Re: [CH] LAND OF ENCHANTMENT
Bob Newell (bobnewell@bobnewell.net)
Wed, 16 Nov 2005 21:17:05 -0700
I feel very fortunate to live in New Mexico (Santa Fe area), but a few
things need to be understood, especially about Albuquerque.
New Mexico is POOR, I mean dirt poor, one of the poorest states in the
USA. Poverty and crime, unfortunately, seem to track. Albuquerque is
without doubt dangerous; it has a per capita crime rate equal to Los
Angeles. New York City cops have called Albuquerque a "rough town."
When we go there, we stay in relatively safe areas especially at
night. If you do that (much like in any major city) you are generally
OK.
Santa Fe has its problems, too; there are the very wealthy "haves" and
everybody else; there is class and racial tension.
All of that is unfortunate because New Mexico is a beautiful place
with generally great weather (I think the original poster was off the
mark there), and wonderful food (Albuquerque has dozens of good
restaurants, not just a handful, and Santa Fe has quite a few too.)
The mix of cultures in New Mexico, while at times causing problems to
be sure, is exciting and enthralling. I personally find it very cool
in a way to be a white guy who is, racially, part of a minority in
this state!
Also, there is a spirituality to the New Mexico environment that you
have to be here to feel and experience. It is impossible to describe
but it is all around us.
And man, you can't beat the chile.
Red, green, or Christmas?