Two Lane Adventures: Day 104 of 117 on our “Go West, Young Man” Two Lane Adventure

This morning, we got up early and all of the group went to enjoy breakfast with a view at the Chaser’s Club. The Chaser’s Club at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta offers a front row seat to the largest ballooning event in the world.

We got there while the morning glow was still going on.

Thanks to Yankee RV, we were able to enhance our experience on the private outdoor patio located next to the launch field. We enjoyed a breakfast buffet while we watched the launch!

Yes, I said launch … the balloons launched! We were further down the launch field, from where we were on Saturday. It gives you a different perspective!

We also took individual pictures of each couple on the rally and we did our group picture, with the balloons in the background.

It is an awesome group we have on this Yankee RV Rally!

Our afternoon was filled with a two hour tour of downtown Albuquerque on an open air stucco trolley. It was a uniquely Albuquerque open air, fully narrated guided tour.

Our driver was a native New Mexican, named Charles. Our talkative tour guide was name Allison, and she was excellent! Very high energy and fun!

We started our tour at Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town. The first thing we learned was there are more than 12 museums in Albuquerque, wow ... that is a lot of history and information! The Albuquerque Museum of Art & History, located in the heart of historic Old Town, features art of the Southwest as well as 400 years of regional history. The museum presents both permanent displays and traveling exhibitions.

Located within walking distance of Old Town, the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science offers a journey through time, with exhibit halls that take guests through the formation of the universe, the age of the dinosaurs, and geologic changes such as volcanoes and ice ages. The Lockheed Martin DynaTheater is the largest movie screen in New Mexico, and the museum also has an "out of this world" planetarium.

At the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science, visitors can explore an innovative, hands-on experience that explores New Mexico's unique natural history. Experience its origins, dinosaurs, and ancient seacoasts. Walk through a "live" volcano! Meet the 30-ton, 110-ft long Seismosaurus, the world's largest dinosaur. Visit the Naturalist Center, the hands-on educations experience for "kids" of all ages. Watch films on The Lockheed Martin DynaTheater's 50-ft screen.

Explora is New Mexico’s premier hands-on learning center. More than 250 interactive exhibits, educational programs and activities encourage creativity, imagination, inspiration and inquiry into science, technology and art. Our tour guide, told us it is not just for kids ... it is her favorite museum!

Interested in snakes? Head to the American International Rattlesnake Museum and learn about snakebites, venom and fangs at the world’s largest collection of live rattlesnakes. Dedicated to animal conservation and preservation through education, the museum offers a large array of snake-related artwork, artifacts and memorabilia.

One of Albuquerque’s most well-known families, the Unsers are prominent in the world of car racing. The Unser Racing Museum lays out the history of the Unser legacy, from the early days at Pikes Peak to the dynasty they have carried on at the Indy 500.

Since this was not an on and off tour, we did not get off. But we did learn about the National Hispanic Cultural Center. The National Hispanic Cultural Center is dedicated to the preservation, promotion, and advancement of Hispanic culture, arts, and humanities. The Center presents over 700 events and creates the opportunity for thousands more through its art museum, library, genealogy center, and educational resources. The most intriguing exhibit to me is located in the Torreon. The concave buon fresco was created by Frederico Vigil and completed in 2009. Mundos de Mestizaje depicts thousands of years of Hispanic and pre-Hispanic history highlighting diverse cultural connections between people and places from the Iberian Peninsula to the Americas. The 4,000 square foot painting is one of the largest frescos in North America.

TV shows like Mr Robot and Preacher and blockbusters Independence Day: Resurgence, the Avengers and Wild Hogs, have all been filmed in Albuquerque, and that’s just within the past few years. The railyard has been the backdrop for the Avengers, Breaking Bad, Terminator: Salvation and Transformers, to name a few.

Years after the wildly successful TV drama went off the air, Breaking Bad continues to bring travelers to Albuquerque to see where Saul had his office, Walter White and Jesse Pinkman lived and deals went down. The Breaking Bad prequel, Better Call Saul, is still filming in and around Albuquerque and viewers will recognize several city locations among the drama and action.

Route 66 traveled through Albuquerque on its Illinois to California route. Today, the original Mother Road doubles as Central Avenue, cutting vintage swath from the West Mesa through the heart of the city to the foothills of the Sandia Mountains.

Because of a change in alignment of Route 66 in 1937, there is an intersection where Route 66 crosses itself at Central Avenue and 4th Street in downtown Albuquerque, New Mexico. Here, you can stand on the corner of Route 66 and Route 66.

