Back in the long ago days when we lived in New Mexico the first time, one of our favorite places to go was Madrid, NM, the little coal mining ghost town around a bend in the road on NM 14 between Albuquerque and Santa Fe. There wasn't much there -- just the remnants of the old coal mine, a funky little museum, a train to climb on, a general store, the old company homes standing deserted in a row along the road, and an elementary school long since abandoned. You could almost feel the history and memories there. You could hear the wind rustling the trees back then.
Well, it's been 39 years now and Madrid is a completely different place. It's been rediscovered, reborn, remade - and not as interesting as it once was, to me, anyway.
The bend in the road is now lined with art shops, gift shops, restaurants, cars, people, activity. Looks like up in the hills new houses have been rebuilt and many of the old ones renovated. We were through there on Saturday and it even appears someone is renovating the elementary school.
Madrid has become a major tourist destination. Somehow I liked it a lot better 39 years ago.
