Wednesday, September 11, 2013

September 2013 - Alamosa, Colorado

Labor Day, 2013 - I visited my son and his wife for a week who live in Alamosa, Colorado.

Trains are big in Alamosa.  You can go for all kinds of train rides there.
Also many vintage trains and memorbilia there.

Downtown has huge planters of flowers and hanging baskets of flowers.

Lots of vintage car events going on there.

Even on the streets you see vintage cars like this Volvo for sale.

We visited Crestone, Colorado which isn't far from Alamosa.
There I saw this vehicle plastered with interesting bumper stickers.

Alamosa has many art galleries, like those housed in this Masonic Building.

 There is evidence that many old hippies live in Alamosa.

Alamosa appears to be minority-friendly and the people seem to get along together.
This bench was on the sidewalk along the main street downtown.

 The local mortuary.

The local college has a nice campus.

More of the college campus.

The campus has a planetarium that is open to the public.

Many homes and buildings have Spanish-style / Southwestern architecture with stucco exteriors, red slate shingle roofs, etc.

The bear statue reflects the college mascot.

The hospital in Alamosa

The town even has a Sonic Drive-In!!

The clouds at dusk in September evenings are memorable and marvelous.

Many rainbows appear in the area.

Mountains surround the town.

Alamosa even has bike lanes!

Many artistic window displays.

Approaching downtown

One of several community gardens in Alamosa

Downtown Alamosa has talking Cross-Walk signs.

Even the fading areas of town have stories to tell and possess subtle beauty.
Here brickwork is revealed beneath peeling paint.


The Rio Grande River meanders right through town, providing walking trails and fishing opportunities.

 A golf course is also near the river.

The wetlands along the river provide birding and wildlife viewing opportunities.

The Rio Grande River at dusk in Alamosa.

The Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Alamosa is on the Historic Register and worth a visit.




The church also has many beautiful vintage hand painted murals.

Details of paintings in the dome above the altar.

 Hatch, New Mexico green chiles were available in town.
I bought a case at Wal-Mart.

For $5.00 dollars, a man roasted the chiles in a gas-fired rolling barrel roaster.

He put the green chile peppers in the barrel.

He rolled the barrel and as the chiles spun, he roasted them.

After they were roasted, he hosed them down.

 He seemed to enjoy his work.

The tiny town of Hooper near Alamosa had some interesting abandoned buildings.

Hooper Town Hall



Wild Aster growing in Hooper

Beautiful flowers outside of a church in Hooper.


Wild morning glories growing in Hooper


Someone worked very hard to make those flowers so beautiful...







 


1 comment:

  1. Beautiful Connie,

    They have a lot of wonderful old buildings and beautiful flowers. It looks like a warm city full of love and history.

    Miranda

    ReplyDelete