The Taos Gorge is such a powerful sight, I thought I'd record some video footage. Hopefully, it will give you a sense of the size and depth of this huge gorge that cuts through Northern New Mexico.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
A Taos to the Good Life
Today (Thursday), Will and I made the two-hour drive north from Albuquerque to the small town of Taos. The town is famous for its mix of hippies, artists, Indian pueblos and the skiing in the nearby mountains. We weren't entirely interested in any of that, especially those dirty hippies (kidding!), but we were intent on seeing the spectacular scenery that draws so many people to this part of Northern New Mexico.
On the way, we passed through Española, where I once attended a middle school, and then up through a mountain pass that follows the Rio Grande. This part of the state, which will always be home as it is where I grew up, simply offers some of the most breath-taking views one can find anywhere on the globe. Plus, the high altitude and impeccably clean skies of New Mexico mean that you can drive with the windows down and soak in the fresh smells of the surrounding area.
Upon arriving in Taos, we stopped for some food at a local hole-in-the-wall, not worth mentioning except to mention that I grubbed on a New Mexican specialty, the green chile cheeseburger, that was pretty tasty.
After lunch, we headed outside of town to check out the Taos Gorge, a marvel to which no words I can generate would do justice. It's simply a remarkable work of nature and the surrounding area only add to the beauty.
Enjoy the pics.
On the way, we passed through Española, where I once attended a middle school, and then up through a mountain pass that follows the Rio Grande. This part of the state, which will always be home as it is where I grew up, simply offers some of the most breath-taking views one can find anywhere on the globe. Plus, the high altitude and impeccably clean skies of New Mexico mean that you can drive with the windows down and soak in the fresh smells of the surrounding area.
Upon arriving in Taos, we stopped for some food at a local hole-in-the-wall, not worth mentioning except to mention that I grubbed on a New Mexican specialty, the green chile cheeseburger, that was pretty tasty.
After lunch, we headed outside of town to check out the Taos Gorge, a marvel to which no words I can generate would do justice. It's simply a remarkable work of nature and the surrounding area only add to the beauty.
Enjoy the pics.
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| Snuck in a pic of me. Say something! |
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| This was supposed to be a Russian Stout. It just tasted like a Guinness with some hard liquor tossed in. |
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| Close-up of the green chile cheeseburger. New Mexico's own. |
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| Will with the rental. |
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| Open roads, not a car in sight. |
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| Picturesque Rio Grande. |
All Quiet on the Western Front
For those who have been following my blog religiously, I must apologize for the lack of updates in the last few days. As we have been hanging around New Mexico awaiting the repairs to Moby, it has been a mostly family affair, biding time between different loved ones. The QT has been wonderful and no one will hear any gripes from Will or me, but the accident-related delay has essentially spelled an end to our joint bogus adventure. Tomorrow, I will hop a plane back to New York and Will will continue the journey west to his North Hollywood pad.
This does not mean an immediate end to the blog, as I have a few more RTAs I would like to share, some final thoughts on the trip, and a gallery of unreleased photos to display. In some ways, it's the stuff that didn't make it past Will's and my cutting room floor. I do recommend keeping an eye out for those updates.
To spruce up today's blog with some visuals, I'm posting some pics of the meals we shared with my mother and then my little sister.
With my mother, we hit Il Vicino, a quality pizza joint that also had some great beers brewed right on site. The pizza here faced some big shoes to fill after Lou Malnati's in Chicago, but it was still good, especially considering we're in New Mexico. Of course, it was nice to eat in the presence of my mom and hear about her plans to go back to school. I hope all my followers will wish her luck as she attempts to update her skills for the 21st century.
A day later, we picked up my little sister and headed to the BBQ spot we've frequented for over a decade, Rudy's. We ordered the way Will and I always order, which is to say we added about three items too many to our meal, but the prices were fair and the food delicious. Will was most impressed with the brisket, which he even ventured to suggest was better than at Oklahoma Joe's. For its tenderness alone, I'd be inclined to agree. Of course, it was great to see my sister, Anica, healthy and in good spirits, and it was a long overdue reunion for Will and her as they'd gone at least 8 years without seeing each other.
This does not mean an immediate end to the blog, as I have a few more RTAs I would like to share, some final thoughts on the trip, and a gallery of unreleased photos to display. In some ways, it's the stuff that didn't make it past Will's and my cutting room floor. I do recommend keeping an eye out for those updates.
To spruce up today's blog with some visuals, I'm posting some pics of the meals we shared with my mother and then my little sister.
With my mother, we hit Il Vicino, a quality pizza joint that also had some great beers brewed right on site. The pizza here faced some big shoes to fill after Lou Malnati's in Chicago, but it was still good, especially considering we're in New Mexico. Of course, it was nice to eat in the presence of my mom and hear about her plans to go back to school. I hope all my followers will wish her luck as she attempts to update her skills for the 21st century.
A day later, we picked up my little sister and headed to the BBQ spot we've frequented for over a decade, Rudy's. We ordered the way Will and I always order, which is to say we added about three items too many to our meal, but the prices were fair and the food delicious. Will was most impressed with the brisket, which he even ventured to suggest was better than at Oklahoma Joe's. For its tenderness alone, I'd be inclined to agree. Of course, it was great to see my sister, Anica, healthy and in good spirits, and it was a long overdue reunion for Will and her as they'd gone at least 8 years without seeing each other.
