On Monday, I started Downtown, angled west towards Old Town, but then went into the extreme Northeast Heights to lunch with Bruce. We ate at Taco Sal's.
Monday's ABQ mystery was over near Lydia's House, in the morning. The windows were smashed out of a parked sedan, and for good measure, a large boulder was wedged in the left rear window. Someone must have really lost their temper! My first thought was 'I didn't know Jesse knew where Lydia lived!'
The most amusing thing was attempting to confirm that two small apartments behind Garcia's Restaurant were indeed the ones used on BrBa. I parked in front of the apartments and watched as the Hispanic folks who appeared to live in the apartments gathered to work on car repair. One woman in particular, seemed to be the leader. She emerged from one apartment, and with her piercings and tattoos, she looked pretty intimidating. Together, her, her familia, and their friends, all looked pretty formidable.
I approached them and asked if it was OK to photograph these apartments. The lady was gruff, and said: "No. You'll have to ask the owner, at Garcia's Restaurant, for permission." Then I explained I was a tourist from California and how Garcia's Restaurant had been featured on 'Breaking Bad.' They smiled, and said they were already familiar with that. The lady asked what part of California I was from, and I said Sacramento. She explained she had lived in San Jose until recently, so we had northern California in common. I explained further that these two casitas, in addition to Garcia's, were also featured on 'Breaking Bad.' You could tell from her shocked grin that she did not know this, and that it tickled her that she was living in a famous apartment. We started laughing together, and she said: "Look, I'm going to look away, and I don't know nothin'." And so, I got a photo!
On Tuesday, I headed NW, then went south along the west side. I spent time in the South Valley, then headed up to Four Hills for sunset.
I talked to the folks at Grandma's Music, where they sell musical instruments. I asked them what their connection to Breaking Bad is, and the fellow explained that Cinematographer Michael Slovis is also an acoustic guitarist. They said BrBa ordered Vamonos Pest Control's big, custom-made rolling instrument cases through their auspices, and they also put together Jesse Pinkman's fancy stereo system. I said that system looks fake, and they said no, it is a perfectly-functional system. Who knew?
The most amusing thing was heading to Atrisco Heritage Academy High School, and trying to gain entry to take photos (I eventually secured permission from the principal to take only exterior shots). I talked to and Admin Assistant, and two student Admin Assistants.
During discussion about 'Breaking Bad' I exclaimed that 'Breaking Bad' is the best TV show that has ever been aired. She said that I was, sad to say, incorrect. 'Charmed' is the best TV show that has ever been aired. Since each of us had never seen the other's fave show, we couldn't resolve the imbroglio. All this time, I've been working under the assumption that Hank is Walt's nemesis on 'Breaking Bad,' but in reality, Shannen Doherty is.
I headed over to the Isleta Rail Runner station and walked a distance to the I-25 overpass over the railroad (to study the graffiti), and beyond, in order to get a better view of the Cal-Maine property (formerly Gus Fring's Chicken Ranch). I was surprised by the Railrunner - fortunately I wasn't on the tracks at the time. I also saw the Amtrak train that followed.
I was frustrated in my efforts to get to the Declan meeting place, and the Sunset location - The Pavilion had closed Bobby Foster Road. Increasingly, that area is hard to gain access to. People with keys control that vast space. Outsiders are forced to walk!
So, it was off to Vamanos Pest Control for some photos. I also attempted to get to the 'Crystal Blue Persuasion' Four Hills Sunset place before the sun set. That effort was largely unsuccessful. I was out of gas, out of sun, and in the wrong place. Alas!
Wednesday was more about bicycling with Bruce Warren and visiting friends and relatives than Breaking Bad, but Bruce and I did go to eat at The Grove Cafe & Market. After the bike ride, we looked a little too desperate to be yuppies, but we gave it a go anyway. Bruce ordered a Farmer's Salad, and I ordered the Croque Monsieur. What a great sandwich! What good food!
We visited a few other sites too. As Bruce perused fabric from an Ecuadorian street vendor, I photographed parking garages.
On Thursday, my last day in Albuquerque, I drove north. I stopped several times to photograph beautiful balloons that had just been launched, many of which were quite low. I drove past Santa Fe to Spur Ranch Road, and the train trestle there. Talked to a local on a walk and learned some fun facts about the BrBa shoot. Then drove to Lamy, toured their cemetery and history museum, and ate lunch at the Legal Tender Restaurant there.
Drove down Highways 285 & 41, past a movie set in action, to Highway 14, then through Madrid. Took a very bumpy dirt road (Highway 22?) to I-25, then further to Santo Domingo Pueblo. When I realized the road from Santo Domingo to San Felipe was also dirt, I reversed course to I-25 again, then drove down to the San Felipe exit instead.
I took El Camino Real from San Felipe Pueblo to the south side of Algodones, to the south side of the E-W ditch that cuts across the valley, and leads one close to the Rio Grande. I then hiked over to Mike's Last Stand - where Mike crosses the River Styx in BrBa. This is a lower stress path than the one followed recently by UBBFT.
Then I drove down to the NM 550 bridge over the Rio Grande, and discovered to my surprise that it was NOT the one used, where Hank throws away Tuco's grill. After that, I drove to the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort and made a mad dash through the gate and past the warning signs, in order to reach the power line on Santa Ana land. Interesting place - drove past what I call the Stone Monster, and saw a rattlesnake cross the road. At the stables, however I was ordered to retreat. After that, I got lost in Rio Rancho trying to improve my photograph collection, and stopped briefly in Corrales to survey the Romero Fire scar.
Whew!
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