This blog gives details and useful information about our trip to New Mexico.
We have booked the car but during pandemic we were not sure we will get it. Our experience at the Enterprise car rental checkout was wonderful. The guy at the counter was not only very friendly but also helped us with the car we chose. Not just him but the backup team was also very helpful. It is true that all these people who you interact with when you come to town, project a persona of the town. We felt good to be in Albuquerque.
We had planned to go north to stay in Farmington near Bisti Badlands. My aunt had told me about the Bisti Badlands and I had dragged our friends to come with us to visit so a lot was riding on how it was going to turn out. The hotel we went to in Farmington was reasonably good, It had a pool and a hot tub, which all of us were happy to enjoy after a 3 hour drive from Albuquerque to Farmington.
We had expected Farmington to be a small town, not knowing much about New Mexico, but Farmington was a decent size town and an Olive Garden close to the hotel put us in a good mood. The waiter again was very friendly and gave us a recommendation for another Mexican restaurant close by.
Next morning, was the moment of truth about how this Bisti Badlands was going to turn out. We first went to the visitor center to get more information about the place. I am glad we went there first, because when we reached Bisti, there was no information there.
We decided to take the first walk to see the cracked eggs formation. After seeing the formation, we did not know what more it had to offer. We went to the parking lot and saw that there was a board on the other side. When we went close to the board. we decided to go a bit further to see what was ahead and the land invited us to go further. We circled the rock garden and Walla, we were in another world. There was nothing there. but the nothingness was overwhelming. It encompassed us so much that I did not want to come back, I wanted to go further, and further, I wanted to sit there and just meditate. I envisioned how the universe was formed here. The nothingness had it's own sound, it's own vista. The closest I can describe it as is the moon scape but for a place where so little was advertised, this place certainly had an huge impact on me. And not just me but all 4 of us came out saying, I am glad we went this route. This was out of the world. The pictures won't do any justice to the actual environment. but I need to show you what it is. It is the overall impact that this environment has, that matters, that is why I am writing the blog. Hope more people go there and get this out of the world experience.
Then the next day we went to Albuquerque.
Last time we had stayed in the old town in Albuquerque , so this time we stayed in the new town. Both have their own charms. Albuquerque looked like a decent size city with overall good temperature thru out the year.
Everybody knows about Santa Fe near Albuquerque. That is an artistic town with small adobe houses and a small art displays and galleries everywhere. it is about 2 hours drive from Albuquerque. A town you have to visit when you go to New Mexico.
Next we drove south, almost close to the south border next to Mexico. We stayed in a small town called Las Cruces. We stayed in The Best Western there, Weather was perfect. The air was filled with freshness, Aloe Vara plants were thriving. Our hotel also had a staff that was very friendly. and the at breakfast they server biscuits and gravy which was delicious. A southern hospitality was abound.
We went to White Sand National Park the next day. We were there on a full moon day and took a tour of White sand on a full moon night, the sand was white, but like a dessert sand, I was worried it was going to be cold, but the sand here does not get too cold. In the afternoon it does not get too hot due to the water table under the sand. What a fun thing to walk in the sand. They have tested Mar's expedition in the White Sand National park. Lots of hikes, beautiful vista, you can decide how much you want to go. This is a new national park but the park guides were very knowledgeable about the park and the geology of the park.
I am sure glad I pulled our friends to come with us. We return back from El Paso airport which saved us a long drive back to Albuquerque. While doing these long drive north and south, you have to pass thru Indian reservations and what pleased me to see was that the these reservations seemed like working reservations, They had agriculture, solar power generators, It was a work in progress but it was good to see these reservations on the way too.
In all New Mexico left a good impression in our mind. When we arrived in Albuquerque, they welcomed us to the land of enchantment and I was skeptical about it but after spending a week in the state, I believe it.
