The hit TV show Breaking Bad begins its final series this month (tonight – Sunday, August 11 – to be precise) in the US. In case you’re unfamiliar with it, the adrenalin-huffing show is about Walter White, a teacher diagnosed with terminal cancer who starts making methamphetamine so that he can leave money behind for his family after his death.
It is equal parts moving, dark, funny and ZOMGDIDTHATJUSTHAPPEN. After the show’s departure from the world of TV, those who might fall prey to Breaking Bad withdrawal should perhaps try taking a tour of the city (ABQ Trolley Co. run a great one) where the show is set: Albuquerque in New Mexico.
(In case you’re wondering, symptoms of Breaking Bad withdrawal include eating only the blue Smarties and M&Ms, and insisting that you are the one who knocks when you and your significant other visit their mother’s house.)
First, stock up on some candy from The Candy Lady at the corner of Mountain Road and Rio Grande, in Old Town. She made more than 100lbs (50kg) of the candy for the show.
Then dress up in a costume for the full experience, super-fans.
Breaking Bad fans are likely to get so excited in Albuquerque, you’d be forgiven for thinking they were using blue crystal meth themselves. The city is smartly capitalising on the show’s popularity, with several well-organised tours available. You could alternatively make your own way around, so let’s take a gander at a few spots you’ll certainly want to excitedly gawp at.
You could start the tour with Jesse Pinkman’s family home. From the outside, it looks exactly like it does on the show, but hopefully there are no traces of acid baths gone wrong inside. Or how about Jesse’s apartment from the second season? This is where the easily-led young man fell for his landlady Jane. It’s also where some more horrible things happened too, obviously.
If you’re looking for somewhere to stay yourself, maybe book a room at the Crossroads Motel. Please don’t try recreating Jesse’s drug bender with friendly neighbourhood prostitute Wendy whilst you’re here though.
For lunch, head to the fast-food restaurant Twisters, where they film scenes featuring its fictional counterpart Los Pollos Hermanos. They even keep signs from the fictional restaurant inside, reassuring fans they’re in the right place.
And if you’re driving around Albuquerque and think the car needs a wash, go to the local Octopus car wash. When you’ve got to make ends meet, you either get a part-time job here or simply buy it and get your wife to launder money through it. You would, of course, buy it as is.
(Featured image: popculturegeek)
