Preparing for New Mexico

Hi All,  

I'm heading to the ABQ!  I really wanted to do the Breaking Bad tour, but maybe next time!  How many of you were mildly annoyed by the mid-season break, and now we find out that it won't resume until August!  That show is great and it's so cool how it's supporting character, New Mexico, is so understated.  It subtly enchants us as it does in real life.  

I'm planning a pretty active trip. Las Cruces. Silver City, Santa Fe, Deming, Chacon, and of course a few hours in the ABQ to sample good food from Las Cuates.  I know some people don't like it because it is a a semi-chain restaurant, but their Chile Relleno has been delicious every time I've tried it.  I'm open to suggestions for your favorite New Mexican fare.   I'll eat more locally as I go, bit now it's tradition to start my NM adventure at Las Cuates.  

I'm going to ride into the Gila with an Apache interpreter, ride with friends, hike, shop, cafe sit and hang out with the locals.    I'll attempt to do an audio diary, and if I can, will blog and post photos from my IPad.  Check back, and please do comment!  

The focus is sharing travel stories, but we can talk about our personal journeys through life.  You don't always have to buy a ticket to travel.  So if you can't do your own travel, travel vicariously through me!  I promise it will be fun!

Until the next post from the ABQ.  Ciao!

HDL

Why Do We Travel?

Why do we travel for pleasure?  Let's face it, the actual activity of traveling to a destination can be loathsome, especially at the airport.  Even after all that stress in the airport, we stuff ourselves into tiny seats, next to people we probably would never talk to or want to, for the next two, three, six hours or more, breathing the same recycled air!  We eat all the wrong foods when we are traveling to our destinations, and usually arrive exhausted.  Only to hear, "How was your flight?"  People mean well, but don't you want to just say, "What do you think?"  In reality, people only want to hear, "It was fine." or "Good."

But we've arrived at our destinations, and we can relax!  Can't we?  Oh no, you've got to arrange your transfers from the airport or rent a car.  More fun, and we're now maybe six or seven hours into it.  

We get the car and we're on our way.  With all the technology out there, you could land almost anywhere in the United States, and be gently guided by our GPS to our hotels or bed and breakfast.  

Now the stress is melting away...  

With all that stress, I still say why do we do it?  Because we love to experience new things!  We want to learn about different cultures, see different architecture and observe and experience just a little bit how the locals live.  We want to meet new people!  We want to visit iconic places, not always just to say we did, but more to satisfy that craving to see what others have created and enjoyed.  Other times, we go just to get away from our ho hum lives of work and family.  

Are you a solo traveler? Or do you like to drag the family along?  I once met a French woman who was married with children, but preferred to take at least one vacation solo. (No, she didn't have a secret lover).   She said she came back refreshed and rejuvenated. (Really, she didn't!)  I didn't much understand that at the time, but once you've had a few bad travel partners, you always want to fly solo.  Depending on where you go, you meet so many nice people, you're really not alone that much, especially if they can meet you for dinner.

I've traveled all over Europe and Canada, recently returned from Costa Rica, and have fallen head over heels in love with our American Southwest.  I have traveled extensively across these United States, but am stalled in the environs of the ABQ!  It's hard to move on when there's so much to see!

Why do you travel?  What's your favorite destination?  What's your favorite travel activity?  Whose your favorite travel buddy?  Feel free to share some photo's of your favorite places to go.  



High Desert Lotus