signs with corny sayings, people doing unusual things, and just living life in the old West. He has one display of the undertaker: “Be nice to the undertaker. He is the last one to let you down”. This is complete with horse drawn hearse and devils and angels flying in the sky. One final oddity about the museum is the surrounding walls: glass bottles held together with mortar (interesting).
Now to the Giant Gem: Sandia Crest. Sandia Crest overlooks Albuquerque at an elevation of 10,678. Albuquerque stands at 5,000 feet. There are two major ways of getting to the top. First is the Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway, one of the world’s longest ones at 2.7 miles in length. During the month of April maintenance work keeps it closed. The other way up the mountain is drive, bicycle, or hike. We chose to drive the mountain on a paved road. The road ascends almost six thousand feet within fourteen miles. The temperature in Albuquerque at that time was 79? F and 49? F at the summit with a stiff breeze. Even in late April, there was snow on the ground. Almost felt like I was back in Chicago. The views are breath taking. At the top of the mountain are a souvenir store and a small restaurant.
The old town section is quite nice. San Felipe de Neri has been the cornerstone of the plaza since 1706. Homes, shops and restaurants built around the plaza with narrow streets. In the center of the plaza is a gazebo and two replica canons from the Civil War days guard the plaza.
The Albuquerque Museum of Art and History is two blocks from old town. The museum features permanent and traveling exhibits. The permanent exhibit includes 400 years of history in the area. The temporary exhibit was on the