POSTCARD FROM ALBUQUERQUE

Thursday, June 28, 2007

What an amazing scenic day we had!  Leaving Flagstaff, the kids were dropped off at Journey Fellowship Church and we headed out of this friendly town for a shorter driving day which actually allowed for some sightseeing and some much needed shopping!

About 100 miles east of Flagstaff is the Petrified Forest National Park.  We started out our visit at the park with a 20 minute movie explaining the history behind the region and how it used to actually be a tropical rain forest.  Of course, that was 23 million years ago!  Unfathomable to think that now it was ever anything other than a desert.  Into the gift shop, a potty s top and then onto the bus for a 20 mile drive through the park to the spot where we could start to see actual petrified logs, which we did.  They look fake and not all like wood material, which is because they are now like rocks! 

It was really amazing as we started our drive from the visitor center – all the area you could see was totally flat for miles and miles, until you came upon the gorgeous open painted desert.  BEAUTIFUL!  Lots of WOW factors!!  And lots of pictures were being clicked away.  We drove through the park back to the lookout area that had some lovely picnic shelters and bathrooms.  It was nice to have the shaded shelters, and you can only imagine how vulnerable you would be to the elements if you were stranded out there!

The highway in New Mexico was simply lovely!  The landscape was peppered with these cliff-like beautifully colored rock formations.  From time to time we would see some great dust devils.  One was particularly tall and skinny; another one was really wide and stout.  After the dust had sort of disappeared, papers could be seen swirling around way up high!

We continue to force feed the water, with the suggestion by medical professionals that individuals consume one gallon of water in the elevation and heat here.  Compare that to the 8 cups of water recommended in our neck of the woods!

We arrived in Albuquerque just a few minutes behind schedule where we were greeted by our host organizer Priscilla at All Saints Lutheran Church and Mary’s Aunt Pat, Uncle Ron and cousin Zach.  Aunt Pat was extremely helpful in connecting us with All Saints and I’m particularly grateful for her assistance!  All Saints had our dinner ready and the kids sat down to a wonderful spaghetti supper with the freshest grapes and bing cherries we’ve seen! 

The performance to the audience of about 40 folks at All Saints was terrific.  Szalkowski cousins Bill and Rosemary – it’s been great to have family and friends show up for our concerts throughout this tour!  The kids especially nailed Holy City and it is still, at this moment, going through my head!  We’re getting a bit weepy knowing the last concert for our seniors is tomorrow.  The performances have been so excellent this whole tour!  Way to go, Chorale!!  Margaret and Aaron have continued to be full of energy and their excellent talents have been so great in bringing out the best in this group.

Kids were whisked off to their homestays while the sun was setting beautifully over the mountains surrounding Albuquerque.  Pictures definitely don’t do them justice.  Good thing for our photographic memories!  One major accomplishment for me on this tour:  how to spell Albuquerque!

Til next time,

Sue