Leaving ABQ...

ABQ, the Duke City.  We had misconceptions before we arrived, due in part to the media hype.  Theft, crime, rampant drug use.  Our instincts almost stopped us from coming.

But we wanted the southwest, a place with good weather and hiking nearby.  No jobs were available in our first choice, Northern Arizona, and so we took our chances and moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Immediately we fell in love with the sky.  Either it stayed completely blue most of the time, or the wispy, cirrus clouds added a bit of character to the vast azure canvas.  Near sunset, the sun reflected off the tiny bits of feldspar in the granite to give the Sandia Mountains their trademark pinkish, watermelon tint. 

A light rain happened only one time during our three months stay.  The climate was dry, but not too dusty.   In the mornings and evenings the temperature was cold, but the days were ideal for getting outside and being active. 

We rented a home in neighborhood of Nob Hill, not too far off Central Avenue, the once famed Route 66.  Depending on where you are the street can be lined with modern restaurants and shops or run-down motels and shady looking locals.  In fact, most big cities have homeless, but ABQ had more than I had ever seen.  Almost every intersection had someone asking for money. Some lived on the streets by choice, while others were colorfully insane as they walked down the street talking to themselves.    

Our location provided us a quick 10 to 15-minute drive that led to the Sandia Mountains on the east and the Rio Grande River on the west.  Both sides allowed plenty of hiking and running trails surrounded by nature, either the bosque or the mountains.  The mild weather and location let us take full advantage of our days as we often hiked and went trail running.

The city itself is gritty but colorful and unique, giving off a self deprecative character like I have witnessed in other big cities, a ‘love to hate’ attitude.  Vibrant, colorful murals brighten the sides of buildings and give life to areas that would otherwise be drab and plain.  Slowly, the older buildings are being renovated and newer ones, mostly big business ventures, are being constructed. From city to city across the country, downtowns are becoming more alike. 

Yet even though this is true, many cities still maintain their own vibe.  In ABQ, Hispanic and Native American influence dominate the culture as can be seen in the street names, neighborhoods, and other areas. The delicious foods have the influence as well. Chile cheeseburgers, Frito Pies, Posole, Bizcochos, and the like give the palate a never-ending supply of options to fill the belly. A diverse city, and of course, the influence is obvious in the darker tones of skin of the people. 

If I ever choose to live in New Mexico, I would probably go farther North, like Santa Fe or near the smaller towns of Taos or Cerrillos.  These small towns are full of art and life and surrounded by natural beauty, like Albuquerque, but they appear to lack most of the problems associated with big city life.

I can’t say ABQ is a place I would want to live long term, but the city gave us a good taste of the southwest and I am glad we had the opportunity to spend time there.  Gritty, colorful, and unique, the city has tremendous potential.  The home of Breaking Bad was better than we expected. But we always make the best of wherever we go. That’s just how we travel.