Gertrude Zachary Castle

You’re likely wondering if I’ve ever actually visited this «castle». I did, some time ago, before she passed. I knew a guy who worked for Gertrude, I was invited to an employee party and I had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Zachary. The conversation was lovely, she was good people, may she rest in eternal peace.
Know this, if you have the honor of visiting yourself: the place, er, miniature palace, is astonishing. So many years after my visit, I’m envisioning the experience, the opulence, exquisite antiques, the myriad works of art, the elevator, the pool, and the cradle for Napoleon III’s son on the second floor. Kudos to Gertrude for planting her abode in downtown ABQ, on a street that (at the time she built it) was crumbling, adjacent to her original business. She constructed something of a gaudy, turquoise jeweled empire that celebrated, surprisingly, women of color. When I had the opportunity to speak to her, that’s precisely what I communicated to her. Girlfriend was all about celebrating and empowering Hispanic middle-​aged women. I’m all for it, and at the moment, I’m not seeing the trend continue via those who claimed the estate.
I will note that the castle itself, from an outsider’s perspective, is cold, perhaps icy. Security gates, metal daggers surrounding the property and that gray, dull coloration of the building gives the exterior an aristocratic feel, an encase-​yourself-​from-​the-​apocalypse vibe, and that’s a shame, because it’s an eyesore. A particularly unique eyesore.