Tag Archives: Pajarito Mesa

Albuquerque, New Mexico and Pajarito Mesa

Last week I flew to New Mexico to attend the amazing Review Santa Fe (about which I may write later), and I was fortunate enough to be able to spend a day in Albuquerque before heading northeast. The highlight of my brief visit to Albuquerque was spending a little time in a colonia to the southwest of town on the Pajarito Mesa.

Due to a variety of legal issues, the 400 family colonia has no public utilities, including running water, electricity or direct access to school busing for children. Despite this immigrant community living on the mesa for approximately 25 years, it only recently received a well to fill portable water tanks. Residents previously had to drive several miles off of the mesa for potable water. The new well offers 1,000 gallons of water for $10.

Additional information about the community can be found here. A few of my photographs of the area are immediately below, followed by others from Albuquerque and its edges.

Warning: Purchasing Property on the Pajarito Mesa May be Illegal

Filling the Water Tank

Colonia Pajarito Mesa

Entrance

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Residential Building

In the Dust, Out West

In the Dairy Lot

Swamp Cooler Service

A Road Through the Scrap Piles

Mt. Calvary Cemetery

As always, additional images are available on flickr.