An easy drive from Payson to Santa Fe and we were excited to see our little casita, get unpacked and go eat some good Mexican food (at Cafe Castro).
Category Archives: Cross-country trip
Desert Botanical Gardens – Dale Chihuly exhibit
We are so lucky! this is the second time that we could see Dale Chihuly’s magnificent glass works installed at the Desert Botanical Gardens here in Phoenix. Last time we went in the evening, but this time we opted for early morning which gave us a different perspective with the lighting.
South Eastern Arizona – “the empty quarter”
There is a section of Saudi Arabia called “the empty quarter” and we discovered a very similar area on our drive through south eastern Arizona – a loop detour we made on our way to Phoenix.
3,530 miles!
We made stops at Lowell and Bisbee – two former copper mining towns.
Cowboy and Indian country
I remember my first impression – 32 years ago – of the southwestern USA and thinking back to watching “The Lone Ranger” and other such westerns as a kid. The impression that cowboys or indians could be lurking behind craggy rocks still stays with me.
We took Route 90 (rather than I10) from San Antonio. The drive was very easy on ramrod straight roads with virtually no traffic. We saw antelope grazing, sheep and cattle; bright blue skies with some whispy clouds. Very few people inhabit this part of Texas and one wonders what those few do. We were very close to the Mexican border at times and I couldn’t help but think about those attempts to cross the Rio Grande and the border.
We came across a beautiful reservoir and the Pecos River.
We arrived at our destination of Alpine, Texas and were amused to see that the local newspaper is named “Alpine Avalanche” – I don’t think there have been too many avalanches around here! The town is a veritable cultural oasis in these parts with a lively downtown and a university campus. Our overnight accommodation was at the quaint and cute Maverick Inn. What a delight! so truly texan looking with cactus, cart wheels, adobe buildings and more. We loved it!
We had dinner in town at The Century Bar & Grill – recommended by both TripAdvisor and the inn staff. It was delicious and the menu was much more upscale than I would have imagined.
From Alpine we had just a short drive to Marfa, a little town I’ve heard and read about. Unfortunately there wasn’t much activity there – we forgot that today was a Holiday. Nonetheless, we walked around the downtown area and had the place to ourselves.
And onward to I10 where the speed limit is 80mph! Woohoo! not since Germany have we done this.
Texas countryside and German settlements
A short distance from San Antonio are two lovely little German settlements – Gruene (evidently pronounced Green – the translation of gruene) and New Braunfels. We spent the morning browsing around an arts market in Gruene and strolling around town and then a walk around the center New Braunfels.
San Antonio, TX
A three-day interlude visiting friends on our drive from Maine to Arizona. The lovely warm weather, being able to sit outside, and their tremendous hospitality has made this a welcome break.
We took in some of the sights of San Antonio – the Alamo, Riverwalk, and two of the four missions on the Mission Trail.
Firstly the Alamo and Riverwalk.
And then to lunch at The Green restaurant at the Pearl Brewery complex and near the Culinary Institute of Arts.
I loved the pipe warmers!!!
Then on to the Mission Trail for Missions Concepcion and San Jose.