We drove into town and parked at a ludicrously low-tech parking lot before venturing into the Old Town district. It is quite compact, and has some very nice buildings and the pace here seems very laid back, almost like everybody had a permanent siesta. The architecture and the mellow atmosphere could almost make you think you're in Mexico, until you realize that the streets aren't full of garbage, nobody's getting killed by drug gangs and nothing smells of shit. Well, very little anyway.
So we strolled around, took some pictures, did the tourist thing. We ventured into a hat store and almost immediately stumbled across probably the only Norwegian-speaking American in town. We didn't catch her name, but she'd lived in Oslo for two years, with a Norwegian boyfriend, and spoke with a thick accent. Still, what are the odds?
Anyways, I bought myself a nice, black hat and got some good tips about how to take care of it from the saleslady. Turns out you should pick it up by the brim, not the "head" and when not in use you should keep it upside down, so as not to make the brim go flat. Well, who woulda thunk it? Not me.
Afterwards we splurged on a half-hour bicycle tour around Old Town. The guy pedalling us around was originally from Nebraska, but had lived in Albuquerque for 18 years and run tours for 14 of 'em. He gave us a quick history of the town and showed us the important stuff, like where the whorehouse had been.
All pics here.
Astrid playing cowgirl. She's from the rural parts of Norway where they probably do unspeakable things to sheep.
Astrid showing how NOT to make cactus juice.
This popcorn cart was one of only six still in existence. It was built by the guy who evidently invented the popcorn cart and it was made in Philadelphia in 1917.
Truth in advertising.
Nice building.
The Christmas tree was made of a metal skeleton, and all they did was put in fresh branches every year.
Don Francisco Cuervo, who was the provincial governor who actually started building the city. He originally called it San Francisco, but was recalled to Spain and the place promptly changed name to Albuquerque, which was a village in Spain and the dukedom of the viceroy of New Spain.
The pavillion in the park of Old Town.
Looks like the figure is shitting out a new head. I may not know anything about art, but I know what I like and this ain't it. Hookahey, mofos.
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