My high school BFF, Laura, flew in from Seattle so that I could take her on a road trip and show her around New Mexico. We spent almost 500 miles together in the car catching up, laughing, snacking and singing country songs all the way there. Checked into the historic
Taos Inn for a late outdoor dinner and cocktails on the patio over the music of a live jazz band and a cool night in the low 50's. A welcome change from the recent Kansas heat.
The next day was one of the best ever filled with all of my favorites starting with an amazing breakfast at the award-winning
Michaels Kitchen, a trip out to the Rio Grande Gorge, shopping on the square, checking into the
Santa Fe Motel & Inn, walking around the corner to
Cowgirl BBQ for outdoor dining under the patio lights while listening to the live folk-indie music from Colorado, Ethel Makes a Paperchain until the place closed. At this point, it was midnight and we decided to take a pedi car (bicycle cart) ride through the lighted streets and art galleries of Santa Fe. Simply magical.
The next day we checked into a hotel right next door for two nights that I have never been to before,
Hacienda Hotel & Spa, where we had a swimming pool to lounge around and a shuttle service that took us anywhere we wanted to go for shopping and restaurants. There was quite a bit of shopping involved and I found several really nice things to bring back. Before we knew it, our time together came to an end and it was time to drop Laura off at the airport in Albuquerque. I made the long solo drive back home to Kansas so grateful for our time together on the road.
