Albuquerque - American Southwest - page 251

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enchiladas, and the rich custard dessert called flan. The shop offers a broad range of fun
gifts from Latin America and New Mexico. Plan to spend 1 to 2 hours here.
1701 Fourth St. SW (corner of Fourth St. and Av. Cesar Chavez). & 505/246-2261. Fax [phone].
www.nhccnm.org. Admission Tues-Sat $3 adults, $2 seniors 60 and over, free for children 16 and under;
Sun free for adults and seniors. MC, V. Tues-Sun 10am-5pm; restaurant Tues-Fri 7:30am-3pm; Sat 8am-
3pm; Sun 9am-3pm. Closed New Year's Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Christmas.

Old Town A maze of cobbled courtyard walkways leads to hidden patios and
gardens, where many of Old Town's 150 galleries and shops are located. Adobe buildings,
many refurbished in the pueblo-revival style of the 1950s, are grouped around the tree-
shaded plaza, created in 1780. Pueblo and Navajo artisans often display their pottery,
blankets, and silver jewelry on the sidewalks lining the plaza.
The buildings of Old Town once served as mercantile shops, grocery stores, and gov-
ernment offices, but the importance of Old Town as Albuquerque's commercial center
declined after 1880, when the railroad came through 1 1 / 4 miles east of the plaza, and
businesses relocated to be closer to the trains. Old Town clung to its historical and sen-
timental roots, but the quarter fell into disrepair until the 1930s and 1940s, when arti-
sans and other shop owners rediscovered it and the tourism industry burgeoned.
When Albuquerque was established in 1706, the first building erected by the settlers
was the Church of San Felipe de Neri, which faces the plaza on its north side. It's a cozy
church with wonderful stained-glass windows and vivid retablos (religious paintings).
This house of worship has been in almost continuous use for nearly 300 years.
Though you'll wade through a few trinket and T-shirt shops on the plaza, don't be
fooled: Old Town is an excellent place to shop. Look for good buys from the Native
Americans selling jewelry on the plaza, especially silver bracelets and strung turquoise. If
you want to take something fun home and spend very little money, buy a dyed corn
necklace. Your best bet when wandering around Old Town is to peek into shops, but
there are a few places you'll definitely want to spend time. See “Shopping,” later in this
chapter, for a list of recommendations. An excellent Old Town historic walking tour
originates at the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History (see above) at 11am Tuesday
to Sunday during spring, summer, and fall. Plan to spend 2 to 3 hours strolling
around.
Northeast of Central Ave. and Rio Grande Blvd. NW. Old Town Visitor Center: 303 Romero St. NW, Albu-
querque, NM 87104 (across the street from the Church of San Felipe de Neri). & 505/243-3215. Visitor
Center summer daily 10am-5pm; rest of the year daily 10am-4:30pm.
Petroglyph National Monument Kids These lava flows were once a hunting
and gathering area for prehistoric Native Americans, who left a chronicle of their beliefs
etched on the dark basalt boulders. Some 25,000 petroglyphs provide a nice outdoor
adventure after a morning in a museum. You'll want to stop at the visitor center to get a
map and check out the interactive computer. From there, you can drive north to the Boca
Negra area, where you'll have a choice of three trails. Take the Mesa Point Trail (30 min.)
that climbs quickly up the side of a hill, offering many petroglyph sightings as well as an
outstanding view of the Sandia Mountains. If you're traveling with your dog, you can
bring her along on the Rinconada Trail. Hikers can have fun searching the rocks for more
petroglyphs; there are many yet to be found. This trail (a few miles south of the visitor
center) runs for miles around a huge rincon (corner) at the base of the lava flow. Camping
is not permitted in the park; it's strictly for day use, with picnic areas, drinking water, and
restrooms provided. Visitors can see many petroglyphs in 30 minutes, while hikers may
want to spend 1 to 2 hours here.

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