We left Albuquerque on Saturday morning just as the front
of a major storm was blowing in. The
drive south on the interstate was windy, but not as bad as it would become
later in the day or on Sunday. We made
it safely to Las Cruces where we checked into a Drury Inn to wait out the
severe weather. Drury Inns have become
our refuge from bad weather, and we have enjoyed these hotels. The fact that they allow pets without a
separate fee adds to their appeal. We
are taking advantage of our spacious king suite, which is a nice little break
from the RV. I’m not sure where we’ll take
shelter after we leave New Mexico, however, as there are no Drury Inns on the
west coast. I guess the weather will
just have to behave.
Yesterday morning was windy, but not bad, and we ventured
out to Mesilla for lunch. Mesilla is a
pretty historic town with a good assortment of New Mexican and Mexican
restaurants (there is a difference). As
we were eating, we noticed the skies getting dark. The wind storm had arrived, and with it came
blowing dust. The skies were brown, and
it was a bit eerie. We headed back to
the hotel where we decided to stay put. We don’t have to go anywhere right now. Besides, Tucson, which is our next
destination, is under a winter weather advisory. Snow, in Tucson?
The blowing dust storm got progressively worse as the
afternoon wore on, and the interstate highway was shut down for a time due to reduced
visibility and hazardous driving conditions.
Our hotel was full with stranded motorists. I watched a tall light pole swaying in the
wind next to where our RV was parked and hoped for the best. The weather was even worse in Albuquerque where
flights were cancelled or delayed and power was out for many residents.
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Please Don't Fall! |
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I'm Sure Glad We Weren't on the Highway |
The weather today was windy and cold, but the patch of
blue sky was a welcome sight. We went
back to Mesilla to walk around the town and have lunch. Mesilla is one of the most-visited historic communities
in southern New Mexico and contains a significant collection of adobe buildings
around a central plaza. Mesilla was established
as a town around 1850, but it did not officially become a part of the United
States until the Gadsden Purchase of 1854 resolved a boundary dispute with
Mexico. Mesilla soon became a major stop
on both the Butterfield Stage Line and San Antonio-San Diego Mail Line. It’s a quaint and charming town, with
interesting shops and restaurants.
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The Plaza at Mesilla |
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Around the Plaza |
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San Albino Church on the Plaza |
We had eaten lunch the last two days on the edge of town,
but today we found a restaurant on the plaza. We discovered that Double Eagle has received
many accolades, including “Most Romantic” and “Best Fine Dining” in the Las
Cruces area. We would have to
agree. We knew as soon as we walked in
the door that this would be a special place. The restaurant is housed in what was once a
private residence, and we sat in the interior courtyard under a skylight. Although I love good, down-home
cooking, and often prefer eating at diners and dives, it’s nice to enjoy a
fine-dining experience from time to time.
The funny thing is that we didn’t even know what kind of restaurant Double
Eagle was when we selected it.
The menu at Double Eagle is a twist on traditional New
Mexican favorites. Tim and I shared the Green Chili Cheese Wontons with Pineapple-Jalapeno
Salsa, which was just amazing. I then ordered
the grilled
salmon with an orange-chipotle chili sauce. The salmon was served with a side of pasta
with the same wonderful sauce. Not your
typical New Mexican side dish! We just
had to finish with a specialty dessert and chose the Banana Enchiladas, which turned out to be crepes filled with
banana slices, topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a maple-caramel-butter
pecan sauce. All I can say is “Wow!” This was one of the best meals of the trip!
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Green Chili Cheese Wontons with Pineapple-Jalapeno Salsa |
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Grilled Salmon with an Orange-Chipotle Chili Sauce and a Side of Pasta |
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Banana Enchiladas |
We
stopped in a few shops after lunch and sampled an assortment of New Mexican pistachios.
We bought the ones flavored with green
chilies, along with pistachio brittle. We
ended our visit to Mesilla with a stop in a hand-made chocolate shop. You can be assured that we did not leave
empty-handed.
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New Mexican Pistachios |
Our plan is to leave for Tucson tomorrow. The earlier forecast for overnight snow
showers in Las Cruces has been dropped, although freezing temperatures are still
likely. The storm should be history by
tomorrow, however, and sunny skies and rising temperatures are predicted from
here all the way to Tucson.
I don't know if they have them out west but Comfort Inn is pet friendly too. The meal you had in Mesilla looks soooo it good makes me want to go right out there! LV
ReplyDeleteLV, Thanks for the tip. I agree that the meal would be worth a trip. Come on down! Sarah
DeleteBanana enchiladas!!! Miami should added to the menu. :) AG
ReplyDeleteAG, They really were sinful and would be a perfect dessert in Miami. Sarah
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