Las Cruces, NM
This morning I checked the forecast for my route for today and not only was the forecast for heavy winds all day, there was a wind warning. So I made the decision to stay put for today and visit some more of Las Cruces and get some chores done.
While extending my stay at the office this morning, I asked if there were any special things happening this weekend, and they told me that there is a “Farmers Market” every Saturday morning throughout the year on the main street of downtown. So, before heading back to La Mesilla area, I checked it out. At this time of year, when there really are no crops, the market ends up being mostly artisans and food booths.
The quality and uniqueness of the artisanship was fabulous. There were some of the usual things you’d find at an art fair like stained glass items, wood carving, etc. But there were an amazing number of things I’d never seen before. Like one woman who makes jewelry out of antique glass, and a woman who uses a special glass cutter to remove the bottom of glass bottles and makes votive candle holders from them, etc. People were really friendly and there was no pressure at all. I bought a couple of things to take home and in the name of research I felt I should try the State Cookie of New Mexico called Biscochos, so I bought a small bag of them. They are very light short bread-like with cinnimon sugar on the outside.
The main street where the market is held, looks to be interesting itself with galleries and museums running along the 3 blocks where the market takes place.
But with time short, I headed over to La Mesilla Historic Area to grab some lunch, take some pictures and look around. Since I’d already blown my budget for today I tried not to look in too many stores. I checked out two historic restaurants and decided to eat at Peppers which is attached to the Double Eagle Bar. It is an amazing place with different rooms done in different historic settings. I ate in the brightly coloured atrium, which was beautiful with the filtered sunlight coming in through the windows above, and the soothing fountain in the middle. I had the “Award Winning” margarita special and a chicken salad which was really nicely presented.
The other restaurant, called La Posta was more traditional Mexican food and had a more traditional Mexican interior as well. It has been there serving food, in what started as a small building, over 150 years ago. Originally, along side it was the Butterfield Stage Coach office and other offices, but it gradually has taken over all of the buildings on the block and each is now enclosed into a maze of rooms. A must see, if not tried. Next time.
The square in front of the church is full of plaques and explanations of the area’s history and it was warm enough near the end of my visit for people to be sitting and strolling the square like they might have generations ago. The church, Basilica of San Albino, has a beautiful brick and wood interior, unusual to see but fits with the area so perfectly.
One of the buildings from 1850, claims to be the place where Billy the Kid was tried and sentenced to hang. He was a notorious gun fighting, cattle rustling partying kind of guy and he went by many names. His history also seems to be a little vague and perhaps enhanced.
On my way back to get to my chores, I stopped at a viewpoint just west of the city to see the view but also a road runner statue that caught my eye. It was originally built by artist Olin Calk in 1993 from items he hauled out of the landfill. He was making a statement “look at the stuff we throw away”. It has been refurbished a couple of times as people keep taking bits of the statue as souvenirs or amazingly have tried to climb on to the back. The last time it was refurbished they mounted it on a fake boulder hoping to avoid that problem in the future. The road runner has a pretty darn good view.
I am glad I decided to stick around today to get to know more about this town, which it turns out is one of my very favourites of the whole region.
Lois' Adventures 