Downtown is overflowing with public art. Downtown is one of Albuquerque’s most vibrant neighborhoods. Private and public investments also mean it’s an ever-evolving hub.

The downtown Albuquerque Arts and Culture District encompasses thirty blocks with galleries, restaurants, breweries and more.

Downtown is even home to a castle. Geetrude Zachary made a big impression on downtown Albuquerque when she built her castle on Second Street. It is a large compound in the heart of the city. At 8,500 square feet, it cost millions and took two years to build, but it's worth a lot less because of the barren industrial location it's in, known to locals as "Skid Row." The home was inspired by grand estates in Paris. It was built to showcase her collection of religious art and stained-glass windows. The exterior of the castle itself is cold. Security gates, metal daggers surrounding the property and that gray, dull coloration of the building gives the exterior an aristocratic feel, an apocalyptic type of feel. Unfortunately she didn't get to enjoy it long...she died shortly after it was built.

Set between Downtown and Nob Hill, this neighborhood thrives with student life from the University of New Mexico. Art and culture lovers head to UNM to tour the world-class printmaking Tamarind Institute and browse exhibitions at the UNM Art Museum. Here you can see the UNM Lobos athletic fans pack what once was called the Dreamstyle Arena, now known as the “The Pit.” It is the indoor basketball arena where UNM plays. It is called “The Pit” because it is a sunken court and the cheers from the crowd are deafening.

The Albuquerque Isotopes Baseball club is up to bat from April through September for minor-league baseball games and major-league fun. Yes, for those of you that are ‘The Simpsons’ fans, the team was named after the episode of TV show, where the Springfield Isotopes were moving to Albuquerque. On April 11, 2003 the Albuquerque Isotopes played the first professional baseball game in the Duke City since the Albuquerque Dukes left following the 2000 season. The return of baseball was met by 12,215 enthusiastic fans on Opening Day at beautiful Isotopes Park. The excitement did not end there, as over 575,000 fans passed through the gates in 2003, a season that culminated with the Isotopes winning the Central Division Title and earning a berth in the Pacific Coast League Playoffs. With that auspicious beginning, the Isotopes have continued to grow, welcoming more than 3.4 million guests to "The Lab" in the team's first six seasons.

We toured the Nob Hill neighborhood. Here 1920’s architecture, Route 66 neon and trendy shops, boutiques and restaurants go hand-in-hand. IT is a walkable, pedestrian friendly neighborhood, perfect for strolling to explore the dozens of local businesses that are part of Nob Hill Main Street. There is not much of a hill, it was named after it's famous counterpart in another state.

The Bricklight District is located on Central and Harvard Blvd. It is surrounded by many other points of interest including the University of New Mexico, CNM, Nob Hill and Downtown Albuquerque. The area offers numerous restaurants and shops that are unique to the Bricklight District. While exploring the area, you may stumble upon a painted mural or two done by local artists. The Bricklight District is very recognizable due to its exterior red brick design.

Our tour guide highlighted Rude Boy Cookies. They are New Mexico’s premier Specialty Cookie Shop, enhanced with a touch of ska flavor (ska & reggae music playing daily, and mod 50’s/60’s ska decor). Along with fresh-baked-all-original-recipe cookies, Rude Boy Cookies features ice cream and New Mexico’s ONLY Milk Bar. They had Charlie at milk tap! The “Rude Boy” portion of their name is rooted in ska history and a love of ska music. When you visit Rude Boy Cookies you will always receive the highest quality service and delicious cookies, they will never be rude! The term Rude Boy, or Rude Girl, refers to an avid listener of ska music, especially that of “traditional” and “2-tone” waves of ska. And further, the word “Rude” in “Rude Boy” is a reference to Jamaican culture where it is slang for mischievous.

Albuquerque BioPark Zoo was established in 1927. The zoo is home to over 900 animals from around the world. Many of these animals have been a part of successful conservation plans and captive breeding programs. Albuquerque BioPark Aquarium and Botanic Garden is 32 acres of exhibits and showcases plants from the American Southwest and around the world. The Aquarium showcases sharks, rays and a kaleidoscope of colorful fish native to a variety of ecosystems found throughout the US.

Albuquerque was founded in Historic Old Town more than three centuries ago. The neighborhood remains the cultural heart of the city with the iconic 1793 San Felipe de Neri church on one side of the tree-shaded plaza. Adobes unfold around the central square with more than 150 shops, galleries and restaurants. Look closely, there is a Saint carved into the stump of a tree. The artist was a common man, who was drawn to complete this art. He died a few days after finishing it.