the land of enchantment

Considering I am about to make a big move (LA to NYC) I was initially in a panic about spending a few weeks in Albuquerque, New Mexico with my former boss Bryan Cranston as he directed the first episode of his show Breaking Bad. As it turns out though it was a good time. There was a much needed respite from some drama in LA, the crew was beyond friendly, the episode looks phenomenal, and there were some pretty and ugly things that gave me pause. 

These photos are from various filming locations or from one of my morning runs. Albuquerque is a city of pockets. Pockets of grand proportions and pockets of icky proportions. Being as it was a major stop on Route 66 there are a veritable myriad of motor lodges in Albuquerque.  Some of which have abandoned their signs such as the one to the left (food instead of motor) which hangs over an empty lot.   Perhaps the more interesting fact about ABQ is that during the summer it rains almost every afternoon and as the skies are so sweeping you can see the storm inching towards you in some spots. I grew up in the country in Alabama so I have seen some lovely sunsets, however, they really couldn't hold a candle to what I saw here. The sky was overwhelmingly gorgeous pretty much all of the time. It is no wonder that this area particularly Sante Fe is so lauded by photographers. 

As for Sante Fe, I had done rather extensive research in hopes my day off would be spent exploring its bounty. Bounty being a respectful visit to a few museums, a vestige to the bizarre Loretto Chapel, and  a jaunt across the Turquoise Trail with its alleged ghost towns from the gold mining days. Throw in the Sante Fe Southern Railway which has routes to a sleepy town called Lamy good for picnics under the cottonwoods. Not to mention, I found myself a mine shaft to visit. These are all things I did not get to do because of work but so it is. I probably would have had to wake up at dawn to make all of that happen and even so that is a pretty ambitious plate. Instead I ran work errands, got stormed in at a Red Lobster, and once night fell and I was officially free there was little else to do than watch almost the entire first season of Mad Men (which I now love). Let it be known though that I WAS prepared to make the most of my work vacation but work called. 

On a more personal note, ABQ was a great way to realize how ready I am for strangers and the clean slate that NYC will provide. I was initially pretty terrified leaving my fold but now I am rather excited as to who all will color my life for the next few years. Enough of the boring and on to the photographs! So you can view the extensive gallery on the following Picasa link: http://picasaweb.google.com/kimberlyfaithwaid/NewMexico.