Signs In Corrales NM set the mood

A too-busy summer and triple-digit temperatures in our home town of El Paso, Texas had my husband, Wayne, and I packing overnight bags for a long weekend getaway to Corrales, New Mexico. Corrales is a small farming community (population around 9,000) located near the much larger metropolis of Albuquerque.  Wayne discovered Corrales several years ago when he took a wrong turn in Albuquerque and ended up on a peaceful, shady road that he couldn't wait to return to. This trip was our second visit to Corrales.

Entering Corrales

Corrales has many of the elements that I enjoy in life — farms, animals, trees, and adobe architecture. And it occurred to me as we drove into town that the road signs of Corrales set the mood for a nostalgic experience.

Speed Limit Sign in Corrales

First were the speed limit signs, demanding that you slow down to 25 mph.  25 mph!  That is horse and buggy speed!  As Wayne hit the brake, I began appreciating the passing landscape and taking note of places to return to.  The hostess of the Sandhill Crane Bed and Breakfast, where we stayed this trip, reminded us to obey the lower speed limits and added that local police are often on the lookout for out of state license plates!  Fellow Texans, beware!

Another speed limit sign in Corrales

On smaller roads, you almost have to ride the brake to achieve the 15 mph limit.  I must admit this is a more relaxing world than a 75 mph interstate driving experience.

Watch for tractors sign

A tractor sign took me back to my childhood days growing up on a cotton farm in Clint, Texas.

Tractor in field

A tractor parked outside a house reminded me that this is a working farming community.

Horseback riders road sign

The rider on horseback on a sign outside of Hannah and Nate's Restaurant (not to be missed!) was a pleasant reminder that transportation by car is not the only way to travel.

Bicycle road sign

Bicycles welcome in Corrales!

Pedestrian walking sign

Or you can even experience Corrales on your own two feet.

We had an idyllic stay in Corrales.  No pressure, no schedule, no must-do tourist sites, although we did keep well entertained with live music at the gazebo in Old Town, Albuquerque and a tour of the Unser Family Museum in nearby Rio Rancho.

My best memories of this Corrales trip are sitting outside on a patio in early morning gazing at the Sandia Mountains, creeping along small lanes and gaining decorating inspiration from southwestern style houses and yards, and the quiet.  Ah, the quiet!

Rosa's Cantina - El Paso, Texas

Sometimes it takes out of town visitors to pry you out of your comfort zone.  Our friends, Charlotte and Pierre Thibaudeau, visiting from the province of Quebec, mentioned they think of us every time they hear the Marty Robbins 1959 song "El Paso."  And can we go to Rosa's Cantina as one of our outings, they suggested? 

My husband, Wayne, and I had never been to Rosa's. although we had heard good reports recently about the quality of the food.   Taking guests to a restaurant that hasn't been thoroughly vetted can be a dangerous practice.  But the online reviews looked good with four stars, so we piled in the car and headed to West El Paso. 

A sign on the side of an old rock building announced that "Rosa's Cantina Food" adds life.  As if on cue, when we opened the front door and walked in, Marty Robbins was again singing "El Paso."  Two gentlemen who entered as the same time were discussing the history of the song.  And as we sat down, I heard two other customers exchanging information on the legendary El Paso basketball coach for the University of Texas at El Paso, Don Haskins (1966 NCAA champs).  Wow!  Were we part of a Chamber of Commerce tour?

The restaurant was spacious with ample seating at tables covered with red-checked tablecloths.

A large bar at the back of the restaurant was empty at the noon hour, but I imagined that nighttime brought life to that area.

Our table opted for iced tea all around and two orders of nachos.  Ordering nachos in El Paso is often like a role of the dice.  Too often one is served a plateful of commercial corn chips with canned yellow cheese poured over the top.  But fortunately, not this time.  The nachos were picture perfect, corn tostadas topped with refried beans, grated cheese, lettuce, and tomato, with side containers of guacamole and sour cream.  Sliced pickled jalapeños were not included, but the waitress cheerfully provided a plate of them (fresh!) on request.  Our friend Charlotte speculated on the amount of calories contained in a plate of nachos, but I extolled the nutritional value of beans, lettuce, tomatoes and jalapeños, perhaps relieving some of her guilt.

The feeling of being a tourist must have affected all of us in the group.  Yes, souvenirs were for sale.  How about a sign for a garage wall to remember our visit? Yes, Pierre thought that would be just the thing.

Wayne checked on buying a T-shirt for a friend from Virginia but decided to wait until short-sleeved shirts were available.  (El Paso springtime warm weather has only recently arrived, so only long-sleeved were on sale.)

