I started my day with a Lyft ride to the Albuquerque Museum (link). I've had an excellent experience with Lyft rides so far. It doesn't take long o be picked up (and this is during the Fiesta!). Drivers are personable and pleasant. The app works extremely well and I've received $4 off each of my rides since I'm a new user. Woo Hoo!
I toured the Albuquerque Museum and then took a docent lead tour of Old Town (link). The tour guide was excellent! He had several stories about the area and how it had grown over the years. He explained the history of the church, past floods and more. Absolutely worth doing!
After the tour was over I wondered around the shops. Old Town is kind of a tourist trap - but totally worth the stop. The town plaza is surrounded by the old church on one side and shops, etc. on the other sides. Every little alley leads to still more shops and restaurants. The bandstand in the center of the plaza had mariachi bands playing which was really cool!
I stopped for lunch in Old Town at Hacienda del Rio Restaurant & Cantina. I had Tamales that were covered in the most amazing red chile sauce. I've discovered that there is a real debate here regarding chiles - green versus red. They are the same plant, just harvested at different times. It was explained to me that green chiles flavor reflect more the farmers skill and the soil they are grown in. Whereas red chile flavor varies based on the chef because they are usually made into sauce with other items added. I'm not even going to express an opinion. I was advised when asked "Red or Green?" at a restaurant that the proper answer is "A little of both on the side, please".
After lunch I made my way out of Old Town and back to the Albuquerque Museum. I was so glad I remembered how the docent had gotten us into Old Town because it's a total maze. Very cool, but also a little confusing.
Once I returned to the Museum I walked a block to the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science (link). I was able to catch a guided tour of the Museum by a docent who has worked in science for 40 years and who dabbles in paleontology as a hobby. He was very informative and I got so much more from the museum than had I just explored on my own. It was comical how often he pointed out that a display wasn't current. "Well, in the 80's this is what we thought, but now we know...." I eventually had to ask if these inaccurate displays drove him nuts and he said that a few of them really did.
By this time I was tired of walking so I went to the High Noon Restaurant and Saloon to sit and enjoy a New Mexico draft beer. I don't know the brand because when I asked the bartender what it was called, she said "Beer!". Oh, thanks!
Then another Lyft ride back to my Airbnb. It was a good day! Now to get some sleep and hope that my ride shows up tomorrow so I can make it to the Fiesta!!!
Local selling her wares in Old Town. Very common to just lay out a blanket and put their items on it.
I toured the Albuquerque Museum and then took a docent lead tour of Old Town (link). The tour guide was excellent! He had several stories about the area and how it had grown over the years. He explained the history of the church, past floods and more. Absolutely worth doing!
After the tour was over I wondered around the shops. Old Town is kind of a tourist trap - but totally worth the stop. The town plaza is surrounded by the old church on one side and shops, etc. on the other sides. Every little alley leads to still more shops and restaurants. The bandstand in the center of the plaza had mariachi bands playing which was really cool!
I stopped for lunch in Old Town at Hacienda del Rio Restaurant & Cantina. I had Tamales that were covered in the most amazing red chile sauce. I've discovered that there is a real debate here regarding chiles - green versus red. They are the same plant, just harvested at different times. It was explained to me that green chiles flavor reflect more the farmers skill and the soil they are grown in. Whereas red chile flavor varies based on the chef because they are usually made into sauce with other items added. I'm not even going to express an opinion. I was advised when asked "Red or Green?" at a restaurant that the proper answer is "A little of both on the side, please".
After lunch I made my way out of Old Town and back to the Albuquerque Museum. I was so glad I remembered how the docent had gotten us into Old Town because it's a total maze. Very cool, but also a little confusing.
Once I returned to the Museum I walked a block to the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science (link). I was able to catch a guided tour of the Museum by a docent who has worked in science for 40 years and who dabbles in paleontology as a hobby. He was very informative and I got so much more from the museum than had I just explored on my own. It was comical how often he pointed out that a display wasn't current. "Well, in the 80's this is what we thought, but now we know...." I eventually had to ask if these inaccurate displays drove him nuts and he said that a few of them really did.
By this time I was tired of walking so I went to the High Noon Restaurant and Saloon to sit and enjoy a New Mexico draft beer. I don't know the brand because when I asked the bartender what it was called, she said "Beer!". Oh, thanks!
Then another Lyft ride back to my Airbnb. It was a good day! Now to get some sleep and hope that my ride shows up tomorrow so I can make it to the Fiesta!!!
Balloons out the window of my ride.
Here are a few of my favorite pieces from the Albuquerque Museum
Drat - no copy of the information on this one.
This is a map of Albuquerque on the Museum floor
Old Town
Section of original wall - several walls were destroyed and rebuild after a flood.
Very old Cactus
Mariachi Bands!!
Comments
Post a Comment