Slowing Down Southwest Style

Is your hectic life style getting you down?  This blog post describes a short trip my husband, Wayne, and I recently took to alleviate that very problem.  Fortunately, the Desert Southwest provides multiple opportunities for short, relaxing getaways.

We left early on a Thursday driving east from El Paso, letting wide open spaces and distant mountains bring us out of our morning stupor.  Before we knew it, we had arrived in the small West Texas town of Van Horn.  Margie's Bakery provided us with coffee and breakfast.  Another hour and a half drive, and we were in Alpine, Texas, home of Wayne's alma mater, Sul Ross State University.

Our first stop was at the Museum of the Big Bend, located on the attractive Sul Ross campus.

Museum of the Big Bend

We learned about Native American pictographs, early settlers of the region, and mining operations.  I especially enjoyed the depiction of a primitive kitchen.

Settler's kitchen

We arrived at our final destination, Ft. Davis, in the afternoon and checked into a room in the Orchard Suites of the Limpia Hotel.

Limpia Hotel, Ft. Davis

The next three days we spent like typical tourists, sightseeing, shopping, and dining, We also found the quiet atmosphere conducive to writing and were glad we had brought laptops to work on our next book, Forts, Farbs, and Phantoms. 

Both Alpine and Ft. Davis are built around impressive courthouses.

Courthouse in Ft. Davis

Courthouse in Alpine

We had a variety of dining experiences, from a small restaurant in Alpine that had great food along with their own ideas about how to prepare and serve it,

Restaurant signs

to the elegant Bistro at the Hotel Limpia for an evening meal.

Bistro, Hotel Limpia

Short drives around the area provided many photo ops.

Ft. Davis, wonderfully preserved from the 19th century

Windmill and tank

Horses, waiting to be fed?

Deserted House

Mattie, a Blue Heeler visiting from Virginia

What I can't depict in photos is the blissful peace of the Alpine-Ft. Davis area.  We slowed down and let time flow on its own.

Now my mind has a happy place to return to as I face the everyday challenges of a busy life.