Mango7

This was a really nice trip that me and my wife decided to take since we had never been the the Southwest. I have always liked the way it looked in pictures. The desert, plants, weather and natural formations have always appealed to me. OK, enough blathering!

We arrived on Thursday night and decided to get a bite at Weinerschnitzel(?). The corn dogs there were not too bad, as well as the hotdog with everything! We then checked in at the Candlewood Suites in ABQ. It was a really decent, clean no-frills type hotel in a great location. We rented a Toyota RAV that was brand new and really fun to drive (The Enterprise guy gave us a free upgrade to this

Day 1: We decided to drive all the way down to White Sands on this day to get the long drive over with. It was a nice ride, but by the time we got there I was sick of seeing mountains already! We somehow passed the Bosque along the way unfortunately, but we were able to drive over to the VLA which was nice, but not as awesome as I thought would be. We saw a cute coyote trying to time a dash across the main road. That was more interesting than the VLA!!

The White Sands were pretty awesome and I got some wonderful photos. Man, was the sun intense--I got toasted! After an hour we decided to leave and try to make it in time to see the "Bosque". I drove like a maniac to complete a loop back to Socorro and made it in time for a sunset. I was really surprised that this type of environment existed in NM. Everything was like rice paddies. There were birds everywhere (and deer). The wife wanted to leave soon because she was afraid a mountain lion was going to attack us When we returned to the hotel we were bushed, and I had a pretty good sunburn, which was surprising since the sun didn't feel that intense. Btw, we actually tried eating at Los Cuates, but they had closed by the time we arrived. El bummero!

Sorry this initial report was lame, but things get more interesting in the following parts. Thanks for reading! Will continue tomorrow!

Kurt

easytraveler

Hi, Mango!

Great start!

It's always so great when posters come back and give a trip report after asking specific questions on certain areas. It really gives us a sense of what appeals and what doesn't.

Looking forward to a lot more!

Did you get pictures at the bosque too?

ElendilPickle

That's one heck of a day trip!

Lee Ann

follow_your_bliss

Mango, so far so good. Looking forward to more!

Mango7

Thanks ..more coming tonight.

Kurt

ellen_griswold

Enjoying your report, mango!

We too loved White Sands, soo cool! We went in july 07 when it was super HOTTT so i do know what you mean lol

Did you do any sled riding when you were there? We didn't realize until we were leaving that you can rent sleds in the gift shoppe to ride down the dunes.

A huge storm was coming in when we were leaving or we would have gone back. In our pictures, between the dark skies and the huge white dunes, you'd think it was our hometown after a major snowfall, except we're all wearing shorts

Looking forward to the next chapter of your report!

Mango7

Easy- I got some photos of the Bosque. Not fantastic, but nice. It was really serene there. We were the only ones there except for some wildlife photographers.

Lee Ann- Yes, it was an exhaustive drive. We slept like rocks after that.

Day 2 and beyond!:

I decided to spare you guys the tedium and just state what was notable on the trip.

Everything was pretty nice and we had a good time. Our taste experience of Cafe Pasquals was mediocre, but the guy at the cash register was witty and nice. The best Mexican food we had was at a nondescript place in Gallup, NM called Virgies. They also had a great Margarita. I've come to the conclusion that Mexican food is Mexican food, and is never spectacular, but just OK!

Santa Fe was an endless repetition of "art" and tourist stores. Maybe I missed the better parts! We were interested in getting authentic cowboy boots and stopped in "Back at the Ranch". Nice boots, but I was being nudged toward the $3,500 pair. All too expensive for a style that's out.

We went to the best parks and sights of NM, except for the Taos area. The last day was reserved for Taos, but we wanted something different, so we drove to AZ and the Petrified forest/Painted Desert. This was the highlight of the trip! I am especially taken by the stupendous sight and touching of a petrified log that once was a living tree standing in the midst of Dinosaurs 220 Million years ago. It was a religious experience for me, of sorts. Also, the colors and landscape of the painted desert were surreal and gorgeous. I was so tempted to take home a couple of museum-quality branches the were simply gorgeous. I fought the temptation and when I came home I was so relieved I left them where they truly belong!

We got some great photos too--Many of me way off in the distance on top of formations with huge, colorful mountain backgrounds. This was an awesome experience. I was even taken by the old Route 66, which is all grass now, but you can distinctly see where the median strip is and two lanes. Wild stuff.

We also loved seeing the native Americans. They were all so kind and seemed happy. It was amazing to see these great descendents of the original peoples of America. I thought it was hilarious to see a burgundy car on top of Acoma Sky Pueblo with a Washington Redskins sticker. I'm happy that they aren't offended by this, because really its nothing more than a statement that Indians are tough and great. We bought a blue crucifix from the Acoma Pueblo. It's beautiful!

