Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-06-18
ONE DAY MOTOR
TRIPS TO TAKE
FROM THE CITY
suggested BY Koshare Tours.

Last Sunday we described the
longest one-day motor trip TO be
taken from Albuquerque, the trip
TO Acoma. Today we present one
OF the shortest-a tour Of discov-
cry to Isleta and Tome. The road
TO Acoma is marked by surprising
but perfectly obvious features; in
Isleta you must seek the interest.
Many have "been to" Isleta, but
few have visited it. There is more
to the pueblo than the plaza, the
church and a well-traveled street
Of two. If you care for human in
terest and the picturesque, you can
find aplenty. With permission.
visit the priests garden, a spot so
like Spain or southern France you
can scarcely realize you are in the
United States. To begin with. you
pull bell rope outside a heavy
gate just as they do in Europe
and then you enter a court filled
with flowers, fruit trees, vines, ar
bors, a fountain and birds-chick-
ems, peafowl, pigeons and pleas
ants.
A soft-voiced caretaker shows
you around and will even admit
you to the church through the
sacristy, whose walls arc four or
five feet thick. Much restoration
has, of course. been done on the
church, but you can still see old
beams. bit OF old carving and
several old paintings Don't for
get the story of Padre Padilla who
lies buried before the altar. There
are many versions OF It. One was
told with much adornment in
Scribner's magazine last autumn.
OF course, it IL only courtesy to
reward the caretaker for her trou-
Bile in showing you about.
outside, note the church yard.
1t is neatly kept now; only a few
years ago, however, you could pick
up numberless human bones. for
this plot has been used as a burial
ground for fully $50 years.
Ramble through the streets, es-
peclally the back streets, and you
Will find fascinating examples of
decorative architecture. You are
welcome in the homes where YOU
will be shown the family treas
ures IF so inclined you can buy
pottery, baskets and jewelry. DC
caslonally. too, you can pick up a
rare old "santo," The most beau
tiful Navajo necklace in New Mex
leo belongs to an Isleta woman.
who Is a maker of fireplaces. The
fireplace In her own home, with
It's wind-wing, its perfect draft and
It's broken outline, is marvel Of
beauty.
Altogether, the Isletans are hos
pltable and friendly. They will
Joke with you and tell you won
drous stories. But they are not
averse to accepting gifts.
At present the better road to
lsleta is on the east side Of the
river To reach Tome, you re-
cross the bridge and follow the
same road south. All along the
valley are adobe homes and settle
ments. IL you care to take the
time you may pick up bits OF old
furniture, dishes and even silver in
some of them.
AT the roadside church a mile or
so this side of Los Lurlas you turn
TO the left and keep on going until
you come to Tome lying 10 your
right in cottonwood grove, You
come upon 1t before you are aware.
IL is quiet. cool and thoroughly typ
ical of the land OF manana. Its
church is its main object of inter
est; 1t possesses some really excel
lent engravings Of the stations of
the cross, and in a side chapel
some remarkable images.
Tome is built on the site of an
ancient Indian pueblo, every trace
or which is now gone. After its
settlement by the Spaniards it was
center of wealth and activity. 1t
has been repeatedly attacked by
hostile Indians. Naturally, IL was
the scene of many wild west deeds,
II you are fortunate. you may fall
in with some old-timer who will
tell you tales of the past.
Altogether this is an easv frip.
one on which you can lazfIy drift
along. We recommend taking a
picnic lunch, and il you choose,
after visiting Tome. crossing the
river to Belen. where you can get
an excellent supper. From Belen
you can follow the National Old
Trails highway into Los Lunas and
thence into albuquerque. You may
take all day for this trip or you
may take the afternoon. The
chances are, however. that once
yon begin proving about odi
hooks and corners you will realize
the adyisability OF taking the lon
ger time.
A man is generally at his heay-