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Published: October 25th 2007
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Conoco Station on Rte 66
...this is a historic landmark in Elk City, OK Hi everyone,
We arrived at our RV Park, just west of Albuquerque, New Mexico on Mon. 10/8. After we ‘set up camp’, we drove into Albuquerque to explore. Albuquerque is HUGE! Basically most of the streets either run North & South or East & West, so it seems like it should be easy to get around….but there is so much traffic (even mid-week), if you are not in the right lane and the right time, it could be difficult to get back on track. As with any large city, best to have 1 or 2 (sometimes they differ) good street maps and to map out the route before you head out.
Tuesday, we decided to head out to Santa Fe, New Mexico. Santa Fe is about 60 miles North of Albuquerque. According to our map, along the way was the Santa Domingo Pueblo Indian Reservation, so we decided to get off the highway and take a look! Much to our happiness, we found a small outside market, where the Indian women were purchasing items to make their ‘hand-made’ jewelry. To our surprise? (shouldn’t have been surprised, I guess), some of the items such as jewelry clasps etc were
from other countries, like Thailand. Much to my dismay, the ‘Indian’ baskets that were sold there are made in Pakistan (wrong Indians). Anyway, needless to say, I won’t be buying any baskets! We discovered an Indian lady named ‘Angie’ who was selling her hand-made jewelry outside her home. I asked ‘Angie’ for permission to take her picture, since Jim bought some of her jewelry for re-sale and wanted the picture for authentication. ‘Angie’ agreed. I took two pictures, one as I was walking toward Jim & Angie and one of just Angie in front of her home with her jewelry. Because, I’m sure Angie doesn’t expect her picture to be on-line, out of respect for her, I will not publish the picture of just her on the Travelblog (although she told us that she and her daughter expect to be selling their jewelry online soon!). But because I didn’t take any other pictures of the village, I will post the one I took from a distance of she and Jim ‘discussing a deal’. Also, there was the beautiful Santo Domingo Mission Church, though we were not allowed to take pictures. Apparently in the past, tourists have taken pictures during religious
outside the shops in Santa Fe
...it's hard to see in front of all of those people...but the Native Americans have their wares layed out on the sidewalk in front of the shops. ceremonies, so they now ban all picture taking.
Santa Fe was REALLY crowded with tourists, so much in fact, that we couldn’t find any place to park. After driving around the city a number of times, we ended up parking somewhere we weren’t supposed to. The only other option would have been to leave. There are a lot of tourist shops, art galleries, restaurants etc., all very expensive. A few Indians are allowed to display and sell their jewelry on the sidewalk, outside of the shops. We didn’t buy anything, Angie’s prices were much better.
Wednesday morning we got up at 5:00 a.m. to go to the ‘morning session’ of the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. It goes on for two weeks, everyday (last week and this week). We chose Wednesday because, this week, that was the day of the ‘mass ascension’. To us, that meant a ‘multitude’ of balloons. And a ‘multitude’ of balloons, it was! I took a bazillion pictures. I have tried to select a good representation to show you. In the afternoon, we went to historic ‘Old Town’ in Albuquerque. Again, a lot of tourist shops and Indians selling their jewelry on the sidewalks, but because
getting started
one flame of many during the morning.... there are SO MANY tourists, their prices are very high. What was REALLY cool, was meeting 12 WWII Indian Code Talkers. They were doing a book signing outside of one of the shops. If you bought a book or a photo, they would individually sign it for you. Jim bought a photo, so we were able to walk down the line as they signed, shook their hands and spoke to each man individually. VERY COOL!!!
Thursday, we did laundry, general cleaning and grocery shopping. We also ‘hit’ a few Antique shops along our way.
Nothing too exciting. The weather has been beautiful, mostly sunny and the sun is very HOT!! Even when there is a cool breeze….the sun is very HOT!!! Temps have been consistently between 75-85 days and 50’s at night. (Temps in AZ & CA were 85-95 days…and 70’s at night….we needed to use the A/C both day & night there.)
Friday….Jim wanted to go to the casino….I did not…there are about 5 casinos close by. We have been to several of them, several times, already. Jim went….I stayed home and worked on my Travelblog.
Wednesday, Oct. 17 - we arrived in
Tunica, Mississippi!!! We are in a Casino RV Park. If you are ‘very familiar’ with Vegas, you may be familiar with Sam’s Town. There is no internet connection so I cannot yet post this Travelblog.
On our drive here, we stayed a night in the Amarillo, TX Wal-Mart. LOTS of RV'ers there!! We we lucky enough to get in early to find a spot. (HA!). Since we were only 2 exits away from the famous…..‘The Big Texan Steakhouse’ I just had to go. That is the steakhouse which has been featured in a movie or two, because if you can eat their 72 oz. steak dinner in one hour (all 72 oz. of steak, a baked potato, vegetable, drink and a roll) you get it free. Otherwise, it’s $72.00. Jim and I had no intention of trying. (Our Rib-Eyes were really delicious though). Before we finished our meal, a couple came in and took the ‘challenge’. (They actually have to sign papers). They have a special table where they seat you for this meal. Not only is it ‘front and center’ in the restaurant, it is also ‘raised’ on a short platform, so everyone can see you. They put
a clock right on the table, and when ‘the meal’ arrives….it is announced to the rest of the patrons, that this person (or people) are going to try to eat the meal in one hour…and that the rest of us may come up and view and/or take pictures….but just to remember that they only have one hour. I did take pictures, but for some reason, every picture I took inside the restaurant came out with an orange hue (must have been the inside lighting), I did try to adjust it on the PC, but I couldn’t. Anyway, when we left, it looked as though SHE might make it…..but HE didn’t look like he was doing too well.
The next night we spent in an RV Park in Checotah, OK (birthplace of Carrie Underwood for you fans).
This will probably be my last entry, as this is our last planned stop before home.
Hope you have enjoyed our entries, pictures and travels!
‘Til the next time,
Linda & Jim
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Marsha Berman
non-member comment
Wow! Great Pictures
Wow! Spectacular pictures of the balloon fest. Amazing how huge the balloons are. I don't think I knew people were creative in their balloon designs. Interesting.