For anyone who's never gone to NM or AZ, make sure you wear a hat and cover your body. I got sunburned up the yin-yang. I'm peeling like a snake right now!

I'm sorry I didn't give a specific report. Most of the trip was spent driving and looking at mountains and we had a nice time, but feel that there's not much to do in NM. Otherwise it seemed clean and relatively safe. Thank you for reading my report and for your helping me find the notables of NM. I appreciate it very much!

Best Regards

Kurt

Mango7

Ellen,

Funny you mention the sled. I wanted to dress up as a skier with skiis and pose on the top of a dune. That would have been funny and confused alot of people there. I got a pretty decent sunburn here and got a little dehydrated. Its so easy to get in trouble there without knowing it. I was going to buy a GPS so I could venture way out, but couldn't find one before leaving, so I didn't wander off aimlessly. Take care and thanks

Kurt

artman

I'm sorry..I just have to write this. I don't mean to come off thinking I'm better than anyone else but I think there is something to learn for people who are visiting a a new part of the country.

Mango,
How can you never have been to the southwest before and in less than one day you" sick of seeing mountains already"? How can that be? Did you pick the wrong area of the country for your interests?

Why would you drive 240 miles to White Sands just to snap some pictures and " drove like a maniac" back. Whats the point of doing that? Think what you missed in between.

" Mexican food is never spectacular but just ok" Maybe you ate at the places that were just "ok" not spectacular. Are you tlaking about Mexican Food or New Mexican Food? Did you slow down enough to even realize there is a difference?

"Santa Fe was an endless repetition of "art" and tourist stores. Maybe I missed the better parts!" ... Yes probably you did. Things only seem repetative if you know little about them.

When we visit a new experience lets slow down people, take the time to see the place, blend in with the people rather than sticking out like a crass tourist.

J62

I think Mango7's info and opinion is just fine.

Not everybody goes gaga over the same things, and it's always helpful to read about another's experience to know what to do differently.

I've taken trips where all the info I got beforehand said "you'll just love that place.." or "not a bad restaurant in town..." etc. A few caveats like his help the emptor plan a better trip.

Mango7

Art- Thank you for your opinion, but it was unfair to refer to us as being crass because we don't share the same likes (as J62 nicely suggests).

It was a nice trip, but I don't think I'll ever go back to NM. Other than the beautiful scenery, we have no interest in going there. And if there were things that were meant to be seen (that we didn't see) it wasn't mentioned on this or any other forum. And just because we weren't in profound amazement and wonder about using red AND green chili to our MEXICAN food, doesn't make us bad people. And by the way, what makes it "New Mexican" food? By the arrangement of items on the plate? Please!

Again, thanks to everyone else that help me with the trip. It was a great time and I thank you for your constructive opinions!

Kurt

artman

Kurt,
Every Local in a tourist area, in the US or abroad loves to tell stories about crass tourist and the silly even stupid things they do. Why? Because tourist who do silly and stupid things often miss the essences of a place in their rush to "see it all". I'm not making this up..ask any local. Why drive 3 hours to jump out of the car take some pictures and drive" like a maniac" someplace else? Thats a silly tourist thing.
I'm not being critical of your "likes". My post has nothing to do with questioning whether you prefer red sauce or green sauce or no sauce. I'm being critical of the way you travel. Mexican food doesn't use red or green sauce like NEW MEXICAN food does. The slop your eating at your local Chi Chi's is neither mexican nor new mexican. If you took the time in your travels..you might have been open to that interesting fact.

"And if there were things that were meant to be seen (that we didn't see) it wasn't mentioned on this or any other forum" .... Are you suggesting you saw all there was to be seen? Thats impossible. I've been traveling to NM for 6 years now and I haven't begun to see it all.

Mango7

Art,

Let's see how you look in a foreign environment for the first time. Perhaps you will be prepared to go there, but I'm sure you will stick out in one way or the other. And btw, I'm confident no-one made fun of us when we were in NM (except after I got sunburned!)

I'm sure there are countless hidden treasures in NM, but we just did not have the time since we were only there 4 days. I didn't want to miss any highlights that the posters here recommended. And also, I don't eat at crap food chains like Chili's. I ate at what was considered the best food of NM and it was just an OK experience. I'm not picky, but I know when food is high caliber and when its not. And categorizing Mexican food with green/red sauce as NM food is just silly. Perhaps I'll take some authentic Mexican food and drizzle it with a warm, spicy peanut sauce and call it "Maryland" Mexican food. For the culinary record, there is NOTHING that designates any food type as being "New Mexican". Attempts to do so is just naive and wishful.

I don't want to continue arguing our differences, but lets respect that we have them, so no insult to you.

Regards

Kurt

artman

Our goal should not be to argue. But at least lets be factual. I'll assume you have very high culinary taste...but if you say you ate at what "was considered the best" and you felt it was just ok then you must have been given bad advice. NM has a plethora of fabulous food. I'm sorry you missed it.

