Beside Route 66

Just now recovering from a three-day trip to Albuquerque we made last week. But wow, the chili rellenos swimming in green chili sauce was worth it! I like the Southwestern cuisine so much better than the cheese-laden variety of Tex-Mex - although I do like Tex-Mex a lot. Nothing beats the green chili sauce though. And it's healthier too.

Sante Fe was far too crowded for the 4th of July holiday. The old town plaza was packed for a pancake festival and old car show. The museums were overpriced. New Mexico is the only place I've been to outside of China where museums and attractions have a two-price policy. A cheaper price for residents and a much higher price for out-of-state visitors. Seems like an odd way to attract tourists and a bit of a slap in the face.

So we took a pleasant drive through the National Forest lands around Los Alamos - the home of nuclear research. It was great to get out into nature and smell the evergreen trees. Thank goodness for National Forests and National Parks. Thank you Teddy Roosevelt. Thank you John Muir.

When I was younger my family took several trips out West on Route 66. The trip on Route 40 is much faster now but a lot is lost rushing by like we did on this trip. Still, the sight of Tucumcari Mesa, Clines Corners, the Big Texan in Amarillo bring back a lot of good memories. I hope I can someday make a more leisurely trip on what remains of the old Route 66.