Pia, Vicky and the kids left a couple of weeks back and almost immediately my travel has restarted. Last Sunday I flew into Albuquerque, New Mexico at about 9:30pm, picked up a car at Advantage Rent-A-Car and walked over to the parking lot. I picked up the cheapest possible car, which I got for $150 for the week, so I expected pretty much nothing. Yeah, the joys of consulting.

I walk up to my spot and walk on by, because there is no way they gave me a convertible. Right? No bro, they gave me a PT Cruiser Convertible. Now, I'm not a bit fan of the PT Cruiser, but hey... a convertible in good weather and suddenly you are pimpin' it out in New Mexico.

I drop the top and drive the 15 miles to the hotel. After a week in this little city, here are a few interesting things I know about this place.

* There are many major streets names after Californian cities. I was on the corner of San Mateo and something. San Antonio was a little ways away. Wierd.
* Microsoft started here. Yup, not Seattle.
* Has one of the highest number of art galaries and museums per capita
* Was named after Spain's 10th Duke of Albuerquerque. The first "r" was dropped because the station master could not really spell. Not shocking. I'm surprised that it wasn't bastardized further. Like doughnut->donut.
* Was the site of the first balloon flight on 4th July 1882

The restaurants here are quite nice. Of the ones we have been visiting, I liked Sadies Dining Room. I have never seen a place as crowded on a Tuesday at 8pm. The burrito was awesome, but was very New Mex-Mexican food. The salsa blew our socks off. It was hot as hell but we could not stop. I even poured a bunch on my Burrito. I'd go back.

Albuquerque: The land of enchantment. Ummm ok, I'll take that.