ROAD TO SEDONA: Stopover in Albuquerque

We were so impressed with Albuquerque that we decided to spend another day, and boy ! what a good decision that was. After spending yesterday afternoon in Old Town, we thought we had seen it all. But ! there was much more of this beautiful city to explore.

Albuquerque is a happy, hospitable city with a population of 550,000.

The Sandia Mountains run along the eastern side of of the city, and the Rio Grande flows through the city, north to south.

The inner city is divided into three areas, Old Town, Down Town, and Nob Hill, all with individual charm and ambience, in their own right.

But the icing on the cake must surely be Up Town, an elegant high-end shopping and condo area, out of town, against the backdrop of the Sandia Mountains. Up Town has all the shopping, dining and people-watching one could desire.

Down Town features fine dining restaurants, casual taverns, coffee shops and cafes, as well as modern and traditional art galleries, and the historic KiMo Theatre. The city was intersected by the original Route 66, and there are still surviving structures from that era. The University of New Mexico is located in Down Town.

The historic Nob Hill Shopping Centre was one of the first of its kind in the West. Original and restored Route 66 neon lights color a mile-long strip of the main street, with neon arches bordering each end. Nob Hill is now the business centre of the city.

Eleanor spoke about Old Town yesterday.

The suburban residential houses are a blend of traditional adobe construction and modern brick homes, tastefully decorated, in harmony with the local landscape.

One thing is sure, when my numbers come up (not my number), I will purchase a home in this beautiful area. I already have my white Stetson.