Today we left our snowy RV park in Colorado and headed through magnificent scenery to Albuquerque. Known as the most populated city in the US state of New Mexico, it has over half a million people with the metropolitan area spiking to nearly one million souls! It was strange for us to become part of a big city’s Friday night traffic jam as everyone heads home for the weekend!

Albuquerque lies in the Albuquerque Basin, a portion of the Rio Grande Rift. The Sandia Mountains are the predominant geographic feature visible from the city. “Sandia” is Spanish for watermelon, and it is believed to be a reference to the brilliant colouration of the mountains at sunset: bright pink – melon flesh – and green – melon rind! The pink is due to large exposures of granodiorite cliffs (similar to granite) and the green is due to large swaths of conifer forests.

Every October, the city is home to the International Balloon Fiesta, sponsored by Canon, the camera makers. The event is a true spectacle as 600 hot air balloon enthusiasts take to the skies at sunrise in what is believed to be one of the most photographed events in the world that includes many exciting photographic competitions for the amateur! We have checked out the event but there is only limited space for motor homes and you need to book one year in advance to get a space! Another one for the bucket list!

Something borrowed, something blue – until such times as I can share my own pictures!