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Albuquerque N.M. – An Albuquerque man is gaining a growing following for his YouTube channel, where he documents his explorations of abandoned tunnels and sites in the city’s International District. The channel, run by 67-year-old retiree Alejandro Marentes under the name Buggs Photography, offers viewers a unique look at New Mexico’s hidden, urban landscapes.
Marentes, who has been drawn to urban exploration for as long as he can remember, enjoys venturing into tunnels, abandoned buildings, and ghost towns across the state. “It’s like an adventure every time I get on my bike or enter a new tunnel,” Marentes shared. “I wonder what’s inside, and I find the graffiti especially interesting.”
Earlier this year, Marentes began sharing his explorations on YouTube. Initially, his channel gained a modest following of around 600 subscribers by August. However, his subscriber count has skyrocketed to 4,000, driven largely by his videos exploring Albuquerque’s tunnels and biking through the city’s “war zone.” “The videos of the tunnels and the bike rides are the most popular,” he said.
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Despite the sometimes unsettling situations, like encountering individuals signaling him to stop, Marentes continues to venture into these abandoned places. “There was someone banging a pipe, a signal for me not to go further,” he recalled. “I just turned around and ended the video. But these rare occurrences don’t stop me.”
Marentes recently monetized his channel, and October turned out to be his most profitable month, earning $3,000. He’s quick to say, however, that even without the income, he would still explore these places for the love of it. “If I make 100 bucks, that’s great, but I’m doing something I enjoy,” he said.
In addition to his local explorations, Marentes recently ventured to El Paso, Texas, where he discovered an underground bus, adding a new element to his growing YouTube content.
