Jenn, aka JeSais (I know) » new mexico http://akajesais.com Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:32:49 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Day Tripping http://akajesais.com/2008/10/19/day-tripping/ http://akajesais.com/2008/10/19/day-tripping/#comments Sun, 19 Oct 2008 18:21:41 +0000 admin http://akajesais.com/?p=291 Acoma Pueblo sits atop a 367 foot sandstone bluff in high desert of New Mexico. Magical doesn’t really begin to describe what it is like to walk on land that people have been walking on since the 1100s. Our guide (who you see in this photo– he kept backing into my viewfinder) was a [...]]]> Acoma Pueblo sits atop a 367 foot sandstone bluff in high desert of New Mexico. Magical doesn’t really begin to describe what it is like to walk on land that people have been walking on since the 1100s.
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Our guide (who you see in this photo– he kept backing into my viewfinder) was a charming young man who usually coordinates the tours but they were shorthanded so he pitched in. He kept having to look at his notes and seemed a little embarrassed, but he was very nice.

I can’t imagine people looking at this desert land and thinking it was a good place to build. It’s a harsh land. Heat in the summer, snow in winter, limited water. And yet, these pueblos are a testament to man’s ingenuity, and strength to not only live, but thrive in such a landscape.

Rather than take the bus down, Cassie and I opted to walk down. Yes, we could have taken the road… but didn’t realize until we were half way down the “path” that it was closer to rock climbing (down) than walking.
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Here’s Cassie, leading the way. Me, I’m taking my time. Scooting on my butt when I have to, and I have a death grip on the handholds in the sandstone bluffs.
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I stopped to look up and took this picture. It really doesn’t look as scary as it was.
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The dark part in the center of the cliff is the “path” we took down.

I kept teasing Cassie, “Who’s idea was this anyway?” (it was Cassie’s but truth be told, I said, “Sure, let’s walk down.” I wanted to take pictures. Oh the sacrifices I make for my art!

You can see all my photos here:

]]> http://akajesais.com/2008/10/19/day-tripping/feed/ 2 How Low Can You Go? http://akajesais.com/2008/10/09/how-low-can-you-go/ http://akajesais.com/2008/10/09/how-low-can-you-go/#comments Thu, 09 Oct 2008 17:27:14 +0000 admin http://akajesais.com/?p=289 No, this is not a post about McCain’s “that one” remark, or his refusal to shake hands….

It’s about gas prices in Albuquerque.

Not sure what prices are like at the gas stations in my old stomping grounds of San Diego– when I left in July they were nearing $4 per gallon. At Costco!

[...]]]> No, this is not a post about McCain’s “that one” remark, or his refusal to shake hands….

It’s about gas prices in Albuquerque.

Not sure what prices are like at the gas stations in my old stomping grounds of San Diego– when I left in July they were nearing $4 per gallon. At Costco!

Things are sure different here:

Drivers line up for cheap gas

People in New Mexico and around the country are getting a break at the pump as oil prices plummet.

The average price of gas in Albuquerque hasn’t been at $2.85 for about a year. That’s why the Phillip’s 66 at Lowes in northwest Albuquerque is jam packed with people trying to save a few bucks.

People haven’t been this happy around a gas station for a long time.

CONTINUE READING–>

Of course the median income in New Mexico is something like $34,000/year

]]> http://akajesais.com/2008/10/09/how-low-can-you-go/feed/ 2 Hot Time in the City: The post about Chiles http://akajesais.com/2008/09/20/hot-time-in-the-city-the-post-about-chiles/ http://akajesais.com/2008/09/20/hot-time-in-the-city-the-post-about-chiles/#comments Sun, 21 Sep 2008 04:42:54 +0000 admin http://akajesais.com/?p=277 There’s a certain smell in the air. It’s Fall in New Mexico and everyone is in a big hurry to roast up all the chile peppers… they freeze them to use year ’round.

Today I stopped by a chile stand in Albuquerque that I had seen earlier in the week, and picked up a [...]]]> Red Ristra RowThere’s a certain smell in the air. It’s Fall in New Mexico and everyone is in a big hurry to roast up all the chile peppers… they freeze them to use year ’round.

Today I stopped by a chile stand in Albuquerque that I had seen earlier in the week, and picked up a couple of ristras (photos, left) to hang on the front of my house. I’ll need to install some brackets to hang them, so it will be a while before I get those pictures posted. Although the chiles are in fact edible, chile ristras are very often used decoratively, especially hanging at the entrance of your home to welcome visitors. I posted a few more pictures from my Saturday chile excursion outing online, check ‘em out if you like.

New Mexico leads the nation in production of chiles, and New Mexicans take their chiles seriously. It’s even the state question: Red or Green? if your ask for Christmas you’ll get half and half– a nice way to try both.

New Mexicans also have fun with their chiles… check out this video report from the State Fair:

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