New Mexico - Mesilla and San Xavier del Bac

Antique Store, Old Town Mesilla, NM.

San Xavier del Bac Mission. The light here was amazing in the early morning.

I imagine about 4pm would be an exceptional time also with the angle of light passing in the sky

Artesia NM to Post Tx, Post,

Artesia is a mixed town in New Mexico ...... with lots of pretty houses and some a little rougher.

If you need a place to stay here, stop with Sue Keho at the Heritage Inn. The Hotel was comfortable, cosy and Sue very helpful and welcoming. She recommnded the Wellhead as a great place to eat, and she was dead right - the food was excellent

As we left town, some of the locals watched us to ensure we left the property....

In Post we couldnt believe how pretty the town was. We had planned to stay at the Hotel Garza, but stayed instead at Rusty's Cottage as the Garza was packed. The hosts here Jim and Janice Plimmer, a lovely couple but I have to say....Rustys Cottage was perfect for a romantic weekend away ! You can find out more through the Garza website - they teed everything up for us...

The roads in Texas stretch forever. I thought New Mexico was empty but when we crossed the state line to Tx, the grass greened up yet the roads just seem to go forever........

Lordsburg,Truth or Consequences,Hatch to Mesilla, NM

Lordsburg NM has certainly seen better days, but the people were friendly and the Comfort Inn was a great night sleep. Everything here is big -including the trucks. We spotted a new dump tray heading for the mines

Steins Ghost Town was a little bit weird. Heavily advertised and promoted, we arrived to find it "closed" behind gates and fences.... more ghostly than most


The desert throws up huge dust storms about 15 days of the year, and we drove for hours in swirls of sand that reduced visiblity. You ould then come out the other side into bright blue sky.

We chose a smaller road to get to Truth or Consequences. The most boring mindless drive with nothing to see, with the exception of Hatch. Chillies everywhere ! and right on the banks of the Rio Grande....

Truth or Consequences was fun. We sat in a private hotpool naked in 106 degree water watching the Rio Grande pass by, we also had some terrific Mexican food at a diner picked at random. It didnt look much from the outside but we have learnt that doesnt mean alot - some of our best meals have come from scary looking exteriors.

Las Cruces was dull overall, and not what we expected but then we did get lost a few times and the dust was still blowing. But we stayed at the Meson de Mesilla in the old town. The boutique hotel was hugely disappointing, and a series of problems mean we would never return. However we had a great meal at Paisano - pecan crusted chicken salad with raspberry sauce.Oh yum ! click the link and check out the menu - not open for dinner - just lunch.

Old town Mesilla was beautiful, and the surrounding countryside pretty. A little run down in places but that was the charm ,and it made up for Las Cruces. We spent large at Stahmans Pecan farm - the largest growers in the world. The trees made the surrounds shady and green.

San Diego, Yuma, Bisbee to Lorsdburg

Loved San Diego, and catching up with John and Tom, Lauren ,Sean and Mimi over dinner. I loved the food at Casa Guadalahara, and all the margaritas. Oh, Oh !!!








From there next day we headed over the mountains East, climbing to 4100 feet and down below sea level, and stopped at Yuma in Arizona. WOW. Stepped out of the car and opened my mouth, and found the air so hot my mouth dried instantly. It was 37 degrees, dead dry. The whole time we walked around we couldnt sweat. There are parts of Yuma that are run down, and great just the way they are.







Reluctantly, we pushed on for Tucson and stayed at the Hotel Congress


The Congress is an old timer, with a helluva past and a current hotspot every night. Quirky, lousy shower, fabulous food and great hospitality. We'd stay there again anytime !


From Tucson we checked out the Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum. Well worth seeing,stunning scenery and staffed by alot of volunteers who donate time to educate all the people who visit. Its reached on the really narrow-assed road, where its possible to try the local sport - cactus slapping.



The cactus grows so close to the road that if you stick out your hand you can slap it real hard on the way past - but only recommended if you have a very high tolarance for pain, and exceptional medical insurance !!!! Cactus slapping is not a pussy sport




We left Tucson today, the 29th April, visiting San Xavier Bac, the Titan Missile Museum ( Kim launched a missile and killed the world). Whoa - very cool!





Still no sweat in the 35 degree temperature. To Tombstone (over rated and living on its past reputation), to Bisbee - the Copper Queen is a grand old lady, then down to Douglas, taking the minor road to Lordsburg. Highly recommended ! At first the views aren't great, but the vistas as you close Arizona and head to New Mexico become stunning. Lonely roads, we passed just 12 cars in all those miles, but the views are to die for.