New Mexico
Following is an interactive field trip of Northwestern New Mexico along historic Route 66 Taken on April 18, 2005.
Just a few yards inside the New Mexico Border on Interstate 40, even the architecture of the simple Visitor's Information reflects the flavor of the entire region (very square, geometric adobe) and a very fitting motto: "Land of Enchantment," which is accompanied by an also very fitting solar symbol.
A marker at the rest area near the Visitor's Information Center just inside the border tells quite a bit about the history of the area. Many pueblos still remain in the cliffs that run parallel to this part of Interstate 40, but most now serve as shops where modern Native Americans peddle homemade crafts, antiques, art, and other novelties.
Albuquerque, New Mexico's largest city with a population just over half a million, has an "Old Town," much like San Diego's, complete with shops, Mexican and Southwestern-themed restaurants, and historic buildings and monuments.
Old Town Albuquerque is found in the Southwestern corner of the central part of the city. Most of the streets in Albuquerque include a direction on the street sign that corresponds to whether or not one is north or south of Central Avenue and east or west of the railroad tracks just west of Broadway.
The statue of the founder of Old Town Albuquerque, Don Francisco Cuervo y Valdez, who established a villa near this location and named it after the duke of New Spain. Still nicknamed the "Duke City," Valdez's settlement didn't start to take off until 1885, when the railroad arrived and the villa was incorporated as a town. With the arrival of Route 66 (now Central Avenue and Interstate 40), the "Duke City," situated at an elevation of 5,000 feet at the southernmost end of the Rocky Mountains, grew as a stopping point for the sudden flow of traffic on its way out to California during the Great Depression in search of better times.
One of the two plaques honoring Valdez's discovery and establishment of what is now Old Town Albuquerque.
The other plaque in front of the statue of Valdez on his horse, dedicating this part of Old Town as Valdez Plaza.
Sadie's, one of Albuquerque's most popular restaurants, showcases the type of Southwestern desert architecture that is common on many businesses, restaurants, and other major buildings in this region. Just a few blocks north of Old Town on NW 4th Street, Sadie's is family-owned and operated by relatives of former Morning Creek third grade teacher Steffanie Schofield.
Waiting to eat at Sadie's for 45 minutes, even on a Monday night, is rewarded with generous portions of some of the best Southwestern cuisine around; the sopaipillas are highly recommended, and one can pass for a local if, when asked for a preference for green or red chile, the response is "Christmas," which translates to a healthy mix of both.
Click here for a tour of Albuquerque's Downtown Museums