Cultural Side of Albuquerque - Flamenco, Old Town and a bit of Wine Tasting

I didn't expect much from Albuquerque when it came to the cultural activities. In fact, I heard that the city has little to offer, but I have to say that I was impressed by the variety of activities you could do there. From attending a show to dining in a nice restaurant, from roller skating to wine tasting (not in that order), I found there were activities that offered diverse experiences. 

One of my favorites was a Flamenco Tablao performance at Hotel Albuquerque Old Town. Three men and two women show. One man is the singer, another one plays the instrument and the rest are dancers. And they are Dancers with a capital "D". The rhythm of the performance, its uniqueness was spectacular. Price fix dinner was also pretty decent, but definitely not the highlight of the evening.

The hotel itself was luxurious. No wonder that weddings are held there!

Old Town was a unique place on its own. It reminded me of Santa Fe's downtown with multiple shops and restaurants. I walked there a few times during my stay in ABQ. Blackbird coffee became my favorite coffee shop. The variety of drinks they offer will meet anyone's sophisticated palate, yet it is non-assuming and down to earth. A restaurant that didn't look overly attractive from the outside turned out to be a gem when it came to food. High Noon Restaurant had an interesting menu with a variety of meat options. While I typically stay away from meat, I tried a few dishes that I really enjoyed.

Brie Empanadas - by far one of my favorite dishes!

Don't remember the name, but it was also delicious!

I also came across a Breaking Bad memorabilia store with so many authentic items that were displayed in a museum separately from the store.

While not in Old Town, there are a few wineries just outside the main part of the city. Gruet Winery is located just off the highway. It is a fancy tasting room with a small outdoor area, but since it is right next to the highway it lacks the ambiance. Their wines were very good though. Casa Rodena, on the other hand, was right in the middle of the vineyard. The tasting room had a very nice outdoor area with a pond. It definitely reminded me of wineries in NC and CA, and their wines were also great. I was impressed by NM wines in general. I did not anticipate that they would be even comparable to CA wines.

Another "must-do" activity in ABQ is the Sandia Peak Tram that travels up Sandia Mountains from the west side. The trip is only 15 minutes each way but the views are incredible. There are a few hiking trails on top as well.

Departing the parking lot

Views while traveling in the tram

Views from one of the trails overlooking ABQ

Besides the views and good food, there is a lot of history in the area. I visited two sites that are part of Salinas Pueblo Missions - Abo and Quarai. Both sites are off the beaten path so I saw just one person there. That also added to the overall feel of the places - isolated, almost abandoned (yet maintained) ruins of buildings and churches.

Quarai

Abo

My overall impression is that you can find activities you enjoy in ABQ. While you might have to look a bit more thoroughly, the city does offer a variety of things to do both from a cultural side and food-wise.