Hummingbird/ This morning in Albuquerque, New Mexico

Posted: August 20, 2018 | Author: Richard Lakin | Filed under: deserts | Tags: Albuquerque, desert life, hummingbird, New Mexico, southwest | Leave a comment

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The Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array/ Central New Mexico

Posted: July 2, 2018 | Author: Richard Lakin | Filed under: deserts | Tags: desert, New Mexico, radio telescope, southwest, The Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array | Leave a comment

The Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array is a radio astronomy observatory located in central New Mexico on the Plains of San Agustin, and was a location in the movie “Contact.” It is on a fairly isolated high desert plateau (about 7,000 ft.) and surrounded by mountains, making it an ideal spot to avoid the normal wireless interference in cities. The lack of humidity in the air also makes for a clearer radio signal. There is no cell service there and visitors are asked to put their phones in airplane mode.

The array is routinely re-configured to cover different parts of the sky by moving the dishes on a network of railroad tracks.

This is part of a photo series featuring the American southwest.

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Desert Rose in bloom/ Albuquerque, New Mexico

Posted: June 22, 2018 | Author: Richard Lakin | Filed under: world travels | Tags: Albuquerque, desert, Desert Rose, flower, New Mexico, New Mexico Southwest | Leave a comment

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Gathering of Nations/ Albuquerque, New Mexico

Posted: April 29, 2018 | Author: Richard Lakin | Filed under: deserts, world travels | Tags: Albuquerque, deserts, Gathering of Nations, indigenous, native, New Mexico, pow wow | Leave a comment

Billed as the “The Biggest Pow Wow in North America,” the Gathering of Nations brings together participants from Indigenous Nations all over Canada, the US, and Mexico.

This is part of a photo series featuring the American southwest.

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The Turquoise Trail/ Madrid, New Mexico

Posted: March 25, 2018 | Author: Richard Lakin | Filed under: deserts, world travels | Tags: deserts, Madrid-New Mexico, Turquoise Trail | Leave a comment

This is a photo series of the deserts of the American southwest. Subscribe to the blog for updates.

Cattle crossing sign on The Turquoise Trail

The Turquoise Trail (named for its rich deposits of turquoise) connects Albuquerque to Santa Fe. There are several small towns along the route, including Madrid (pronounced MAD-rid…NOT like the Spanish city), which was a coal mining town, supplying coal to the railroads. When the mine closed in the 1950’s, it became a derelict ghost town…until the 60’s when hippies, artists, and free-thinkers moved into the small wood frame houses and created an eclectic community. Today, it is known for its colorful shops in the old mining buildings.

The Mine Shaft Tavern was built in 1947 and attracts a diverse crowd …artists, tourists, and bikers. It has a reputation for hauntings.

Here’s a segment on Madrid’s Christmas parade from CBS Sunday Morning…worth watching: https://www.cbs.com/shows/cbs-sunday-morning/video/cMqkwvamLSlR5BuSLSTV0RgabDBxUb0F/a-shining-christmas-in-a-once-dead-mining-town/

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High country near Flagstaff, Arizona

Posted: March 24, 2018 | Author: Richard Lakin | Filed under: deserts, world travels | Tags: Arizona, Flagstaff, high country | Leave a comment

This is a photo series of the deserts of the American southwest. Subscribe to the blog for updates.

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The Badlands/ Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona

Posted: March 22, 2018 | Author: Richard Lakin | Filed under: deserts, world travels | Tags: apache, Arizona, badlands, deserts, navajo, Petrified Forest National Park | Leave a comment

The Petrified Forest National Park is in the Navajo and Apache counties in northeastern Arizona. It is on The Painted Desert, named for it’s banded colors.

This is a photo series of the deserts of the American southwest. Subscribe to the blog for updates.

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Sony A-65 DSLR

Approaching blizzard/ Gallup, New Mexico

Posted: March 18, 2018 | Author: Richard Lakin | Filed under: deserts, world travels | 1 Comment

An approaching late-season blizzard on the high desert where The Red Rocks are over 7,000 ft. in elevation. With temperatures in the mid 20’s (F) and howling winds, the storm made the interstate highway nearly impassable for several hundred miles.

This is a photo series of the deserts of the American southwest. Subscribe to the blog for updates.

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View of mesas on San Ildefonso Pueblo/ from Los Alamos, New Mexico

Posted: March 13, 2018 | Author: Richard Lakin | Filed under: world travels | Tags: los alamos, New Mexico, San Ildefonso Pueblo | Leave a comment

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The Carnival in X’matkuil/ Yucatán, Mexico

Posted: March 1, 2018 | Author: Richard Lakin | Filed under: world travels | Tags: Mexican culture, Mexico, X'matkuil Carnival | Leave a comment

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Desert Life

Posted: January 23, 2018 | Author: Richard Lakin | Filed under: deserts, world travels | Tags: Arizona, desert life, deserts Dubai, Morocco, New Mexico, Oman, southwest, Strait of Hormuz, UAE | Leave a comment

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Near Cochiti Pueblo, New Mexico

Grand Canyon, Arizona

Strait of Hormuz, Oman

Mariachi/ Old Town Albuquerque, New Mexico

Sonoran Desert/ Arizona

Dune riding/ Arabian Desert, United Arab Emirates

A light snow on the high desert/ Sandia Reservation, New Mexico

Sunset/ near Tecolote, New Mexico

University Campus/ Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Sandia Mountains/ New Mexico

Dia de Los Muertos/ Albuquerque, New Mexico

Burj Khalifa/ Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Garage mural/ Albuquerque, New Mexico

View of Dubai, enshrouded in humidity, from Palm Island/ United Arab Emirates

Grand Canyon, Arizona

Piña Blanca, New Mexico

Hospitality/ Casa Blanca, Morocco

Waterfall, Dubai Mall/ United Arab Emirates

Buffalo, Sandia Pueblo, New Mexico

Sony A-65 camera

Dia de Los Muertos y Marigolds Parade & Celebration

Posted: November 5, 2017 | Author: Richard Lakin | Filed under: world travels | Tags: Albuquerque, dia de los muertos, New Mexico | Leave a comment

Albuquerque, New Mexico

“Getting to Know Karen”

Posted: March 3, 2017 | Author: Richard Lakin | Filed under: editorials, world travels | Tags: expats, Mexico, retirement, travel, Yucatán | Leave a comment

Episode One, Real Expats of the Yucatán

New Infotainment series about the life and adventures of American and Canadian expat women and their friends who have retired in the Yucatan, Mexico. They hilariously navigate their new life in the small fishing villages of Chelem and Chuburna on the Gulf Coast of the Yucatan peninsula. From immigration to internet, water and electricity (or lack thereof), spiders, snakes and scorpions, construction and housing, ocean and beach, a food, drink, entertainment and music recommendations, Mexican holidays and fiestas, real cost of living and aging parents and millennial children, new grandchildren, the Expats cover the real truth what daily life is in the Yucatan.

The premiere Episode of The Real Expats of the Yucatan! Learning all about Karen…..Our hippie chill Earth Mother with an EDGE.