No one tells you.
Is it because they don't know? Or they want to believe the hype?
Shortly after arriving to Albuquerque, my breaths became fast and shallow. I was up most the night, trying to slow my breath. Catch my breath. Feel normal. Breathe air. Forget about chasing clean... Just...
Give me air!
I'd prepaid for the tour bus to take us to the Balloon Fiesta at 6 a.m. But I felt too ill to get on the bus.
We drove to a nearby gas station at 6:15 a.m.to see 100 balloons mass ascend but due to rain and thunder they mass descended.
Next we went to Santa Fe, New Mexico. Heir to stories of beauty, clean air, and artists galore.
I drank water (in response to dry air, is there air?), and alternatively sought restrooms throughout the trip, which wasn't easy along Highway 25 North because Indian pueblos aren't known for friendliness. Signs in their villages: Don't photograph. Don't speak to natives. Don't... can't recall.
My truth: Within hours of getting to Santa Fe, rather than adjust to the altitude, my symptoms got worse, and perpetually I walked bow legged, holding "it" in, learning most museums on the colorful town square will not let you use their restroom unless you pay for a tour. The alternative. Walk elsewhere. But walking in high altitude with little air is what made me feel so bad, my body like lead ready to fall. And I wanted to drink ever more water.
Where's a bathroom?
Two blocks right, one left, walk until you see... Ah!!
Energy depletes fast with little air!
Bags beneath my eyes puffed out like a blowfish and expanded to my cheeks. The bags were colored. Shades of black. My lead-like legs made me feel like passing out. And since I have passed out before from dehydration (not this trip) I was concerned.
"You'll acclimate," I heard."It can take awhile for some people."
Three days. I heard from one person.
Three weeks. I heard from another.
What's the point, I wondered, feeling worse as minutes ached by.
I got on the Southwest line to get an earlier flight, which was impossible until Monday due to the Balloon Fiesta. My symptoms never improved in the three days I suffered there.
On the plane home yesterday, I sat next to a fireman, who works in Albuquerque. He said every year he works at Balloon Fiesta and they get non-stop calls from sick-feeling California and Florida visitors because our bodies are used to sea-level, and, I'm adding, moisture.
Did I mention the skin on my hands and face, crinkled like crepe paper? Fine lines on my face, near my lips, popped up where I'd NEVER seen them before? I glimpsed myself at seventy-nine years old. And I wasn't pretty.
Want to age decades in 24 hours or less?
Emotionally, maybe still physically, I'm recovering from New Mexico.
I'll never return.
When I'm more up and ready to download photos, I'll share sights with you.
But be forewarned, some people suffer a lot from altitude sickness, and both Albuquerque and Santa Fe are miles above sea level, and, for some people, like me, it's most uncomfortable and not worth anything but a pass.
I called a Florida friend of mine while I was in Santa Fe. He shared when he was there a year ago, he couldn't drive out fast enough, huffing and puffing from oxygen deficiency; the dry air whipping his back.
Did I mention the howling wind?
I learned from this trip that I'm not only seeking clean air, I'm seeking air, period. Oxygen. Lots of oxygen. New Mexico's problem for me, is it doesn't give as much oxygen high up where the air is thin, not like L.A. at sea level. The fireman forwarned in winter, Santa Fe air is even thinner, and people who have altitude sickness, suffer more.
Forget about it!
Even with L.A.'s air pollution, we've got oxygen. I can breathe in Los Angeles. Sleep at night. And it feels good.
Perspective.
Other than that, I have opinions on Albuquerque and Santa Fe, which I'll share with photos another day. (These towns aren't for me, even if there was enough air for my body type)
And one more thing: One of the trainers at my gym, younger and in great shape, (I'm in pretty good shape myself) also shared he was wiped out in Santa Fe and will never be back.
You've been warned. Otherwise, I hear that Santa Fe is great.
