Published 12/31/07

Ever been to New Mexico? Spending several days there last week was a stunning experience, from the Rattlesnake Museum to the red and green chili.

First, New Mexico’s terrain is dramatically different than Minnesota’s. Three members of our family flew into Albuquerque, which is at the base of the Sandia Mountains. Their highest point is more than 10,600 feet…quite different than anything here.

The area around Albuquerque is referred to as “high desert.” That means you see mostly sand, not the rich black dirt we are used to. And until you get up in the mountains, the wonderful large trees of Minnesota are nowhere to be found.

A second major difference is cultural. There is a huge Mexican, Spanish, and Native American influence throughout the state. Many of the buildings, including some of the newest, are constructed in the pueblo style (based on mud and straw). This means among other things, that many buildings are low and brown. More than 1/3 of the state’s residents report speaking a language other than English at home.

Albuquerque has an array of museums. They highlight everything from rattlesnakes (one entire museum devoted to these critters) to turquoise, to contributions of the Spanish, and the heritage and artwork of various Indian pueblos. You can learn about history from a variety of perspectives – Anglo, Spanish, Mexico, and the different Native American tribes – some of which battled each other for centuries.

Then there’s the chili, which is quite different from what Minnesotans serve. Red and green are the chili choices, with varying degrees of heat. You also can buy locally grown chilies.

One of the most powerful lessons involved taking two different routes between Albuquerque and Santa Fe. We opted for the mountain route to Santa Fe – an amazing almost 3 hour journey through bright red rocks, snowy mountain passes, an inverted crater, and then finally, the ancient town of Santa Fe, which was settled by native people about 1000, and by Spanish explorers early in the 1600’s.

Santa Fe calls itself “ the oldest capital city in North America.” While it has some of the chain restaurants and business found in metro Minnesota areas, it also has buildings, art and other culture going back hundreds of years. And the state capital – in the adobe/pueblo style, is dramatically different from the white marble of Minnesota’s state capitol. We took a 50-minute freeway trip back to Albuquerque, much quicker, and much less interesting.

Everywhere in New Mexico we found very friendly people, eager to share their culture, art and ideas – and quite interested in Minnesota too.

Newspapers and TV headlines last week were full of strife in other countries. And we certainly have plenty to work out in this country. But New Mexico frankly fed my idealism. Over hundreds of years, people from very different backgrounds have found ways to work and live together. We have plenty to learn from New Mexico’s beauty, culture and cooperation.