So, it looks like everything’s been booked and processed, and I’m finding myself off to the VLA Summer School in June. Yay! I’m staying in Socorro, which, I’ve been told is a bit of a dive. So, Dopers, I turn to you. Is Socorro as much of a hole as everyone says it is? Is it a remote outpost of civilisation in the middle of nowhere? Enlighten me!
Silly goose, what’s your itinerary? E-mail me if you want, OK?
P.S. The New Mexico Tourist Board is apparently a bunch of losers. I requested info and maps via their Web site a couple of months ago, and haven’t gotten so much as a return e-mail. I may actually have to resort to buying a travel guide of some sort.
I’ve only stopped by to get gas. It seems like a sleepy little town. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
It’s on the very first Camino Real, which means you’ll have missions and Indian reservations to visit.
If the peace and quiet get to you, you’re just an hour away from Albuquerque.
Well, that describes most of the inhabited parts of New Mexico 
I think I may do that anyway, just so I have some idea before I go out there of what to expect.
Well, Alice, in the movie “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore,” memorably screams out “Socorro Sucks!” at one point.
There’s not a lot of exciting nightlife, but do enjoy the company of your fellow summer students.
Watch cheap movies and eat cheap popcorn, especially on Tech night, at the second-run theater. They don’t ID to see if you’re a Tech student; just lookin’ college age is good enough to get you in.
There’s a bike shop where you can rent a nice bike, or if you’re cheap (like me) you can buy a used one and sell it back at the end of the summer.
Take advantage of the NMT stuff you’ll have available as a summer student: you can get a library card for free, and swim at the pool (free or cheap, I don’t remember.)
You’ll meet Bill (I think that was his name . . .) the AOC safety manager. He’ll take you and the other summer students out to the NMT Observatory if you ask, and you can spend those lovely summer evenings doing some stargazing and Stealth-plane spotting.
Don’t be the tallest thing in a thunder storm. Don’t harass any rattlesnakes. If you find a black widow in your mailbox, ask Dr. Chatterjee if you can borrow a can of WD-40 and a lighter. He’s the guy who’ll know all the fun places to visit nearby, BTW, so maybe you should ask him about the WD-40 even if you don’t find a spider in your mailbox.
At 3:30 PM, like clockwork, the thunderstorms will come. The power will go out, and everyone will wander away from their blank computer screens to the coffee stations, or else go out to the balcony by the lunch room to watch the storms roll in over the mountains.
[RIGHT]Signed,
Podkayne
VLA Sumer School Alum[/RIGHT]
Podkayne, either the place is as lovely as you say, or else the admissions board should raise your salary.
There is a bird sanctuary called Bosque del Apache near Socorro if you are interested in birds, though summer isn’t the best time to see wildlife there–mostly it attracts birds migrating in the spring or fall.
New Mexico is in a drought which has lasted several years, so there is no guarantee you’ll get to experience a thunderstorm. Nevertheless, bring a raincoat. A summer thunderstorm can deliver a surprising amount of rain within a very short time.
Temperatures in June can go over 100 degrees, so don’t bring a lot of heavy clothes. Dark colored polyester clothing should also be avoided. If you are thinking about taking a trip up into the mountains do bring a sweater or jacket, as mountain temperatures can dip very low even in the summer.
I’ve never actually been through Socorro, but I’ve been to the Very Large Array, which is nearby and kinda neat. When aliens finally decide to make contact, you’ll be among the first to know!
I really liked the general area, though–lots of beautiful desert mountain scenery, if you like that sort of thing!
I just reread your OP, and I see now that you probably already knew about the VLA, since you’ll be working/schooling there. :o
Hey, dude (or dudette), if you get a chance to go by Socorro Springs Brewing (or if you go a few miles down the road to the Owl Bar and Cafe in San Antonio), pick up a t-shirt for me. I’ll gladly recompense for the shirt and trouble.
It did seem like a sleepy little town, and Socorro Springs Brewing was definitely the best restaurant. looked to be the best restaurant when I was there last fall.
One other thing, though: I’ve been to Roswell twice (on the way to Carlsbad), leaving from Albuquerque. Two main ways to go: East, then south OR South (via Socorro), then east. The drive from Socorro to Roswell is immeasurably more scenic than the southern route from I-25 (which is basically flat featureless land, with the exception of a few flat tops [mesas]). It’s a little bit longer, but the next time I’m out that way, that will definitely be the route of choice.
Cool 
:eek: There’s snakes??? And big scary spiders?? Arrrrrrrgh!!!
Don’t listen to the lies about the drought. 
It’s been raining quite a bit already this year. It’s shaping up to be pretty wet. Also, bring your jacket even if you’re not planning on going “up in the mountains”. People don’t realize how chilly the high-desert gets at night.
Podkayne got a good deal of it right (except the movie theater doen’t have Tech night anymore last time I checked, could be wrong). The stargazing parties up at Etscorn Observatory are pretty cool.
Lived here in Socorro for 10 years (Holy crap!! It’s been that long?!) If you need a Doper contact in town, just send me an email. 
I saw exactly one rattlesnake the whole summer. Of course, it was in the AOC parking lot . . . Bill told us that the way people usually get bit is by pokin’ at them with sticks and stuff. So just don’t do that, and you’ll be fine. Black widows aren’t actually big. Pictures of them usually make them look huge, but they’re actually pretty tiny. (Or maybe that will worry you more!) I never saw one outside of a zoo, though. Dr. Chatterjee would be the expert on those.
The wildlife is, on the whole, very pleasant. We had a pair of barn swallows living on our balcony, and they sang beautifully. There are lots of cute little lizards that sun themselves on the sidewalk during the day, and skitter off lightning fast into the brush when you come by.
The giant cockroaches that bask on the sidewalks at night are less charming, and less inclined to get out of the way. (Ick.) (Don’t worry, we never had any bug problems in our apartment.)
I loved Socorro—perhaps you can tell. It was sure hot, so be sure to bring a good pair of sunglasses, a water bottle, and some sunscreen. But when it gets super hot, it’s no big deal; it’s a dry heat, so you can just hang out in the AC at the AOC and work, or head home, turn on the swamp cooler and relllaaaxxxx. I’ve never lived so close to mountains (before or since) so I also got a huge kick out of just seeing them, right there!
I found the work environment at the AOC really awesome, too. It’s very focused, but yet most of the time people aren’t stressed out; they’re just very good at what they do and they enjoy doing it. The tone is quite a bit different from academia. It’s a great experience!
breathes again
That’s OK then. I’m sure I’ll have a great time, and I can cope with the wildlife.
And even better, the plane tickets arrived in the post yesterday.
don’t forget to get me a t-shirt from Truth or Consequeces, NM if you can.
or even a bumper sticker. thanks
I will do my best. However, if you’re promising Guinness, then I’ll do more than try my best.
Why TorC?