Blue skies of Albuquerque

Fifteen hours on the train from LA to Albuquerque was much easier, most of those hours spent sleeping. Train left LA at around 7:00 so there wasn't much to see until morning. A very different sort of seat mate this time, a self proclaimed semi-psychotic Vietnam vet who carried on a steady monologue detailing his mental illness resulting from his duty in Vietnam after the conflict officially ended looking for POW camps, shooting the teenage Vietnamese kids who were left to guard the camps, watching his comrades die in various ways, etc. He professed difficulty in understanding why he was mentally troubled. Now he teaches kindergarten in Gallup, NM!!!??? I hoped I'd survive the night by his side and was glad to awaken unscathed in the morning. Those sleeping pills the psychiatrists give him so that he can sleep at all and not commit acts of violence that he can't remember did their job, thankfully.

Watched the sunrise over the desert from the observation car glad to be back in the southwest. Got in to Albuquerque around noon and took the city bus to my cousin's place. Despite a woefully inadequate bus system, I like Albuquerque a lot. Big deep blue sky, gnarly cottonwoods bare of foliage this time of year, nice crisp, cool, dry air. As I walked home yesterday afternoon from the store, the sunset illuminated Sandia Mt. turning it the watermelon colour it is named for.

Today, after a long time on the internet arranging travel (see below), I went for a long walk on the bicycle/foot path that parallels the Rio Grande, the warm sunshine causing me to shed layers and revel in the warmth. I went by the field where the Sandhill Cranes were hanging out as they do this time of year on their migratory journey. Big talkative birds busily foraging in the grass quite unafraid and very photogenic.

Travel plans have changed significantly. The Mexican consulate here no longer gives out tourist cards which you must have to enter Mexico, and getting one crossing the border by bus would be a huge rigmarole. So I'm flying to Xalapa (the capitol of Vera Cruz), originally my final destination. Despite the expense, this actually works out well giving me much more time to spend enjoying the stops along the way and less time on the bus.

More from Xalapa. Adios amigos!