We had quite a picturesque drive as we drove from Williams to Gallup.
It is a little complex to attempt to paint a picture of Albuquerque because it’s both time-worn and also cutting-edge with equal parts quaint and cool. We enjoyed strolling Old Town then went ‘downtown’ and were somewhat underwhelmed. Quite a few homeless and too many empty store fronts. Very limited pedestrian activity—other than the homeless who were in the sleeping mode as opposed to looking like pedestrians. We were about the only two out roaming around. We had to step over several sidewalk slumberers which was pretty unsettling. The university campus is quite attractive with adobe pueblos surrounded by the desert landscape. Of the two, Old Town was our fave and we found it quite charming.
We took the Nine Mile Hill drive along Route 66 as it developed from the 1920’s through the 1960’s. The architecture and signs of several decades showcase the change and innovation that took place during that evolution. Historic buildings of particular interest were indicated on the Nine Mill Hill map by a designation telling the date and purpose of each building's construction.
The architectural styles were interesting. Buildings from the heyday of Route 66 reveal some popular styles of the period in the Southwest. The style and their time spans help identify the building’s approximate age.
The Pueblo Revival began in 1905 and is still a popular design. They are finished with stucco walls, a flat roof and rounded parapets, wood beams that project around the top of the house and porches with rounded posts.
Another style dates from 1920 to 1950 and is known as the Southwest Vernacular. They’re very similar in that the walls are also stuccoed, flat roofs and often with an irregular parapet. Some own a slight Spanish or California Mission element such as a tiled porch, grouped windows, rounded doors, and iron railings
The Moderne style dates from 1930 to 1950, featuring rounded corners and windows, flow lines and zigzags, glass block, cantilevered awnings and pylons, and decorative towers rising from flat roofs. As we drove past these we could almost envision the time capsule that these buildings demonstrated.
Our first night in Albuquerque
ABQ's Kimo Theatre
A pretty little church adjacent to the town square in Old Town
Today we arrived in Amarillo just for the evening. Bill's out on an old car museum excursion leaving me behind to relax and paint. Oh, happy day.
From here we'll cross OK, AR, TN as we point our noses to GA to pick up the boat. Sight seeing is just about over but if something earth-shattering occurs, I'll be sure and let you know but for now, enjoy a well-deserved break for our blog.
Bill and Laura Bender
Amarillo, TX
1 comment:
During our summer 2015 visit we enjoyed the Sandia Peak Tram Ride and the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center.
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