As we left the restaurant in high spirits, Marty was again singing "El Paso."  Just in case a reader of this blog post hasn't hear the song, here is a YouTube video that will have you singing about my home town.

"El Paso"

Ah! Autumn in New Mexico!

Autumn weather has not yet arrived in my home town of El Paso, Texas, even though the calendar says it should have arrived weeks ago.  No worries!  A four-day trip to our neighboring state of New Mexico fulfilled my longing for colorful leaves, crisp air, and fragrant burning piñon wood.

My husband, Wayne, and I recently made a road trip to meet family members in the small town of Chama, New Mexico for a nostalgic ride on the Cumbres and Toltec Railroad.

Our first ride on this historic railroad was several years ago.  The experience was so unforgettable that we were inspired to write a novella about a fictional train robbery on the line. (Rails, Robbers and Wraiths, by Wayne and Linda Calk, available on amazon.com)

Chama is within striking distance of El Paso by car, about seven and a half hours as the crow flies. Not being the efficient travelers that crows are, we made the trip in about nine and a half hours, including a stopover for shopping at the REI store in Albuquerque.

Travelers in other parts of the world may consider a road trip of that length too long, but in the Southwest, it is not unusual. Traffic is usually light, and roads are good, that is, with the exception of the unpaved road we encountered between Cuba, New Mexico and Chama.  Our reward for bouncing around in the car for about 20 miles was the view of a large dam and long bridge, which led us to pavement again.

Arriving in Chama, we found our hotel, the Chama Station Inn, and settled in for an evening in front of the kiva fireplace.

The next morning we rode the train from Chama NM to Antonito,CO with a stopover in Osier for a home-style meal for lunch.

The scenery was engaging, with aspens displaying golden autumn finery. Good photo ops were plentiful, especially when the train rounded a curve.

Our next stop was Santa Fe, NM, where we stayed at a new hotel to us, the Hotel Chimayó, well located right off the central plaza. Breakfast the next morning was a splurge at La Plazuela, the dining room of the Hotel La Fonda on the Plaza.

Santa Fe offers a variety of activities for tourists.  In one day, we visited a folk art store, relaxed in the plaza, shopped at a Farmer's Market in the newly developed Railyard District, and even took in a movie in the new Velvet Crown theater.

That evening we were sitting at an outdoor cafe, sharing chips and salsa, when we heard the sound of drums coming from the plaza.  Three young performers were drumming and chanting for a small attentive crowd.  I felt transported to another time and culture.

Another day's drive and we were back in our home town with memories of train whistles, autumn colors, spicy food, and Native American drums.  How fortunate we are to live in the Southwest where a diversity of cultures and experiences can be found within a day's drive.

Can you tell I love New Mexico in autumn?

Serendipity on the San Antonio River Walk

"A visit to San Antonio, Texas in August?" I asked myself.  Blazing heat, high humidity, heavy traffic, no downtown parking, crowds of tourists - the list of reasons that I really didn't want to go to San Antonio in the summertime grew and grew.  I conjured up a miserable visit.  My husband Wayne had business dealings in a small town south of San Antonio this week. I was secretly hoping he could get his business done quickly so we could return home as soon as possible.

Thank goodness the Grinch didn't take complete control of my personality when Wayne's business was delayed for several hours.  Desperate for entertainment, we drove into San Antonio and headed for the River Walk area about 9:00 am. Traffic wasn't heavy, parking was readily available, and there was a cool breeze blowing. Good start!

First on the agenda was breakfast by the river. We crossed through the grounds of the Alamo, promising ourselves to return a little later in the day, and passed through the lobby of the Hyatt Hotel to access the walk. I must admit that first view of the river always takes my breath away.

We strolled along the river and stopped in for breakfast at a restaurant with outdoor seating .

Between watching the ducks in the water and the fellow tourists on the walking path, we stayed well entertained and ordered a second cup of coffee.

Barges plied the river, some already full of tourists of all ages enjoying themselves, and some advertising for customers. Restaurants were preparing for lunch or dinner guests later in the day.

As we walked further around the river, I especially enjoyed watching the animals who lived there. There were squirrels with long fluffy tails who scampered among the plants. White or brown ducks glided quietly through the water.

And birds watched patiently for dropped crumbs from diners' tables.

Being card-carrying Texans, we made our pilgrimage to the Alamo.  The grounds of the Alamo are beautifully landscaped.  I felt a mantle of calm fall on my shoulders as I admired all of the green, so different from our landscapes in the western part of the state.

'Serependity' is defined as "the gift of finding valuable or agreeable things not sought for."  The visit to San Antonio was a bit of serendipity in our lives.  Thank goodness I didn't talk myself out of this great experience.