This piece was initially written for a contest here in town called "Why I Live In Albuquere," which was set up by the Mayor's office, and in which I wrote a short piece. Later, this piece was expanded over the word limit, to tell the world why I live In Albuquerque, New Mexico.
The International Hot-Air Balloon Fiesta has been Albuquerque's signature event for about 35 years, and the Fiesta helps to promote Albuquerque and New Mexico around the country and around the world. This, in turn, helps to get publicity for the City and State and attract jobs for this part of the world...something that everyone can use during these hard times.
For those of you around the world, who may not know where the state of New Mexico is located, I will put it on the map for you.
The state of New Mexico is located in the southwestern part of the United States...with our good neighbors to the east...the state of Texas; our good neighbors to the north...the state of Colorado; our good neighbors to the west...the state of Arizona; and our good neighbors to the south...the country of Mexico.
Albuquerque is a sleepy, one-horse town of about 500,000 in population...including the horse. I was born here, and I still reside here, and I don't know if I would live anyplace else.
The name Albuquerque comes from the Duke of Albuquerque of Spain, when the Spaniards occupied this territory in the 16th century. New Mexico didn't become a state until 1912.
The people of Albuquerque are friendly, and welcome their guests from all over the world, to a clean city...where crime is down. Guests can enjoy all the amenities the city has to offer; great dining; shopping; great accomodations; theatre; tramway; music/concerts; arts/crafts; Indian art/craft; sports; casinos; site-seeing; and the mountains and volcanoes help to provide for some of the most spectacular sunsets anywhere!
Additionally, Albuquerque has good schools; low taxes; and no grocery tax. Skiing and golf, anyone?
Did somebody say shopping? To shop, therefore I am...so if you're a shop-a-holic...you're in the right place...
Indoor shopping malls; Two of these malls for your shopping convenience, with over 200 stores each
Abq. Uptown: If you don't find what you're looking for at the mall...there's always Alb. Uptown with about 100 stores.
Old Town; If you still can't find what you're looking for...a lot of Native American art and craft located and sold here...all this shopping will surely keep you out of trouble...I think...
Santa Fe; And, if you still can't find what you're looking for, the Santa Fe Plaza is just up the street about an hour...
Albuquerque is divided right down the middle by the Rio Grande river, which comes out of the state of Colorado and winds its way south to who knows where. On the eastern city limits, are the towering Sandia Mountains (Spanish for watermellon), which reach a height of 10,600 feet above sea level, and support the longest tramway system in North America. Houses are literally built on the foothills of the Sandias.
At age 66, I lived half my life on the east side of the river...and the other half on the west side of the river. The view of the towering mountains is more spactacular from the west side. For 18 years, I lived on the west side of the city, and the view of the mountains from there, is incredible. You would think you are in Alaska or Montana. Incredible view!
On the west side of town, are the three volcanoes, in which experts assure us that they are dormant and dead. (let's hope so) Black lava rock can be seen all over the west side and near the volcanoes. Again, houses are built right up on the foot-hills of the volcanoes.
I had travelled to a few states in the west...but I had never traveled to the midwest or the eastern part of the United States until I was in the Air Force. I went to Kansas City, Missouri for three week for a conference in August. They should call the place Kansas City, 'Misery' the place was so humid! Those three weeks, had to be the worst three weeks of my life...as I didn't sleep the entire time...as the humidity was killing me!
The country side was just awful...all flat as a pancake...no mountains or hills of any kind; grass and corn and wheat fields everywhere! Even the ghettos looked good, covered with grass!
After three weeks in August, we left Kansas City and drove through Oklahoma and on to Amarillo and finally I could breath! I was not sticky and sweaty anymore. What a relief!
Albuquerque has little humidity...if it reache 20% that's news! Little humidity is a quality of life for us here in Albuquerque; surrounded by the mountains is another quaility of life for us who enjoy the mountains.
I've never heard of this city being hit by a tornado. I've never heard about a tornado in the western part of the United States, either. I don't know why, but I think it's because of the Rocky Mountains that extend from the Canadian border south to El Paso, Texas. These mountains protect us from the tornados in the midwest, etc. I'm not a meteorlogist, so I don't know why there are little or no tornadoes in the West...so I just considerate it another quality of life for us in the west.
Speaking of hot air...for those of you who may want to learn more about the Hot-Air Balloon Fiesta, I have written an article about the Balloon Fiesta... in which over 1 million visitors attend this ten day event!
Up Up and Away! (Feast for the eyes)
Heck...forget the shopping; dining; sunsets; balloons; low humidity and no tornadoes...three of my favorite reasons why I live in Albuquerque are as follows;
1) Electricity
2) Running water
3) Indoor facilities
This piece has been up and down in the Top Ten in the Travel category and it is listed in the #33 spot in the Top 50 List;
We'd love to have you visit soon...see ya!
SITE MAP For Hopelessly Lost Souls;
Copyright; 2011; Jerry Aragon; The Humor Doctor
Website name; humordoctormd
