Ms Dozey's Daily Diary - 6

Day Eleven

What a mistake to make.... the Cactus Motel was a fine place to stay but when you fancy a chocolate bar and find the closest town is 20 miles behind or 35 ahead, you realise how remote you are. 

En route to our next stop in New Mexico we stopped off at huge religious cross and sculptures representing the persecution of Christ.  They were very well done in bronze although the cross itself was corrugated white metal.  We also stopped at the Cadillac Ranch and a more obscure one with buried VW Beetles.
That was a bit dilapidated but we did have it all to ourselves.

We have now passed  through the Midpoint of the tour which was a great photo opportunity. We are staying at another period hotel the Blue Swallow, in Tucumcari.. This town is a blend of disused motels and much-used ones with period cars parked outside.  It was the first time we had a room with just one bed since The Wagon Wheel – the city hotels tend to have  two kings in the room.

Day Twelve

It was a much cooler day today with the temperature at 66 when we left.  We had fewer stops on the way to Santa Fe.  There was a shaky moment when we found ourselves on a forty-plus  mile stretch of road with no filling stations and about sixty miles worth left  in the tank.  The road was long, no winding turns, and a quite anxious time wondering where the next filling station was.  We discussed who would hitch to get petrol and who would stay with the car and all combinations in between. 

The motel is what I would call Tex-Mex, lots of terracotta tiles and heavy wood furniture.  It is very well situated although due to overhanging vines from the veranda, was really dark inside.

We went down to the station to check out the trains (big, double deckers) and take a few photos and get on one in its 15 minute stop over.   I don’t think the conductor understood my accent but he did pose for a photo with me!

This weekend there is a fiesta in Santa Fe so we are looking forward to a colourful day tomorrow.

Day Thirteen

We spent the day looking around Santa Fe which is very much a window shopping destination – a lot of hand crafted goods and high end shops.  It is a bit like the Bond Street of New Mexico. 

Interestingly I have met two other vegetarians here; the menus are very good for non meat eaters and I think I am now integrated with the Tex Mex life style having rice, green chilli sauce and beans for breakfast
today.  The chilli was quite hot (for me) but I don’t think I will get another chance to enjoy authentic food like this so really wanted to try it.

In the evening we walked to the square to enjoy the fiesta with a friendly atmosphere of singing, dancing and street cooking.

Day Fourteen

We enjoyed another lovely breakfast before setting off to Gallup.  We had quite a lot of stops on the way including Albuquerque with its Old Town. This is very much a photo opportunity and with a Wild West shoot out being enacted, made a great stop off. We also managed to get alongside one of the long goods trains (130 trailers)  to video it passing by.

The hotel here has had many famous guests from the Hollywood Western hey  day including John Wayne,
Robert Mitchum, and James Stewart.  I think the only survivor from their wall of fame of signed photos is Doris Day and a more recent stay of Jill St John. Gallup is also the Indian Capital of the World and home of the Navajo.