The main reason we stayed over in Albuquerque was to see the Turquoise Museum and Old Town not to mention all the tornadoes, etc. east of here!
The Turquoise Museum was quite lovely. Apparently the guide’s great-grandfather collected over two million pounds of turquoise from all over the world and someone saw the marketing opportunities of charging $10.00 to see 1/10th of it. There’s history, geology, fakes and rarest of them all. It was ninety minutes of the youngest of the male family member’s quips and knowledge. He was seventeen and had obviously been involved with this obsession his whole life.
The surprise? over 95% of the turquoise sold is not the gemstone but some altered state of a less desirable white turquoise, which is so soft that it’s like chalk. Do a little magic with oil, plastic and heat and badda-bing, you have turquoise! I’m just sayin’!
The second part of the day was to visit Old Town. It’s small and quaint compared to the much more upscale Santa Fe. I loved walking around the square with Montana and Patty.
Montana didn’t want to sit down on the wall because the shrubs were too scratchy so here was her solution!
Finally, I understood her concern and showed her where to sit. She had, by this point, collected her usual audience.
Pat stooped down to hug Montana for the picture (something she had NEVER done before) and it surprised Montana so much that she immediately rolled over on her back! LOL
Then, they both cooperate and we get the money shot!
Tomorrow? Down and dirty roadin’…Albuquerque to Oklahoma City.
Happy Trails!
from a Friend 
I visited the town this past summer and I can’t believe I missed the Turquoise Museum!