Something New…Mexico

Our backyard for the next few days…

I had intended to blog a lot last night and catch up on the trip so far…but I got a bit tired, and went to sleep with the light on!

A couple of weeks ago, I started casting about for a trip…where to go..where to go…and realized that northern New Mexico is someplace I’d never been.

I also thought…what with Breaking Bad starting back up soon, a trip to the ABQ just might be in order, right?

(See previous post)

What followed was the usual late-night endless slog through Kayak, B & B listings and VRBO.  I say “slog,” but I probably shouldn’t because the word implies something unpleasant, when that research phase of the trip is something I weirdly enjoy way too much.

We flew into ABQ on Friday – an uneventful Southwest flight from BHM to Dallas to there.  Picked up the rental car and started immediately north on 25.  I thought we’d save the ABQ part for the end of the trip. (I keep writing ABQ because I don’t want to stop every time and figure out how to spell the entire word…).

(I’d been to ABQ once before..years ago when I was probably around 3.  Probably when we were living in Lubbock.   My aunt – my dad’s sister – and her family lived there most of their adult lives, moving to Clovis after retirement, I think.)

Stopping for some important need at a Walgreens at Bernanillo, I did a quick Yelp search and took us to Abuelita’s New Mexican Restaurant – very good!

Then in just 30 more minutes – careful to obey the speed limits through the pueblos, as the guidebooks had warned -  we were here.

A very easy hike to see some astonishing natural formations – the result of the remains of dozens of volcanic eruptions millions of years ago being worn away by whipping winds and water.  We did both hikes – the boys definitely loved the slot canyon route the most.

It was hot, but really not too bad at all – we were there very late afternoon -probably left around 5:30.  At every turn, people have been complaining about this being the hottest early summer on record here and asking how we are standing here and I just keep telling them that this is pleasant compared to over 100 degrees in Alabama humidity…

(The dryness is interesting…the only affect on me so far is with my eyes.  By late afternoon, I am really feeling it and wonder if I could even wear contacts if I lived out here…)

Anyway, Tent Rocks is a wonderful, accessible place.  Did our roadschooling thing – talking about igneous and sedimentary rocks.  Re-narrating our New Mexico history (I think they might be more knowledgeable about the history of this state by the time we leave than they are about Alabama – it’s a bit easier to remember, actually, with the various regime changes)…

Then it was back down to 25 and to our home for the next couple of days…lovely.

More on that later.  Today we’re in a different spot and are going to Bandelier…gotta go.