Guadalajara Reporter

      Georgia O’Keeffe

MEXICO - Despite the wishes of New Mexico’s best-known artist to keep the Land of Enchantment a secret to outsiders, millions of travelers have long since discovered the Land of Enchantment. Now, thanks to a cross-border initiative spearheaded by New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, AeroMexico has introduced a new air route that opens an appealing gateway for visitors from Mexico.

Since early February the airline has been operating non-stop flights between Chihuahua City and Albuquerque, with service scheduled on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Passengers coming from elsewhere in Mexico can take advantage of the carrier’s connecting flights to Guadalajara, Mexico City, Monterrey and other departure points. Travel on the new route is via Embraer ERJ 145 regional jets seating 50 passengers.

Mexico travelers looking for an easy getaway to the north side of the border will appreciate the low seating capacity of the commuter jets and relatively small size of both the Chihuahua terminal and Albuquerque’s Sunport. Those factors translate into a lot less of the crowding and hassle than what is involved in flying huge birds to major U.S. hubs.

But the comforts of getting there pale beside the multiple enticements for taking a journey to New Mexico. It is a place offering a host of visitor attractions and activities for all tastes.

Exploring ABQ

Albuquerque is located in the heart of New Mexico, making the state’s largest city an ideal base for initiating outward sojourns. With a metro area population of around 800,000, it has all of the amenities one expects in an American urban setting without the headaches of bustling traffic, smog and noise.

Downtown visitor attractions include the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, the National Hispanic Cultural Center, a variety of museums and the Albuquerque Biological Park – comprising a zoo, aquarium, the Rio Grande botanic garden and Tingley Beach fishing lakes – all revolving around the Old Town district and a revived stretch of the famed Route 66. 

Nearby are the Nob Hill and ABQ Uptown neighborhoods for boutique hopping, fine dining and exploring the city’s nightlife. Eight well-groomed golf courses and a variety of casino and hotel complexes are also located in the metro area.

Albuquerque is headquarters for the world-famous International Balloon Fiesta, held each year during the first two weeks of October. The event has spawned a year-round business in hot air balloon excursions, the perfect way for tourists to capture soaring views of the local landscape.

On the city’s outskirts are sites to enjoy outdoor fun, including the world’s longest aerial tram and winter season ski slopes at Sandia Peak.

For maximum rest and relaxation, the Tamaya Resort and Spa offers luxurious accommodations and attentive service, with a full range of sports, fitness and cultural activities. Situated on a 500-acre spread inside a Native American reservation, the gorgeous facility operates flawlessly under a partnership between the Santa Anita Pueblo and Global Hyatt Corporation.

Charming Santa Fe

Santa Fe, the state capital, lies just 60 miles north of Albuquerque, easily accessible by car or a 90-minute ride on the New Mexico Rail Runner train line – a traveler’s bargain at the eight-dollar per person round-trip fare.

Situated at the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Santa Fe is a high-desert town distinguished by the ubiquitous adobe architecture and a quirky charm that earned it a nickname as “the City Different.”

It is well known as a long-standing cultural Mecca that has drawn a burgeoning 21st century colony of proponents and practitioners of plastic and performing arts. The town is home to dozens of art galleries and museums, ranging in focus from the Museum of Spanish Colonial Art and the Museum of International Folk Arts to the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, showcasing works by the doyenne of America’s modernist movement. Music, dance, theater and traditional festivals are featured on Santa Fe’s busy calendar of cultural events.  History buffs will enjoy local landmarks, some dating back nearly 400 years, as well as several museums that delve into the community’s past.  

With the bulk of businesses, tourist services and visitor attractions concentrated in the center of town, it is a great place to explore on foot.  Excellent accommodations and scores of first-rate restaurants dot the vicinity wrapped around the main plaza. Shoppers will be tempted to empty their pocketbooks at local shops and marketplaces, including the portales of the old Governor’s Palace where Native American artisans hawk their handsomely crafted wares.

Santa Fe is likewise a focal point for outdoor adventure and every imaginable type activity to soothe the mind, body and soul.

On the whole New Mexicans are fiercely proud of the state’s historical, cultural and ethnic background. The people fully embrace their Hispanic and Native roots, respectfully tapping on them as sources to build business and attract tourism.

A strong sense of a state identity is reflected in the long list of official New Mexico emblems, from the Zia sun symbol emblazoned on the state flag to natural native species like the piñon tree, the yucca flower, the roadrunner, the Sandia hairstreak butterfly, the tarantula hawk wasp and the spadefoot toad, to name a few. New Mexico also boasts a state cookie, the biscochito; a state bilingual song, “New Mexico-Mi Lindo Nuevo Mexico;” a friendly state slogan, “Everybody is somebody in New Mexico;” and the pervasive official question, “Red or Green?” – referring to personal preference in regard to chile peppers, the essential ingredient in local cuisine.

Since Spanish is widely spoken and typical foods proffer familiar tastes, travelers from Mexico may feel they’ve arrived at a comfort zone serving as cultural bridge to the United States. Enhanced by AeroMexico’s new mode to get there by air, New Mexico’s appeal for south of the border residents is bound to surge.