" For the culinary record, there is NOTHING that designates any food type as being "New Mexican". Attempts to do so is just naive and wishful."

You just keep digging your hole deeper and deeper. That is another silly tourist quotation for the book. Of course there is a thing called New Mexican cuisine. New Mexicans have been eating it for hundreds of years. And its different than Mexican food. And ask any local.

All I'm suggesting is that on your next trip follow your own path...travel...don't just run around trying to see everything someone else told you to see. Other wise whats the point? I promise you will see more, learn more and enjoy more.

Mango7

Point in last paragraph well-taken. Thanks Art

emd

Hi Kurt. I spent 5 days in Santa Fe alone recently. I wonder if you only walked around the plaza. I found that Santa Fe had the nicest local people. I met some very friendly Native Americans who were selling their jewelry (better quality than I expected) under the portals of the Governor's Palace. I ended up spending two hrs talking w/two vendors who were next to each other, they had an extra chair and I sat down btwn them. We talked about their pueblas and lives there, the cost of silver, copper, and other metals going up and what it is doing to them (that plus cost of gas to get to Santa Fe to sell their goods) , Native American languages that are only oral and the challenge of keeping them alive in a family, etc. It was fascinating, such nice people, and they were interested in hearing about my life in the D.C. area also- they asked about the fairly new Native American museum on the Natl. Mall in D.C.

I decided to skip Cafe Pasqual's, even though I had heard so much about it and had reservations, it was small and really crowded when I got there. Instead, I went to El Farol a few miles out on Canyon Rd., and met some more friendly people in one of the best restaurant/bars I have ever been to. I went there 3 nights, heard great live music each night (blues one night, rock one night, then latin, quite a mix). I met a couple of people who migrated from L.A. to Santa Fe, and a fella from Peru who is now living in Santa Fe. Very freindly and I got a feel for living in Santa Fe from talking to them (plus some tips for a trip I am planning to Peru!)

I also ate at a little unpretentious place that had very good food and was inexpensive- La Choza. The chile rellenos were good, but the sopapillas were excellent, best I've ever had.

I went out to the museums on museum hill and really enjoyed the Internatl. Museum of Folk Art. I thought it was a world class museum, just incredible exhibits of textiles, ceramics, and amazingly colorful folk art. Also, I am a fan of auditory phenomena, and there is a labyrinth outside that museum that has a major echo phenomena. At the center of the labyrinth you on top of the round center spot and speak something out loud -- anything at all. When you do, you will hear your voice echo all around your head, as if someone put a bucket over it. It blew me away!

I hiked on some of the trails out at the Audobon Center on Upper Canyon Rd. Beautiful stream and canyon hiking w/some overlooks to Santa Fe and the mountains.

I skipped the tourist shops in the Plaza area and instead went second-hand shopping at a really great find, Double Take, on Aztec Rd. several blocks from the Plaza. Great place, very interesting eclectic assortment of high quality vintage goods. Also found a Hospice Center Store on Cerillos; I like shopping at those places that do some good things w/my $$, and Santa Fe has some nice ones.

There was good free live music at the Plaza on Sat. (a male mariachi group) and Sun. (a beautiful female group of musicians and dancers, colorfully dressed). And a stand selling the best homemade tamales I've ever had for $1.50 (I forget how many of these I ate that weekend..) I ducked into some of the hisotric bldgs, Loretto chapel to see the miracle staircase, and the lovely St. Francis cathedral.

I loved Santa Fe and want to take my family back for a wk. For me, it was very colorful, fun, and interesting, and I was there long enough to tailor the time to the things I enjoy (live music, hiking, second hand vintage shopping, meeting some locals, folk art, etc.) I found it to be a very friendly, easy going, beautiful town.

Mango7

Hi EMD!

Sounds like you had a memorable time there. Perhaps I didn't research SFe well enough, but I wish I had heard your story prior to visiting. You've also made me very hungry...I'm now salivating thanks to you! (Chili Rellenos) Thanks for your insight. Perhaps if I ever have a kid I'll come to NM again. Best Regards

Kurt

ElendilPickle

Kurt, Kurt, Kurt...read and learn about New Mexican cuisine.

http://tinyurl.com/ycgc56

Lee Ann

easytraveler

Hi, Elen: Thanks for the link to New Mexican cuisine! Very interesting reading!

Hi, EMD, we're planning on going to the Balloon Festival some time and will definitely look up the places that you mentioned in Santa Fe. Thanks for sharing!

Mango: four days is not muh time, no wonder you were rushing about. Some day, when you ahve more time, I hope you will return to New Mexico and discover it at a slower pace to savor its true offerings.

Mango7

Thanks Lee Ann. Hope no-one got insulted by my posts.

EMD- Perhaps one day we'll return. I definitely needed a couple more days!

Regards

Kurt