My Southwest Adventure

[veg-o-matic]

Whew. I just flew in from Albuquerque, and boy are my arms tired!

No, seriously folks, Keith and I just got back from a lovely trip to New Mexico. Keith's granny wanted to see all three of her grandsons and I got to meet all the in-laws. Actually, there were only two that I hadn't met already, but now I've met the whole bunch and I think I passed muster.

The weather was great, though colder than it was in Maryland. Desert my ass! Unfortunately, we were too late for the explosion of the cottonwood trees and too early for tumbleweed season. Still, I got to see a lot of cactus and sagebrush. Truth be told, I'm glad to be back to the land of trees and grass.

While we were out there, we did some shopping at thrift stores, naturally. I particularly liked the name of this one.

Go Lobos.

 

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Wells Fargo Bank

Gleefully putting holds on your Financial Instruments since 1972!

Go Lobos!

 

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Sandia Peak

Keith took me up the Sandia Peak in one of those...things that's basically held up by a string. Here are the mountains from a distance.
Go Lobos!

 

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The String

Here's a picture of the "cable" that holds the car up in mid-air. They put this up for the tourists who don't know any better, but I saw right through their nefarious plan.

It was a string, I tell you! A string!

Go Lobos!

 

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The Tramcar

Or as I like to call it, The Box of Death. Note the puny "cable" holding it up...

Go Lobos!

 

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Quite a drop

...when the string breaks, no?

Go Lobos!

 

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Lonely at the top

Actually, it was quite crowded up there. Cold and windy, too--31 degrees with winds steady at 25MPH and gusting at who knows how fast.
The view was lovely. Here's Albuquerque in the distance.

Go Lobos!

 

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Both sides now

Here's the view from the other side of the mountain.

Go Lobos!

 

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Back on Terra Firma

We visited Old Town and saw some cool adobe buildings including the Trading Post (with the Hanging Tree out front)

Go Lobos!

 

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San Felipe

Oldest church in New Mexico, I think.

Go Lobos!

 

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We had a lot of good food down there and I became quite a fan of green chiles (my project for the week was to build up my immunity to them so I wasn't such a chile weenie.)

Our last night was spent at the Isleta Casino gambling and celebrating a friend's birthday. Unfortunately, the camera was already packed at that point so I have no pictures of me with a cigarette hanging out of my mouth while I played the slots.

We made it home safe and sound (after a chilly morning in the airport) and shortly after landing I came down with a case of The Plague but I'm feeling much better now, thank you.

Oh, and everywhere you go in NM there seems to be a sign saying Go Lobos! So I figured I'd keep up the tradition.

veg

 

[hoover1060]

so is there any point to my asking?

W T F is GO LOBOS?

 

[partscounterman]

Yea! I happen to love the southwest and really enjoyed all the pictures! Glad to hear you had a nice time and that you measure up to the in-laws expectations (but who wouldn't love you?).

David

Oh, yeah- Go Lobos!

 

[goatfarmer]

Is that the old show with Sherriff Lobo, starring Claude Akins?

kennyGF

 

[selectomatic]

You and Keith are welcome to ride in a Box on a String.

I'll just wait at the Stuff Mart!

-kevin

Oh yeah, Go Lobos, I guess.

 

[veg-o-matic]

Lobos are the UNM sports teams. Not exactly sure which sports, but everyone seems to have a sign saying Go Lobos so who am I to argue?

Oh, and while I was in NM I learned a lot about football from Keith's dad. GO DEEEEP!

veg

 

[westtexman]

Glad you enjoyed. . .

New Mexico is not too terribly far from me. In fact, I go to NM (not that part) every week for work.

Green chiles are AWESOME. And you can get them on EVERYTHING in New Mexico (even on Big Mac's in Santa Fe). That's some of the best food I've ever eaten!

Glad you're almost over the Plague!

Bryan

 

[eluxomarty]

Great pictures Veg!!

I love the pix ! I know what you mean about box on a string. One of the biggest tourist attractions here in Palm Springs is the PS Tram Way. In my almost 45 years I have only been on twice. The first time as a child and i didn't know any better and about two years ago. Valium 5 mgs helped alot with that trip LOL!!!!I think it has something to do with a movie of the week from the 70's which featured Mr. Bobby Sherman , sigh, as a park ranger who ended up dangling from a cable as the cable car itself was dangling from a string! Yikes! I will stay at Stuff Mart too.

Good to be hearing from you again!

Go Lobos and Go DEEEP!!!! tee hee!

Marty

 

[whirlcool]

In southern Germany and Austria you can find those trams that sometimes have 5,000' of space under you as you go across the valleys between mountain peaks. Last time I was on one of these a person riding along with us gave a discertation about how the car we were riding in was made in Italy. And stuff made in Italy usually has a reputation of not holding up and breaking! But if you can relax on those things they certainly offer scenic beauty. Those photos you took look awesome!