked in behind me and introduced me to his shop. As he began explaining his work, we somehow ended up in a 20-30 minute conversation about myths, legends, cultures, and more. I found him fairly well-informed and very interesting to talk with.

Albuquerque has a little something for everyone. A large university and all that comes with it, several national and mom and pop stores and restaurants, art, cinema, nature (there are extensive RV hook ups and camping and hiking spots) are just some of the attractions. However, despite its rather large size, the city itself isn't as daunting as it may appear. While there is definitely traffic, it isn't that bad for a town of its size, and the streets are fairly easy to navigate. Architecturally, there are several adobe style buildings, but there is also a fair amount of modern architecture. There're even some Victorian styles thrown in. I know I'm not an expert on Albuquerque by any means, but I was fairly impressed with it from my short time there.

Sincerely,
Your American Nomad