Albuquerque

Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico. It is located along side the Rio Grande river. Albuquerque is also one of the oldest cities in the nation. It has been inhabited by humans for centuries. The altitude is 5000 feet and at this height the air is thinner and one may experience an adjustment as one gets used to the conditions. It is recommended to drink plenty of liquids while visiting and keep the body hydrated.

Located in the high desert of the Sandia Mountains, Albuquerque has a thriving tourist business .http://www.cabq.gov/living.html There are many tourist activities to see and do while in Albuquerque. There are museums and heritage cultural centers as well as outdoor activities like hot air balloon rides and horse trails.http://www.itsatrip.org/activities/default.aspx The annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta takes place from October 2 to October 10, 2010.

On December 1, 2009, Richard J. Berry was sworn into office as Albuquerque's Mayor. The City Council is made up of nine members, elected on staggered terms, with four or five district Councilors elected every two years.http://www.cabq.gov/council/

The region had long been populated by Native Americans. In 1540, General Francisco de Coronado brought Spanish explorers to the area. More expeditions followed and in 1706 King Philip of Spain gave them permission to build a city there. The name of the city began as Alburquerque, named after the Duke of Alburquerque, Francisco Fernández de la Cueva. The first letter 'r' was dropped later on perhaps due to pronunciation difficulties. Some still pronounce it the original way.

There is a central plaza in Albuqueque called "Old Town" that contains a museum, a cultural center, historic adobe buildings and the San Felipe de Neri Church. This church was built in 1793 and is the oldest building in the city.