Every so often, and lately with increasing frequency, we find ourselves in need of a little getaway. Usually, a few days away from the familiar surroundings of home are enough to shake off the old stuck-at-home blues. So, we decided it was time for a three-day road trip to Las Cruces, New Mexico. Once the destination was settled, Barb worked her usual magic, securing us two complimentary nights at the local Hilton and dinner reservations for both evenings at La Posta de Mesilla. Not a bad way to get a little change of scenery, especially when Barb does all the heavy lifting!
Having packed a few things the night before, we were on the road by 7:15. The first leg of the drive was quite pleasant, taking State Highway 85 south to Gila Bend and then heading east on Interstate 8. Both roads had very little traffic and only an occasional semi-truck to interrupt the scenery. In fact, over the roughly 51 miles from Gila Bend to Interstate 10, I passed a grand total of eight semi-trucks. On Interstate 10, that represents about 60 seconds’ worth of traffic. So far, we were off to a very civilized start.
Of course, all good things must come to an end, and once we hit the Interstate, the semi-trucks and city traffic made their inevitable return. The scenery also underwent a transformation, going from what I like to call “not lived in” to “lived in.” I have to admit, I sometimes prefer the former. The outskirts of most cities rarely provide an especially flattering introduction to what lies beyond. Between the traffic and the scenery, it was probably another 100 miles before we finally returned to the welcome sight of “not lived in.” And I was happy to see it.
Barb, being the high-tech person she is, discovered that Hilton allows guests to use their phones to select their room, choose a floor, and download a digital room key. No stopping at the front desk, no waiting in line, and no exchanging pleasantries with the desk clerk. Just walk straight to your room, flash your phone at the door, and you’re in. And, much to my amazement, it actually works! Apparently, Barb has brought us into the 21st century, whether I’m ready or not.
Tonight’s restaurant is in the town of Mesilla, New Mexico. Founded in 1848, Mesilla is laid out much like many of the older towns throughout the Southwest. At its center is a plaza, traditionally surrounded by government buildings and, quite often, a church. Much of the original adobe architecture remains, giving the plaza a distinctly old Southwest character. Of course, time and commerce have worked their magic, and today most of those buildings house shops offering Native American and Southwestern pottery, jewelry, clothing, and just about anything else a tourist might be tempted to carry home. In short, Mesilla has become quite the tourist attraction, and the old plaza is right at the heart of it.
Today, however, was a little different. Although several streets surrounding the plaza were blocked off, we could see that some sort of activity had taken over the plaza itself. After finally finding a parking spot, we headed over to investigate. What we found was quite a sight. Tables of all shapes, sizes, and decorations had been set up throughout the plaza. Each was covered with photographs and memorabilia. One table, for example, featured pictures and assorted memorabilia from Star Wars. Now, that certainly caught my attention.
Curiosity finally got the better of me, and I asked a woman who was setting up one of the tables what was going on. She explained that it was the “Day of the Dead” celebration, or Día de los Muertos, a traditional Mexican observance honoring deceased family members and loved ones. The tables were actually memorial displays, or ofrendas, each dedicated to someone who had passed away. Some contained only a handful of photographs, while others displayed 25 or more, along with mementos representing the interests, passions, and experiences that had been part of those lives. Every table told a story, and no two were quite alike. It was a fascinating and rather unexpected discovery. We had come to Mesilla for dinner and stumbled into something considerably more interesting.any.
We have had dinner at La Posta several times in the past and it had always been outstanding. Today it was not. In fact, the dinner and traffic/parking around the plaza convinced us to cancel tomorrow's reservation. Enough said about that.
A less-than-memorable dinner got me thinking about just how much I had disliked today’s drive. So, I asked Barb if she might be interested in taking a different route home. With Monday free and nothing tying us to our original plans, she agreed. It didn’t take her long to work her magic, and before I knew it, we had reservations at our favorite hotel in Gallup, New Mexico. If nothing else, we’re a flexible couple. Our plans may not always survive the day, but we’re pretty good at coming up with new ones.
Tomorrow we’re headed for Hatch, New Mexico, the chile capital of the world. Salsa and pecans are on the shopping list, so this should be a worthwhile stop. Any opportunity to escape the At-Home Blues is a good one, and despite my less-than-enthusiastic review of today’s drive, it’s been a pretty good day after all.
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