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| My mom doesn't seem to age. Can you tell in which of these IDs she was older? |
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| Il Vicino pizza |
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| Mi mamá |
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| The view from our room at the Sandia Casino. My mom hooked it up. |
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| Will with Anica. |
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| Jalapeño sausage, ribs, brisked and pulled pork. |
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| Arguably the best brisket |
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| Pinto beans, green chile stew and more pulled pork |
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| With the little sis |
Road Trip Anthems, The Eighth
Today's RTA has plenty of auto and road references, thus making it an easy choice to feature on the blog. However, don't be fooled by all that car talk, as the attentive listener will quickly pick up on the more suggestive innuendo. That's fine with us though, because the songs downright catchy, its playful, and its got that energy that we seek in all of our Road Trip Anthems.
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| Our fast car--the rental that replaced Moby. |
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| My fast car back in New York. Don't believe me, check the plates. They're definitely NY. |
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Road Tripped
As most should know, we have not been able to continue our trip due to the repairs that Moby Dick requires as a result of last week's accident.
Neither Will nor I are particularly bothered by this, as we've been living rather comfortably here in Santa Fe thanks to the hospitality of my father, David, and his wife Lori.
Yesterday, was all about exposing Will to the wonder that is Santa Fe's New Mexican food. For breakfast, I took him to Tia Sofia's where he had a huevos rancheros breakfast. As I always point out with New Mexican food, what distinguishes it from food south of the border, or to that of our neighbors to the east and west, is the chile. The sauce that we drench over all of our foods, rich in garlic, piquant, and with a taste unrivaled by any other, makes any dish into a winner. Will was impressed, so much in fact that we were unable to capture a shot for the blog as the food was quickly demolished.
In the evening, we continued the good eating with a visit to Maria's, another solid eatery in town. Will went all out with a combination platter that included a tamale, chile relleno, enchilada, frijoles and rice.
I was again in dereliction of duty by failing to document the feast, as well as the accompanying drinks we all shared. I guess people will just have to come out themselves to find out what all the fuss is about. In fact, I strongly recommend a visit.
As for the resumption of our road trip, we are hoping Moby will be out of the shop by Thursday, although at the moment we have no guarantee.
Today, we're headed for Albuquerque and a night in the Sandia Casino. I smell trouble.
Neither Will nor I are particularly bothered by this, as we've been living rather comfortably here in Santa Fe thanks to the hospitality of my father, David, and his wife Lori.
Yesterday, was all about exposing Will to the wonder that is Santa Fe's New Mexican food. For breakfast, I took him to Tia Sofia's where he had a huevos rancheros breakfast. As I always point out with New Mexican food, what distinguishes it from food south of the border, or to that of our neighbors to the east and west, is the chile. The sauce that we drench over all of our foods, rich in garlic, piquant, and with a taste unrivaled by any other, makes any dish into a winner. Will was impressed, so much in fact that we were unable to capture a shot for the blog as the food was quickly demolished.
In the evening, we continued the good eating with a visit to Maria's, another solid eatery in town. Will went all out with a combination platter that included a tamale, chile relleno, enchilada, frijoles and rice.
I was again in dereliction of duty by failing to document the feast, as well as the accompanying drinks we all shared. I guess people will just have to come out themselves to find out what all the fuss is about. In fact, I strongly recommend a visit.
As for the resumption of our road trip, we are hoping Moby will be out of the shop by Thursday, although at the moment we have no guarantee.
Today, we're headed for Albuquerque and a night in the Sandia Casino. I smell trouble.
Road Trip Anthems, Numero Sete
California. The state has such a seductive nature to it--easy living, beaches, surfing-- that its easy to see why so many people flock there despite the state government's general dysfunction.
Will has, throughout our trip, insisted that I will eventually have to move there, especially considering how fed up I have grown with New York. At times, the temptation can be great, imagining the cheaper rents (as long as I don't move to SF), the slower pace, and the prospect of being closer to my parents and family.
Today's RTA only further tugs at the hearts of all those who have chosen to settle somewhere other than the Golden State, as it perfectly captures the happy-go-lucky, debonair lifestyle that so many of today's generation would like to live. For better or worse, it seems many of us (myself included) wish only to eschew responsibility, escape our miserable jobs, and party like there's no tomorrow. At times we may even spend a weekend living the Katy Perry way, only to have Monday roll around and smack us back into reality.
For me, this song is an escapist masterpiece, providing a perfect refuge from the daily grind, the packed subways, the parking tickets and every other aspect of life on the east coast rat race that slowly wears away at our souls.
Whether on the road, or wishing you were on the road, this song has that feel-good vibe that will get you in good spirits.
A Slight Confusion
Last week, several of my friends expressed doubt as to my whereabouts, essentially accusing me of making up the whole story about the road trip. The basis of these accusations was a New York magazine story featuring some wannabe look-alike that lead people to believe I was hanging out in the city and landing mag covers.
I want to clear the air: I am in fact, not in New York, nor was I last week. This impostor is a completely different person and people should not confuse him with me.
PS- Thanks to Gary Delmonte and Jhonnatan Arango for bringing this impostor to my attention.
I want to clear the air: I am in fact, not in New York, nor was I last week. This impostor is a completely different person and people should not confuse him with me.
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| The impostor in question. |
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| In New York, the misleading magazine that threw my blog's followers off. |
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