New Mexico, Fairest of Them All
I recently returned from my first trip to New Mexico, where I did a little “Abbey touring.” Like Ed, I was impressed by the landscape and horrified by everything else. Swarms of humans, dependent on government teat and the weapons industry. And the Albuquerque Chamber of Horrors is doing everything it can to recruit more people, and more business , despite major water issues.
The insanity continues, unabated.
The trip report is here.
Categories: Backpacking-Travel, Edward Abbey
Tags: adios
Comments: 4 Comments.
Looks like it was quite the trip. I know what you mean about home though. I’m the same way, western NY will always be home, but I love getting on the road and being away. Can’t have it all I suppose. I’ve really gotta get out west and see some of it before it’s paved into an “abomination” as you quoted.
…and not to get you down after your trip, but I’ve been messing around on the gov’t sites, dept of interior, bureau of reclamation, energy dept…etc. It’s amazing how much information is right there for the taking. I also noticed the projected increase in energy over the next 20-25 years. Says western coal production is going to go way up! The only saving grace won’t be biofuels or some technology; it will be so primitive and simple that people will overlook it. Cut back on consumption. It’s free and with a little bit of effort very easy. After talking with many people though, I don’t know if America is ready for that, and that just makes me sad. Grow grow grow! Buy buy buy! …it’s going to be a bleak future my friend. It might be time to attend to some billboards!
Look, every place has its good and bad sides, but what a hatchet job on NM, especially Albuquerque. Descriptions such as mean,dirty,crawling with people, after aparently a short drive around town?? Come on, as a former resident of ALB I want to raise a few points, Alb is no dirtier than other western towns, and WAY cleaner then 90 percent of eastern cities( where I am from), looks mean?? not sure about that one, did he even talk to 1 person in Alb to find out if they were mean? Crawling with people?? Impossible, Alb is basically a small town that grew to over 400,000 souls in the last 60 years so its basically a few scattered neighborhoods surrounded by suburban style areas set up in the era of the automobile, sadly walking around ALB is not exactly a common thing. Again, did the author even leave his car in Old Town? The best parts of it are down small pedestrian only alleyways to hidden patios and small plazas and shops, where you you can buy the same tourist trinkets, Native American and Hispanic crafts or Art in general for about 70 percent less than in Santa Fe or Taos up the highway. Not to mention that from Santa Fe even though you are close to the mountains you can,t really see them, only foothills, while from all parts of ALB you have spectacular views. From my backyard in ALB ( around Juan Tabo and Copper) I could see the Sandia, Manzano, Sierra Ladron mountains and majestic Mt. Taylor 70 miles west, all from a middle class neighborhood of small 3 bedroom homes. The elusive Santa fe middle class the the author couldnt find is alive and well, and living in ALB!!! Albuquerque has all the problems of a growing city, but remember that New Mexico ranks about 47th when it comes to wealth, so give it a chance. Alb offers many differnt things to a diverse population, the author wonders why Abbey spent so much time there, obviously from his writings and comments right up until his death, HE ENJOYED IT!!
To bring this diatribe to some kind of an end is hard, but lets mention NPR Radio, Alb has 2 fine NPR stations!! One of which, KANW, is one of the most unique NPR stations in the country, as it features real local New Mexican music in spanish and english as well as a host of NPR standard programs. I HAVE LIVED IN EUROPE FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS AND STILL LISTEN ON LINE!! The irony of the author complaining while in Alb is great.
Just 2 notes on his Santa Fe ramblings, downtown Santa Fe is so small you could walk though the entire downtown in 5 minutes, the look of his waiter bothered him? and not word about the food or service, hilarious. I guess the old saying that if you want to find things to bitch about you always will.
saludos for now, dont be some damn depressed,
jimmy M
I spent a good amount of time in downtown “ALB” and walked all over Santa Fe. Abbey described Santa Fe as a “mean town.” I wouldn’t call it “mean,” but it wasn’t exactly small and quaint, either.
I did in fact leave my car in Old Town and walked. The museums were closed (I think this was a Monday, as I recall). Maybe we should have stayed two days and given it a chance.
Frankly, anything over 1000 people is probably too much for my tastes.
Depressed? Hardly. Just calling it like I see it.