Durango, Colorado
Trip Start
Sep 06, 2007
1
22
44
Trip End
Oct 17, 2007
Durango,
Colorado,
United States
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Anyhow, we took ourselves on a self guided tour of Old Town, a historic area of Alburquerque. This old town is centred around St Phillip Neri Church which formed the main centre of town in the old days. Very interesting but like everywhere in the States, nothing was open until 1000 which means really that you get a late start to your day. The visitor centre in this area proved to be a big zip as well but at least we enjoyed our own little tour of the historic area.
Leaving Alburquerque, we made our way on the Turquoise Trail towards Santa Fe stopping at various points along the route. One of the places we stopped at - Sandia Crest - was a wopping 10,678 feet with very thin air! As we pulled up to the top, there was a sign that there was oxygen available at the information centre. Obviously some people find they are in need thereof!
Being fairly disappointed with New Mexico - dry, dirty, not our style at all - we decided to hoof it quick smart for Colorado and made for Durango. We did notice along the way a quaint place - Madrid - pronounced Mahdrid - which seemed to be the local Nimbin. Lots of artists but it certainly looked like the town where Wild Hogs was filmed. We decided we are going to have to watch that show again to see but it sure looks like it. Also along the way was a one horse town (couldn't find the horse so figure he must have left too), but it has been left exactly as it was in the days of the old west. Very few people there and very spooky.
On our way to Durango, we went through this really nice place called Pagosa Springs. Strangely enough, not mentioned in Lonely Planet - and we wondered why - because it was really quaint and presented as one of those places you could happily retire to.
Another place - Chama - not mentioned in Lonely Planet - is a railway town where tours on a narrow guage railway are done into the mountain passes. One street town but with delightful buildings.
Arriving in Durango - famous for the narrow guage railway Durango to Silverton - discovered there was no accommodation in town. Ooops! We noticed others pulling out from the various accommodation spots we tried and there were a number of cars just going from place to place. One place sent us however to the Iron Horse Inn out of town whom they understood to have only two rooms left so it was pretty much a race between us and the other cars. We managed to secure the last available room. Whew! We thought we were in for a shock but what a surprise, it was fantastic! Huge, with an upstairs room, microwave (which we subsequently discovered didn't work), and fridge. Being 10 miles out of town, we really did not feel like hoofing it back into town for supper so, once again, salad for dinner though we were hoping for something warm as it was cold outside. Grateful though for the accommodation and very comfortable at that.
