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Family and Friends is my everyday journal. Captain's Log is where I pontificate on religion and politics.

Wednesday, January 13, 2021

WC 011321

 


Today's challenge is five most interesting places I've visited.

Mexico. This is the only foreign country I've visited. Growing up as a family drove to El Paso twice and went across the border to Juarez. We didn't venture far into the city. It was fun watching Dad settle on the price of what we bought. I'm sure we overpaid. We ate a dinner each time at the Florida Club, one of the few places you could drink the water. 

Dad bought a velvet painting of a ship on a blue background. It hung on the wall of our house for many years.

While in college running track the first meet of the season was Border Olympics in Laredo, TX. In Nuevo Laredo I bought a leather hat that matched the fringe jacket I still owned from the last trip to El Paso and an Onyx chess set. No one in their right mind would eat across the border. I ran my fasted mile at the Border Olympics that year.

New Mexico. I've lived in the state most of my life. There is much to visit here. These are the places I've visited:

Mesa Verde National Monument: Cliff dwellings in the four corners area.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park.

White Sands National Park.

Bandolier National Monument.

Petroglyph National Monument, I drive by it often, it borders Albuquerque.

Elephant Butte Lake. During Memorial day and Labor day it becomes the second largest city in the state.

Trinity Site, where the first atomic bomb was exploded.

Colorado. We lived in Pueblo when I was a child we visited three places close together. Buckskin Joe's, Royal Gorge and Cripple Creek. Buckskin Joes was a mock western town that had a shoot out, trial and hanging every day at noon. Lots of trinket for sale. The Royal Gorge was built by the CCC in the 1930's. It was the world's highest suspension bridge at the time. You could walk across it and look down, but there wasn't a road on the other side so no cars were allowed. Cripple Creek is a gold mining town turned tourist attraction. There was a saloon with a stage and they put on a melodrama. It was a lot of fun booing and hissing the villain and cheering the hero.

North Carolina: I was born in this state, but Dad was in the marines and while still an infant he was transferred to California. 

Summer of 2000, I took four students from New Mexico to Ashville, NC. for the annual YMCA Conference on Youth Affairs. We flew from Albuquerque to Dallas where we joined forty other students and their sponsors. We then left Texas on a bus and drove with only minimal stops through Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and into North Carolina. The whole way it was like driving in a tunnel. There were trees on both sides of the road.

We got out of the bus in Ashville at a shopping center to buy a few necessities for the week ahead. I looked at the headlines on that day's newspaper. A city councilor was being accused of something, the mayor was under fire for something he said. We traveled fifteen hundred miles, but the politics were the same. Had a great time watching the kids debate loads of issues. It was a long drive back and flight.

KansasThe most interesting place I visited on all many trips from Albuquerque to Nebraska to visit wife's family was a stop in Abilene, Kansas at the Eisenhower Presidential Library. It's the only presidential library I've visited, and he was president when I too young to remember him, but I was impressed with the library. There's the house where he was born well preserved. He and his wife are buried in the library. I was most impressed with his military section. It housed his command jeep, uniforms, trophy case with his medals, lots of weapons and information about D-Day. In a glass case is a special commemorative sword made by the Wilkinson Sword company in England. The only other commemorative sword the made was for the Duke of Wellington.


18 comments:

collettakay said...

It is so interesting to read about everyone's travels. Thanks for stopping by :)

Colletta

Lydia said...

You've been to some very nice places.

P M Prescott said...

It was my pleasure, Colletta.

P M Prescott said...

Thanks for coming by, Lydia.

Judy said...

Thanks for stopping by. Asheville is on my list of places I want to visit. Especially the Biltmore House! One day I'll get to see it in person.

Marianne Arkins said...

Sounds so interesting! I lived in CO and nodded my way through your post. I never did make it up Pikes Peak unfortunately (even though I lived in the Springs) but the state has plenty of offerings.

Mary Morgan said...

Amazing, Patrick! I've always wanted to visit North Carolina. In truth, I'd love to do a road trip across the U.S. Maybe one day...

Tena Stetler said...

Funny you should mention feeling like you are driving in a tunnel down south. I had the same feeling when we drove through the south. Enjoyed your post. Thanks for sharing. Here's mine. https://www.tenastetler.com/5-best-places-ive-visited-lsrs-blogging-challenge/

Michael Mock said...

Those all sound like wonderful fun. Did you ever get up to Palo Duro in your time in Texas?

P M Prescott said...

Didn't get to see it then, might if I ever go back, Judy.

P M Prescott said...

Yes it does, Marianne.

P M Prescott said...

Mary, a bus load of kids isn't exactly the best way to travel for fun.

P M Prescott said...

Glad I'm not the only one, Tena.

P M Prescott said...

Many times. Driven down it and flown over it, quite a site. Never did the play, Texas. Thanks for coming by Michael.

Tanith Davenport said...

I've always wanted to visit Mexico. Maybe sometime after lockdown.

P M Prescott said...

Border towns are much different now than then. Going to and from is a lot harder too. Thanks for coming by, Tanith.

Kate Hill said...

You've been to many interesting places New Mexico sounds great!

P M Prescott said...

It is, Kate, thanks for coming by.