Oddest towns in New Mexico (Albuquerque, Santa Fe: sales, credit card, homes)

[lukeache]

After returning from New Mexico last night, I just cannot get over how beautiful and how odd this state is! I flew into Albuquerque and ended up staying up in Espanola. Although Espanola is known for its problems etc, I had a great experience in this town, it is indeed a lovely town and all the people I came into contact were extremely nice! This is right now one of my favorite towns in this state. Now, I had heard about the Turquoise Trail and in particular the town of Madrid, so I decided to drive from Santa Fe to Madrid through the Turquoise Trail. As I approached Madrid, I was extremely amazed, what an odd place this is. I took pictures of so many strange homes, ranches, and even a railroad car made into a home..the stores were also very odd and the people..it almost seemed like something out of a movie. Can anybody please tell us more about Madrid and its past/history, I could not get over how strange this place is..Does anybody know anything about that little place called "Tiny Town", it is a sort of a ranch full of odd and very strange sculptures and junk sitting in front of it, does anybody know what that is? What about the "Kick Ass" ranch? This has got to be the oddest town in the USA

[jecc]

Madrid (I'm told it's pronounced MA-drid, not ma-DRID) is not that odd to those of us who live in NM. Not that the whole state is like that, but there is an independent spirit here that fosters cool places like Madrid. I live high in the mountains, where an Old West feeling prevails. However, in my little neighborhood alone, there is so much character and color and flavor. I think that's just the overall vibe of NM, and I have not seen it quite the same anywhere else.

NM has a very diverse landscape and climate structure. Sometimes it feels like three or four different planets. This might contribute to its varied culture, along with many other factors like the Native American influence. When you can, come back to NM and explore the rest of it. You'll see that Madrid just sort of fits right in.

Also, NM is among two or three states in the nation that some outsiders don't even realize are part of the U.S. When they hear "Mexico," they think of another country. (I've lived in Alaska, and some people don't realize that it's no longer a territory.) Try living in NM and calling a mail-order company in Maine. The sales rep might very well say, "Sorry, we don't ship to foreign countries." I don't know if this has anything to do with the wild spirit of NM, but it kinda figures.

[Cathy4017]

The sales rep might very well say, "Sorry, we don't ship to foreign countries." I don't know if this has anything to do with the wild spirit of NM, but it kinda figures.

OMG, it happens all of the time!! New Mexico Magazine has a section called, "One of our fifty is missing."

It it hilarious!!! It talks about how some of the other states behave when confronted with "New Mexico."

But I have to say....when a store clerk in HOUSTON, TX, refused to process someone's credit card because they were from a "foreign country" called Albuquerque, NM.....that WAS a bit of an ignorant stretch!!!!!!

Lordy. Didn't these people ever go to school?

[BrianH]

Also, NM is among two or three states in the nation that some outsiders don't even realize are part of the U.S. When they hear "Mexico," they think of another country. (I've lived in Alaska, and some people don't realize that it's no longer a territory.) Try living in NM and calling a mail-order company in Maine. The sales rep might very well say, "Sorry, we don't ship to foreign countries." I don't know if this has anything to do with the wild spirit of NM, but it kinda figures.

You should try work my job. I get ALOT of people from Texas complain about the lack of border control. A few of them were even furious about it.

[jecc]

Originally Posted by BrianH

You should try work my job. I get ALOT of people from Texas complain about the lack of border control. A few of them were even furious about it.

You mean they're furious about New Mexicans getting into Texas? Ha ha. Funny, because where I live in southern NM, the Texans invade in summer to get away from the heat!

[BrianH]

They were giving out about the lack of border control when the came from Texas to New Mexico. One guy had his passport and everything.

[Nil]

the "Tiny Town" your asking about is actually tinker town http://www.tinkertown.com/ is their site. Sorry i cant help with other questions.

[Cathy4017]

I get ALOT of people from Texas complain about the lack of border control. A few of them were even furious about it.

The lack of border control from MEXICO....but not NEW Mexico??

[Crackerjack]

Originally Posted by BrianH

They were giving out about the lack of border control when the came from Texas to New Mexico. One guy had his passport and everything.

Brian, that is knee slapping funny!
I know when I moved from Rio Rancho to Pittsburgh, a lady in Pitt I met asked me where I was from, when I said Rio Rancho, New Mexico, she asked who el presidente was there! She was serious though! I told her New Mexico was in the US and she said, "Are you sure?" Like I wouldn't know coming from there. I don't think I ever convinced her I was an American!

[catman]

Originally Posted by Cathy4017

But I have to say....when a store clerk in HOUSTON, TX, refused to process someone's credit card because they were from a "foreign country" called Albuquerque, NM.....that WAS a bit of an ignorant stretch!!!!!!

Lordy. Didn't these people ever go to school?

They probably went to school, just not a very good one. The climate in Houston is enough to make a zombie out of anyone, IMO.