From Austin to Las Cruces, we struck out west on 290 through Texas Hill Country and passed the LBJ Ranch along the banks of the Pedernales River. Continuing on I-10 through west Texas and the city of El Paso (just across the Rio Grande from the drug-war riddled Mexican town of Juarez), we ended up in Las Cruces, NM. late in the afternoon.
Peg was impressed with the wrought iron entry door to our hotel.
The historic village of Old Mesilla is close by, and we went there for a couple of meals, and for the Cinco de Mayo Fiesta. Many of the Fiesta dancers were outfitted in striking costumes.
Mesilla was a lively social center in the 1880s. People came from as far as Chihuahua and Tucson to attend bailes (dances), bullfights, cockfights and theatrical presentations. The town attracted more than its share of violence, and differences were often settled in the streets with guns. Outlaws such as Dutch Hubert, Nicolas Provencio and Billy the Kid frequented many of the bars and dances in town.
In April of 1881, Billy the Kid was tried at the Mesilla courthouse and sentenced to hang. He soon escaped from jail, but was shot to death by Lincoln County Sheriff Pat Garrett on July 14.
More Cinco de Mayo dancers
Typical fiesta fare.
These lovely girls were eager to be photographed!
Exquisite costume details
Mariachi con gusto!
The famous chile rellenos at Chopes in La MesaIt is a pleasant drive from Mesilla to La Mesa past farms and Pecan plantations, most of them owned by Stahmanns http://www.stahmanns.com/
Our primary purpose in visiting La Mesa was to visit Chopes, a quasi-ramshackle diner serving up incredible food. We both opted for the chile rellenos. They were delicious.
The Chopes bar and dining room are in separate buildings. Tip: If you prefer smoke free and quiet dining, try the dining room, shown in the background at the far side of the parking lot.
Diners enjoy cold beer with hot chile, in large or small bottles.
Colorful ristras at the Las Cruces market
Las Cruces Colonnade
Lively quartet at the market
A monk plays solo
Hotel breakfast area
Nachos at Si Senor, with four dips!http://www.sisenorpdx.com/index.shtml
Just north of Las Cruces is Hatch, NM, home to the world's best chile peppers. We stopped here at the Chile Fanatic to stock up on dried chiles, ristras, and salsa. Their pecans were good too!
Just north of Las Cruces is Hatch, NM, home to the world's best chile peppers. We stopped here at the Chile Fanatic to stock up on dried chiles, ristras, and salsa. Their pecans were good too!http://www.hatchchilefest.com/
Ristras as wreaths and crosses
View towards Alamogordo from Cloudcroft.
School kids sledding at White Sands National Monument
Peg in the dunes
The visitors center
Center & Museum
Looking down the White Sands missile range
Ristras as wreaths and crosses
View towards Alamogordo from Cloudcroft.
School kids sledding at White Sands National Monument
Peg in the dunes
The visitors center
Center & Museum
Looking down the White Sands missile rangehttp://www.wsmr.army.mil/wsmr.asp
San Augustin pass in the Organ Mountains, east of Las Cruces
Authentic Mexican dinner at El Comedor in Mesilla with the "Christmas" treatment
(red AND green chile)
Buck Wagon in Old Mesilla
San Augustin pass in the Organ Mountains, east of Las Cruces
Authentic Mexican dinner at El Comedor in Mesilla with the "Christmas" treatment(red AND green chile)
Buck Wagon in Old Mesilla
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