Albuquerque, NM

30 May 2007
High of 90, clear

Friends of Charlie and Barbara ..

We’re still here; B/C got up yesterday morning and decided to stay another night. The following is a Sunday excursion.

Sunday we attended church in the beautiful and historic San Felipe de Neri Catholic Church built in 1706 and continuously in use since.

After church B/C had lunch at their favorite restaurant just behind the church, Casa de Ruiz, reputedly one of the finest restaurants in the country. They have a most beautiful and peaceful back patio dining room and the inside is old-Mexican style with 2‘-thick terronies adobe brick walls. The casa was a private home built in 1706 with the last resident Ruiz, age 91, dying in 1991 when it was turned into a restaurant. It is the oldest building in Albuquerque. They have beautiful hollyhocks which Barbara hasn’t seen in years.

San Felipe de Neri faces our most favorite of Spanish-style zocalo (plaza or town square) in New Mexico. It is peaceful yet active, this day with very good xylophone music. Shop and restaurants border the zocalo on three sides with many strolling shoppers.
The zocalo dates from 1706, the founding of Albuquerque, when the settlement was a stop along the Camino Real leading north to Santa Fe.

Albuquerque has a US Civil War history. In April 1862 an army of Texans tried to capture the New Mexico territory for the Confederacy. While Albuquerque was occupied by the Texans, there was a skirmish with Yankees losing. The principal battle occurred later near Santa Fe with the Texans losing and having to retreat back to Texas never to return.

“Charlie, enough of this history stuff,” Humphrey complains. A little history is fine but you are also into 66 history and now your are getting back involved with Barbara’s genealogy. (Last evening Charlie downloaded Legacy 6.0 so they seem to be getting serious, again.)

Next: reportedly we are leaving today for Santa Rosa, NM east about 125 miles along 66/I-40, if B or C don't sluff off.

… Humphrey for Charlie and Barbara