Give me some time to get my own life rocking along. We've been away from Albuquerque for the past 8 years and just moved back, the end of October. I'm still getting my head straight, mostly because Albuquerque just won't stop growing.

Having been a resident of this area since 1954, I know things most never notice. Such as a small cave on the west bluff, that is hot and swampy on the coldest day of the year. I'll have to do some head banging over that one, to remember where it is. I know that I know, just haven't actually gone to that spot since coming home.

There are little mysteries around town that would be an adventure for us all, not just the kids. I thought how entertaining and educational, if I gathered up groups, now and then, and showed the way.

Did you know there is a cold, clear spring that comes above ground, up in the Sandias, then back underground, and comes back to the surface in the foothills?

South of the downtown area (central), there is a series of paintings of 'Our lady of Guadalupe', strewn throughout the neighborhood. They were all painted on the same night and nobody, to this day, knows who did it.

There is an area in the northern end of the Sandia's where you can find numerous fossils of sea life. Also, in that same general area, you can harvest Choke Cherries in the fall.

Just all sorts of secrets and forgotten novelties, in the area. I thought, perhaps, we might get it together from time to time, and I could take a group to these areas and introduce them to the old time realities.

What do you think?
Judy

I would be interested!  I have lived in Albuquerque since 1971 and have heard of a few of these and would love to know more.  Jessica has lived here all her life.  It would be wonderful for her to learn these secrets.

Lori

Oh, sad....sad!!!! I happened to be on the west side, today and drove straight north on Unser. When I left here in late 1999, Unser was barely pavement over sand and didn't run very far. Aaaaargh...but now...wail.....
It took me awhile to find the old path up to that swampy cave. If not for a couple of water towers, I would never have located it. Now you have to go to the end of a neighborhood street then off road, just to get on the old path. My head hurts.

First they built houses all over the local playground (foothills), then they paved Tramway (aaargh), now I find they've just about covered up the old paths to the playgrounds on the west side. Oh, I'm in a whiney mood.

A couple weeks ago, I discovered they've changed the old Juan Tabo park into a pay for parking area (what!?)-there's a paved parking lot at the base of the mountain trail!!!!!! Somebody help me. They're running me out of all the old territory.

I'm almost afraid to see what's happened to the crest. I imagine parking meters. haha  

And I want to know where all those brand new 'petroglyphs' came from. Um...guys...there were no petroglyphs in the 50's and 60's. they just sort of popped up in the late 70's.  Uh...I used to play there...What petroglyphs? hmmm

Oh well. It just keeps growing. I'm pretty sure it's Phoenix now.

Someday, maybe we can all get together and I can tell you guys crazy stories about Albuquerque.
Judy

I know what you mean, Judy.  I have lived here since 1971 and Albuquerque just keeps GROWING!  Have you noticed how there is always traffic?  At least we know we can't get as large as Los Angeles as we are bordered on all sides by Mountains or Reservations.

I would love to get together with you and swap what we now about our home town!  

Lori

Judy & Lori, it would be SOOOOOO awesome if you'd turn some of these memories into field trips for the group . . . we'd LOVE to come!  
ie.  let's harvest choke cherries, let's go see the "Old Lady of Guadalupe" paintings, the swampy cave, etc.

Would you be our tour guides?  

(Ladies, do you have access to the member forum part of this website?  That's usually where field trips are announced because there's more privacy for RSVPing, etc.)

Quoted from 532

I know what you mean, Judy.  I have lived here since 1971 and Albuquerque just keeps GROWING!  Have you noticed how there is always traffic?  At least we know we can't get as large as Los Angeles as we are bordered on all sides by Mountains or Reservations.

I would love to get together with you and swap what we now about our home town!  

Lori

I used to think nobody would ever build on the west side, because of all the shifting sand. Boy was I proven wrong. ha  The west side of the river is almost as big as Albuquerque was, when we first moved here. It's mind boggling. All I can say is thank goodness for the reservations, bordering us. Driving across the west area, I can see the northern edge of Albuquerque and I can't help but giggle, every time. It's my wicked little humor, thinking 'ha! that's as far as you go'.

I was in Real Estate, in the early 80's. You know that area east of I-25 and bordering Paseo del Norte. That area from the reservation up to about a half mile on the south side, was all barren. The reason being that back in the 40's, a group of crooks bought it up for a dime and went to California, sold it all for a fortune, telling the people there was oil under that ground. The children of those investors had been told never to sell it, as there would be oil found on it some day. Getting them to sell was like pulling teeth.

The annual taxes were grandfathered in at about $5 to $25, so those folks had absolutely no desire to sell. I don't know how, but evidently somebody finally got hold of the owners and convinced them to sell. Can you imagine the profits made? Their parents and grand-parents had bought the land for around $40 an acre.  The bordering land to the south was selling for around $13k at the time. Betcha both ends made a killing.

Before they built the new pass, which is now Paseo del Norte, there was no pavement west of I-25 and that portion east of I-25 was called Los Angeles. Now look at it.

And poor Bernalillo ! They used to be so disconnected from the masses. Rio Rancho practically covered them up. Again, thank goodness for reservations. Personally, I'm going to thank the Native Americans for never selling that land.

Which reminds me, it's almost time for Santa Domingo's annual Christmas dance. I'll have to get out there and visit with a friend and find out the date. It's really neat to watch. The dancer's throw gifts up onto the back porch of the Chief's home. It's the reinactment of the kings visiting the Christ child. I don't think they would mind if I brought a group. I'll ask.

Quoted from 122

Judy & Lori, it would be SOOOOOO awesome if you'd turn some of these memories into field trips for the group . . . we'd LOVE to come!  
ie.  let's harvest choke cherries, let's go see the "Old Lady of Guadalupe" paintings, the swampy cave, etc.

Would you be our tour guides?  

(Ladies, do you have access to the member forum part of this website?  That's usually where field trips are announced because there's more privacy for RSVPing, etc.)

I'll venture over to the member area and  join up.  There are so many things, I know I'm not remembering them all. Maybe by the time we actually form a group, I'll have a list as long as my arm.

Having been here almost my whole life, I forget what's interesting to others. Back around 1996, there was an investigator guy on the news, talking about mysterious things around the city. He mentioned the big arrow at Indian School and Carlisle. Nobody was old enough to remember what it was there for. That's when I realized I was getting old. haha  I had to call the news station and tell him. It was part of a promotion for a new housing development (which was then completely disconnected from the city, out on a dusty hill). There was one big arrow on the corner of the new shopping center they built, as part of their housing plan and a bunch of smaller ones, leading up the hill (on what is now Indian School), to the model homes. The big arrow is still there, as it was a permanent landmark for the housing development.

So nobody, today, knows why that huge arrow is there on the corner.

I'll have to start a list. I know where the oldest elementary school is, and that it's still in operation, as the local neighbors wouldn't part with it.

I think it would be a rough ride, for most, getting up to that cave under a rock that's so warm and swampy year around. I used to do it all the time but most folks today, aren't used to navigating in the ruts and over rocks.  (one of my talents) I learned to drive, on the foothills of the Sandia's.

So many things have been fenced off or blocked off. Like the Sandia Man cave up from Placitas. We used to be able to go in as deep as we wanted. Somebody got hurt, so now it's cemented closed. gees.

There used to be a dairy, in the valley, where the school kids would go on field trips. Evidently they've been squeezed out. I don't know where they went but it sure isn't near here, any more. I miss them.

I'll start making a list. We'll get together some day soon, as go for an outing.
Judy

glorious!   I just adore reading your posts . . .