The Great Western Pilgrimage - Part Two

The travel agent (moi) was smart enough to book two nights in Albequerque. This was primarily due to the need for a stable base from which to continue online classes (we've had success with public libraries but, it's nicer to just have a hotel room). So, after science, health, and breakfast, we headed out to see the sights.

Our journey took us to the town square of Old Town Albuquerque. The area dates from 1706, and the day was perfect to walk around (the website states, on average, there are 300 days of sunshine here! Definitely not The Burgh).

Our experience of New Mexico was beginning to form - pleasant people but extreme poverty. The majority of Native American people made it look different immediately but people from all races and ethnic backgrounds seemed to need help. Perhaps the temperate climate made it a better area in which to be homeless but it was still desert - the nights were very cold. A good reminder from above to pray for all those in need.

How convenient that there just happened to be a church nearby ;0) San Felipe de Neri parish has been continuously celebrating Mass since the 1700's! What an amazing piece of history and a beautiful connection to the past. God has been, is now, and will be forever. Of course it was also special to us because of our own church of St. Philip Neri at home. How comforting that the laughing Saint was the first to meet us on our journey!

The adobe of the Southwest is very beautiful

Little boy was begging to see a cactus - how about a cactus tree?



The simplicity of most of the churches we would visit was so beautiful to me. Nothing overly ornate, just a few statues to focus your mind and straight-ahead to the tabernacle!

This church was founded by the Franciscans, later run by the Jesuits and the school was run by the Sisters of Charity - lots of religious orders from which to choose!

Back to the hotel for a late lunch at my new favorite restaurant...Mimi's Café which, providentially, is "French inspired" but, in this case, was decorated very much in New Orleans/French Quarter vibe. Odd, normally but on Mardi Gras? Perfect!

Speaking of...we returned in time for #1 to attend her online "Myth in Literature" course. She is blessed to have Mr. Kevin O'Brien as her instructor. Mr. O'Brien is an actor by trade and also, if you watch the link, an atheist-turned-Catholic. He's portrayed many famous men on EWTN, including Chesterton, Frodo, and St. Paul. He is theatrical to say the least and didn't miss his chance when class happened to fall on Mardi Gras.

That's a jester's hat...the purple side blended into the background :0)
 

We finished off the day with a nice dinner downstairs (hooray for Drury Inn! Breakfast and dinner!) and back to the room for King Cake to celebrate the feast before beginning our Lenten fast. Tiny boy was lucky enough to find the baby. We watched some of the Olympics then off to dreamland, which isn't too difficult when you're only on day two of Mountain time.

We are blessed.

The Great Western Pilgrimage - Part One

Finally. Well, I have to preface it with, not sure when the next installment will occur but bear with me dear readers...and check back frequently.

Finally is what I felt (along with a crazy bit of anxiety) when we woke up on Monday morning around 5 to rouse our little ones and head to the airport (with all the other business people). The alarmists were wrong. If you fly, all you need is little people and there is really no trouble at all. Once this tiny one is beyond the 6-year-old threshold, I figure I'll be in a wheelchair so, again, priority boarding ;0)

Our first stop would be Dallas airport for a short layover on our final journey to Albuquerque. The first leg was uneventful and other than some turbulence from the high winds during our descent to New Mexico, all was well. It was good to finally be where we would begin.

A friend reminded us that it was flu season so we were those goofy people wearing masks on the plane. No one got sick the entire trip and it kept my nose humidified during the trip. Score.

hmmmm...crop circles ;0)

We certainly have a beautiful and topographically diverse country (that's sand under those trees)!

 

After settling into the hotel and unpacking a bit we headed out to our first stop, The National Museum of Nuclear Science and History. It was full of all things Nuclear - the science and the history - with a few planes and rockets thrown in. It was also free through the reciprocity of our Science Museum membership...a great perk when you're traveling with a large group!

I wish I had several million dollars and a huge house. I would totally have a science room with this as the floor!



Did you know Red Fiestaware would set off the Geiger counter? 

Kids toys from the past!

PT at the museum...pedal fast enough to make the fan spin

 Even Einstein was there to explain some concepts!

This section of the museum was actually fascinating. Everything you wanted to know about the atomic bomb and the role of New Mexico in its development.

#1 found the name curious - so did I

All I do is teach history...these kids' moms were building bombs!

Then in the middle of the building they had this entire room of simple machines. Great diversion from pondering about the total elimination of man! Or, perhaps, to remind us that one day we may be starting again from scratch.

Hologram that looked like a black Tardis

look from the side....nothing there!

Ahh, back to total annihilation. Can you imagine any of this happening in the age of technology?

They had an actual fallout shelter

He was amused by the "buried sub" in the middle of New Mexico

We were in a strange place, no doubt. The sand, the mountains rising up from nowhere, the people who looked and spoke differently than us. It is the exact reason I dislike flying somewhere - there is no time to transition through known-to-unknown. Still, in the days to come, we would see and realize the similarities that exist all across this country. Even the things that were different would be appreciated as we made our way along this pilgrimage. What a great God we have to make all of these different types of people then give us the opportunity to grow by trying to understand one another. The pilgrimage is never boring...stay tuned.

We are blessed.