I’m home, but there is one more excursion to share. On my final morning, Jeanne and I drove up Sandia Mountain to view the changing of the aspens. The autumn colors in my part of the US (the northeast) is ablaze with a dozen shades of red, orange, gold and every conceivable permutation. There’s a reason people come from all … Read More

The mass balloon ascension is the big draw for the festival, it’s what attracts the most people. But each evening there is a second event, the “glow.” Rather than heading into the skies, the balloons are tethered down. Lit from within by propane in bursts, the vibrant balloon envelopes shimmer against the dark sky. While we were waiting for the … Read More

On my first trip to New Mexico, nearly fifty years ago, I explored the Turquoise Trail which connects Santa Fe and Albuquerque. The fifty-mile trail is named for the rich deposits of turquoise mined in the region. It meanders through the Sandia Mountains and connects several historic mining towns like Cerrillos, Madrid, and Golden. The trail has been used for … Read More