It's a desert oasis for road-weary traveler's like us and it's the first place we know of where you can get your chile fix this side of the Arizona border.
We stumbled upon El Rancho two years ago, on a driving trip to visit family in Albuquerque and fell in love with it right away. It felt good to come back for a second visit--kind of like it's our special place.
The hotel and its accompanying restaurant and gift shop are all kinds of kitschy, with a giant glittering geode, taxidermy, Navajo art and black-and-white portraits of the Hollywood royalty who stayed there in the 1930s and '40s.
Our first morning in Albuquerque started with a visit to Aunt Bella's stables, where Nana had arranged for Lili and Calvin to have their first ever riding lesson.
Since then, we've just been hanging out, enjoying a few days off from driving.
It's hot and dusty here, but Nana has planned some fun ways for us to stay cool. There's her community pool, the library and her garden hose.
Nana also has a nice stash of art supplies and bubbles on hand for times when it's too hot to leave the house. Aren't Nanas wonderful?
Oh, and Grandpas are pretty wonderful, too. Especially those who treat us to a muy caliente New Mexican dinner and give terrific hugs.
A family could get used to this kind of treatment, if it weren't for that grizzly five-day drive to D.C. looming at the end of this week.
We're on a road-trip sabbatical right now, and it suits us just fine.
It looks like the trip is going well & it is nice that Nana & Grandpa get to spend time with you all. Looking forward to more road trip stories. Good luck!!!
ReplyDeleteLove you all
N & A