Spanish is routinely spoken in public places, and Hispanic families proudly trace their roots to forebears who arrived in the region as Spanish colonists long before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock. And of course, frontier culture is still a major factor. Relics of the Old West thus include cowboy hats, rodeos, and a fundamental reverence for both self-reliance and cooperation between neighbors. Spread out along the Rio Grande in a mile-high valley between the Sandia Mountains and the escarpment of the West Mesa, Albuquerque enjoys a dramatic physical setting. The most one can do is to become misplaced by a few blocks.
Visitors have the choice of a wide variety of pastimes and services.
The city's attractions are at once modern and ancient. Petroglyph National Monument on the West Mesa offers intriguing glimpses to our area's prehistoric past. Old Town preserves the Spanish colonial era as an immediate and palpable experience. It also provides the setting for an open-air Indian market and is home base for numerous galleries, restaurants, and shops. Modern malls and shops throughout the city cater to every possible requirement.