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An Enchanting Week in New Mexico

A May visit to New Mexico with my dear friend, Barbara, provided a lovely break from day-to-day life and the barrage of unsettling world news.

By phone and text, we planned ahead, agreeing to have unscheduled days, interspersed with activities and put-your-feet-up time in our residence hotel, making for a relaxing holiday. I flew to New Mexico from California and Barbara traveled from Ohio.

We stayed in Albuquerque for the week, with a day trip to Santa Fe. My friend Mary Ann was born and raised there, so she gave us a few recommendations. While there, we visited the Old Town and prowled a few shops, including a wonderful museum store, where we had lively conversations with the proprietor and a few guests. We ate authentic New Mexican food at a local diner, then walked through Burro Alley to the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum.

The museum features decades of the artist’s work, some familiar, like the close-up flower paintings she’s known for, along with works from art school through her later life, when she lost her central vision.

Of particular interest is the final exhibit hall, featuring the work of several Native Pueblo people and addressing some of the conflict between O’Keeffe and the area’s Native people and this country’s relationship to the land we live on, land stolen from native ancestors.

Back in Albuquerque, we had a thrilling ride on an aerial tram that ascended to 10,378 feet, depositing us at the crest of the Sandia Mountains. You can take a peek at the spectacular aerial views of the tram ride on the Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway website.

We took in views from windy observation decks, then enjoyed fruity drinks and decadent creme brulee banana splits while continuing to appreciate the view from our cozy seats.

Each tram holds about twenty standing-room-only passengers, and they alternate along the side of the mountain throughout the day. Employees of the restaurants also travel by tram, as do all the food, beverages, and other items needed to keep things running at the top. It’s an impressive operation.

The climb moves slowly with several brief stops, taking about 15 minutes to reach the top, with a 15-degree drop in temperature once on the decks. We had an amazing time.

Toward the end of the week, Barbara discovered Farm & Table via their Facebook page. This local gem features a restaurant, the family farm, and a cultural gift store called La Parada.

We loved La Parada’s around-the-world offerings and unique displays and enjoyed chatting with the shop owner and curator. La Parada is Spanish for “the stop”. Originally, the building served as a stagecoach stop in the 1800s. You can read more about the history of La Parada and Farm & Table here.

Dinner was fabulous, and we got to wander the gardens afterward, a treat for this gardener’s soul. You couldn’t ask for a nicer evening.

Our final adventure for the week was an interactive murder mystery dinner theater of a sort, more camp than drama, but fun nonetheless.

A man in a tan suit and patterned tie stands holding a rolled document, looking thoughtfully at someone. A woman in a white dress stands in the background, partially obscured by a plant.
Dinner Detective Host
Two women standing next to a banner for 'The Dinner Detective,' featuring a crime scene motif and promoting murder mystery shows.
The Dinner Detective

I’ll end with one of those pinch-me moments: we spotted a roadrunner racing through a commercial parkway, and fortunately, no Wile E. Coyote in pursuit.

A close-up of a roadrunner bird standing on a paved surface, surrounded by small flower petals.
Roadrunner

mweep, mweep

26 thoughts on “An Enchanting Week in New Mexico”

  3. Wow incredible photos Alys and It looks like there wasn’t a dull moment during your visit there. It looks like you had gorgeous weather also. I want one of those cream brûlée banana splits now 😁

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  5. How I enjoyed traveling with you and Barbara! Looks like a fabulous city and a beautiful state. That ride looked absolutely spectacular. And the treat at the top sounds perfect. Yum! Then to see a roadrunner. A perfect ending, especially as there was no coyote in pursuit.

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    • Thanks for making me smile, Laurie.

      New Mexico is a beautiful place, and I hope to return with Mike one day for further exploration. The ride was spectacular, in both directions, and that sundae treat was the proverbial cherry on top, bad pun intended.

      Seeing that roadrunner was truly something.

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  8. After reading your description, I’ve added the tram to my list! That is right up my alley! (And I love the postcard ~ thank you).

    is Barb a blogging friend?

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    • You’re welcome, Laurie. You will love that tram, and the surrounding beauty of the area. I hope we can travel together again one day.

      I met Barb through a now-closed non-profit called Design Response. I was on the board at the time and also a member of the committee that put on an event at Achievekids were Barb worked. I can’t exactly remember how we connected afterward, but I think it’s through a mutual friend who worked on the design. We’ve been friends for over twenty years.

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  10. Oh wow! I never knew there were REAL roadrunners! LOL! 😂 What a cutie! The trip up the mountain looks great – reminds me of some of the cable car trips I have taken in the German and Austrian Alps. Lovely views. And I really like those painted flower pots! 😁

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    • Oh, Cathy, a trip through the Alps would be amazing. I’ve seen parts of Germany and Switzerland by train and boat, but to cable up would be extraordinary.

      Roadrunners are fascinating birds. They prefer to run on the ground though they can fly. They partner for life, so we were a little considered to see a solo bird, and they feast on insects, lizards and even venomous snakes.

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  12. Unscheduled days hanging out with a dear friend and sightseeing in places like Santa Fe – that sounds exquisite! I love the Georgia O’Keefe museum and wanted to visit her ranch in New Mexico, hopefully someday. Your photos are lovely and I could just imagine the fun and laughter! That farm and table place sounds amazing and then the garden – did you get more ideas for yours?
    Murder mystery dinner theater – sounds like a blast.
    Beep beep roadrunner! I loved that cartoon so much as a kid!

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