I am leaving California one way or another, so you’re not going to talk me into staying. Albuquerque is on my short list and I intend to visit in September. Actually, I intend to visit all of them, but Albuquerque is the one city I’ve never been to. I lived in Arizona in junior high, a year south of Prescott and a year in Phoenix. I loved the desert. How different is New Mexico from Arizona? I want to hear the good, bad and the ugle. For reference, my list includes Tucson, Phoenix, Seattle and Portland.
We have friends that live there and they just love it - for the balloon fiesta in October if nothing else!
I know we’re not supposed to revive old threads, but I was about to post a thread asking the same question (with the same title) and this is less than a month old. I may be moving to Albuquerque if I’m accepted at UNM as a transfer (I hope I’m not jinxing it with this post). So would any Dopers who live/have lived in Albuquerque be so kind as to tell me about; public transit (I’m not driving from PA), the gay scene, climate, cost of living, and the usual sights/events stuff.
Frequent way point for bugs bunny
Declan
Can’t speak about the gay scene or the public transist system due to lack of experience (being straight and relying on myself for transport). Also, forgive any errors or nonsensical comments I may make I’m rather tired and I am typing this out in a hurry.
The weather in Albuquerque is beautiful, honestly one of the best climates year around if you just like consistently nice weather. It’s a good location because you are within driving distance to serious desert areas or serious mountain areas, and can experience everything from old style cattle ranches to tobogganing. The general population is pretty nice, and rather hospitable, much more laid back than Phoenix.
The city is growing pretty consistently, but they are maintaining quite a bit of the smaller city type feel. They have done an excellent job cleaning up much of the graffiti that plagued the area, and the gang presence is not as strong as far as what I saw my last trip there, though certain areas definently are troubled still. Last time I was out there I was confronted by a sterotypical cholo looking fellow when I didn’t make a right turn onto the road due to the two other cars in front of me waiting to turn. Luckily, nothing came of it, but like any larger city (or anywhere there’s other people for that matter) I’d be wary of my surroundings.
I must say my last visit there I noticed that the drivers were better than the majority in Arizona, however the freeways were designed much more confusing especially within the city. I also believe many of the roads are far too narrow, and some of them are in dire need of repair.
The cost of living is pretty good in my experience. You can make decent money out there, and they don’t gouge you too bad for rent or land. Everything I saw was definently cheaper than it would be in Phoenix (and the surrounding cities).
I really enjoy the culture and the food of the city. The green chile is everywhere including McDonald’s where you can order green chile on most of the menu items. I’m not sure if McDonald’s does that in other areas where a certain culture prevails, but I was rather amazed when I was reminded of it.
Overall, I really like the city and they have done a great job dealing with the expansion without it becoming overwhelming. They suffer from the same things any larger city would but not to the same degree as most. Good weather, mostly good people, good food, good living standards, it’s pretty amazing it hasn’t grown more than it has. I predict soon enough though, it will become quite the place to live in. The balloon festival is also amazing and one of my most vivid memories from living there for a while as a child. Additionally, it is home to Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway a rather scenic cable car route that takes you to rather high up the Sandia Mts. where you have an option to eat at a restraunt up there. I did that for the first time during my most recent visit about a month and a half ago and it was pretty amazing. I bet it’s even more beautiful during the colder parts of the year, and the restraunt wasn’t bad. The steak was pretty good, but the pasta recieved by those in my party was overcooked by a longshot. Decent selection of Scotch and other types of alcohol however.
FWIW: I lived there for about 4 years maybe when I was young, but I go back on trips rather frequently as I have family out there. I just took two trips out there this summer, and will probably make another to see the balloon festival schedule willing.
Let me know if you have any more questions and I’ll see what I can do, hope I helped you somewhat during the duration of my ramblings.
So I got in my car and I drove over to the donut shop
And I walked on up to the guy behind the counter
And he says “Yeah, what do ya want?”
I said “You got any glazed donuts?”
He said “No, we’re outta glazed donuts”
I said “Well, you got any jelly donuts?”
He said “No, we’re outta jelly donuts”
I said “You got any Bavarian cream-filled donuts?”
He said “No, we’re outta Bavarian cream-filled donuts”
I said “You got any cinnamon rolls?”
He said “No, we’re outta cinnamon rolls”
I said “You got any apple fritters?”
He said “No, we’re outta apple fritters”
I said “You got any bear claws?”
He said “Wait a minute, I’ll go check”
“No, we’re outta bear claws”
I said “Well, in that case - in that case, what do you have?”
He says “All I got right now is this box of one dozen starving, crazed weasels”
I said “OK, I’ll take that”
– ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic, Albuquerque