Caffeinated Gonzo!

IMG_7424, originally uploaded to flickr by krystal.pritchett.

In a nostalgic mood, this morning… I found this great picture of the County CourtHouse in Denton, Texas while browsing on flickr. I lived in Denton for almost ten years while attending and working for the University of North Texas. It’s been almost that long since I left Denton, but I would recognize this venerable castle of a courthouse any time.

Thanks to Krystal Pritchett for posting this photo. It’s one of the best photos of the old courthouse on Flickr… and there are quite a few.

The views from Sandia Peak are breathtaking, and for some … so is the elevation (2 miles above sea level). On a clear day, the view is more than worth the drive up from Albuquerque or the fare on the tramway.

The view on day of my family’s last visit (late August 2007) was a bit hazy due to the heat in Albuquerque, but the views were still impressive.

If you have the chance to go there on a really clear cool day… and especially if you are taking the tram I suggest going around sunset so that you really get the full effect of the views of the city at dusk and beyond.

See more progress on: Sandia Peak

Historic San Felipe de Neri church, originally uploaded by caffeinatedgonzo.

The historic San Felipe de Neri church is the standard by which I measure all historic churches that I visit. This 300 (plus) year old Catholic parish is located in the Old Town section of Albuquerque, my old home town.

Long before I became Catholic myself, San Felipe represented to me what a Catholic church was meant to be… old, yet dignified… somber, yet uplifting… close to God, yet the closeness and color of earth.

There are a lot of places I want to take my family to see here in Albuquerque while we visit, and some we just won’t have time to get to, but visiting the San Felipe was something I hoped to share ~ more importantly had to do for myself. I am glad that we made it here.