Our Lady of Kazan

Our Lady of Kazan is a Russian Orthodox monastary located in the Barelas neighborhood about 5 blocks south of downtown Albuquerque. The website http://www.kazanmonastery.org/ says it was founded about 25 years ago and engages in bee-keeping, herbalism and iconography.

Barelas is an unusual location for a Russian Orthodox monastery. It is a mostly lower income hispanic neighborhood near the railroad tracks. I have never heard of anyone having a problem with monks as their neighbors.

1013 First St. NW

An old adobe door and jamb at 1013 First St near Marble. The house behind it has been razed.

This may have actually been part of a front gate and wall. This is the mail slot.

George Maloof statue

The son of a Lebanese immigrant, George Maloof built a business empire that now includes Las Vegas hotels, banks and sports teams. The Maloofs are one of New Mexico's most prominent families. It was recently announced that they would be selling the Coors beer distributorship which the family has owned since the 1930's. This is one of their last connections to the state of New Mexico.

The statue is located at 3rd and Tijeras in downtown. The inscription reads" George Maloof - Businessman, Philanthropist".

The Lobo Statue

The Lobo statue on the campus of the University of New Mexico. It is located on a hill in a grove of pine trees near Central ave and University blvd. The lobo (Mexican gray wolf) is the mascot of the sports teams at UNM.

English phone booths

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There are several of these English-style phone booths in the Journal Center area where I work. They are located on some of the bus stops on Jefferson between Ellison and Paseo del Norte. Some are painted red and others are green. Over the years, the pay phones have been disappearing since everyone now carries a cell phone.

The West Side Volcano Escarpment

The great geographic feature of the west side of Albuqueque is the volcanic escarpment. All along Unser Blvd are the remains of an ancient volcano. Sagebrush and desert vegetation grow among the black basalt rocks.

Old town alley

An alley in historic Old Town Albuquerque. It is traditional to paint window frames and doors in a turquoise color. I believe it's from an old Pueblo Indian tradition but it seems to look good on a brown adobe house.