Thanksgiving in NM

Greetings from Colorado!

Yes I am actually “home” for a while. I have driven over 50,000 miles in 2008 and I loved most of it. I have done work in 39 states this past year, although I have passed through a few more along the way. I also had the opportunity to visit Montreal and Toronto in Canada as well as Mexicali in Mexico. I have tent camped along the way in the warmer months and have logged over 200 nights in hotels plus quite a few nights and weekends with family and friends around the country. With all that traveling I have included a story below about yet another trip with my parents for Thanksgiving.

I do hope your Thanksgiving was a time of rejoicing with family and friends. I hope you enjoy my little story and I would love to hear what you have been up to as well. I will be sending some more news between now and Christmas. Here’s my story…


Our Thanksgiving Trip to Albuquerque, NM

We had done our homework, looking for fun things to do, a nice place to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner and of course a church for Sunday. The weather report said rain and or snow for home as well as Albuquerque area so we planned on leaving at about 8 am Thursday morning and mom was ready to walk out the door at two minutes of eight, which made dad very happy.
The trip south provided cold but pleasant weather for most of the trip. We arrived at Pueblo Harvest Cafe located in The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center about an hour early. They had room so we were seated promptly for our feast. The restaurant is a fusion of American Indian, American and Spanish foods and we ended up in the same restaurant three times in four days – yes it was that good.
Our dinner started out with a spinach salad with candied pecans, red onions, mandarin oranges and raspberry vinaigrette, as well as fresh baked bread in the kiva just outside the window. A kiva is an outdoor wood fired adobe oven. Next we sipped on a bowl of pumpkin bisque (soup that is) followed by our choice of entrée. Dad and I had turkey with all the fixin’s and mom opted for file of trout with all the fixin’s. When we were done with that, not that we finished, we had a choice of bread pudding, pumpkin pie, which mom and I had, and dad ate the chocolate decadence (chocolate cake with ice cream).
Rolling out of there we headed for the Quality Inn & Suites only a few miles away. We basically hung out for the rest of the evening including down at the pool and spa.
Next day we visited the aquarium and botanical gardens, which was awesome. Very interesting! We had a light lunch in the cafe as we watched all types of fish, turtles and sting rays swimming on all sides of us. On Saturday night we returned for the opening night of their annual Christmas Lights Show. It was a walking tour through the extensive gardens which included a story book section through tunnels, a maze and underground with the giant carrots and potatoes (even though we were still above ground). Christmas lights both animated and stationary were simply amazing. Everywhere you looked – up, down and all around there were lights. This is the best one I’ve ever seen.
We had quite a lesson in American Indian Culture this trip, very different than the east coast. We visited the museum at the Jemez Pueblo (village) visitor center and the Jemez Red Rocks - mountains. It was beautiful! We also returned to the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center for shopping, the museum and watching some Indian dancing. We met a nice couple from the Santa Clara Pueblo who were Christians. They are both artists and were demonstrating pottery making and basket weaving that weekend.
We missed going on the Tram at Sandia Mountain. It is the longest aerial tramway in the world and goes up to 10,378 feet. The mountains were covered in clouds most of the weekend and the last day it was too windy. Everyone said not to miss it so we will have to return some time soon.
Sunday morning we went to Legacy Church – WOW what a blessing! Worth going to if you are in the area on a Sunday or Wednesday. After church we headed north on the Turquoise Trail through some small towns. Stopping for lunch in Santa Fe for some delicious Mexican cuisine we continued north on secondary scenic highway. It was a nice ride and as we turned onto Hwy 160 in Colorado to pick up I-25 in Walsenburg, we were met by a road block. The mountain pass was closed due to a double accident because of snow and ice. It is a long way around through other mountain passes so we waited it out along with about 40 or 50 other cars and trucks. Back on the road it was slow yet smooth. The rest of our trip was uneventful for the most part.
It was a fabulous time away. In between all the above we mostly ate and relaxed. Never rushed and on the way to the Christmas Light Show we even got to see part of a parade - that was pretty cool. There is so much to do we are already planning another trip even though there are other destinations in the works before this trip.
That’s our story and we’re sticking to it! Have an awesome December!


Jimmy BL (Mom & Dad above would be Aunt Roberta & Uncle Jim)