Another Road Trip!

About two weeks ago my mother-in-law wanted to visit her friend from her high school days, who lives in El Cajon, and she doesn't like traveling alone.  Sheila and I were about to do one anyway, but we thought, OK, we'll drive over to the People's Republic, drop her off, and then have four or five days to ourselves.  Two days before our intended departure, she didn't want to be climbing thru those mountain passes so Sheila and I went somewhere else.

As has been the case with our trips, we figure out the night before where we are going to be the first night, and the second night's stop won't be figured out until we're on the way to the first stop.  We ended up in Flagstaff, staying at the Super 8 across from that Himalayan restaurant which is one of our favorite stops.  I thought from there we were going to head west and take historic US66 over to Kingman, but it didn't turn out that way.  The next morning it was decided to go east, which I was good with, since I hadn't been on that stretch of I-40 since 1986, and this time I wanted to get off the interstate where possible and retrace Route 66.

The first stop was in Winslow, made famous by that well-known song that mentions standing on the corner.  We did just that.  We stood at the corner, where some others were also, though in our case there wasn't some chick in a flat bed Ford slowing down to take a look at us.  We had lunch, walked around for two hours or so, and then it was on to our next stop, wherever that would be.

As we were approaching Holbrook, where someone who grew up there once told me, has something of a rivalry with Winslow as far as their high school football teams go, we decided that the next night was going to be in Gallup New Mexico.   I wanted to check out those trading posts in Lupton AZ, on the state line.  Once we saw the price stickers, we got back on and continued.

Gallup has a stretch of US 66 used as a business loop, and with lots of those kinds of stretches you're treated to abandoned buildings that used to be gas stations, and other abandoned buildings that used to be motels.  I'm guessing that half of those motels went under while the other half made it.  We stayed in one of them, and had a memorable meal at Scooter's BBQ.....which we'll do again our next time in Gallup.

Now at this point in the trip, road fatigue was beginning to set in, and we decided that we would spend two nights at our next stop, which was Santa Fe.  I had never been to Santa Fe before but I'd go again, and this time try to have a full weekday there so I can go inside the state capitol.  Downtown Santa Fe was interesting but there was no parking to be had since there was some event that closed off some streets and rendered the paid parking lots full.  We drove around a few neighborhoods, and then went back to the hotel for some rest.  Later on that night we ate at Los Potrillos Mexican restaurant, which was Mexico City style.  

Sunday morning it was back on the interstate again, which meant having to pass thru Albuquerque again, but at that time it wasn't the mess that we saw on Friday.  We continued on down I-25, stopping for lunch at Truth or Consequences and for the night at Deming, after passing thru Hatch and taking the shortcut to I-10.

That turned out to be the third time we've overnighted in Deming, and what used to be our favorite Mexican restaurant was closed since it was Sunday.  I had my heart set on an authentic New Mexico style of Mexican cuisine, which we found at Irma's downtown, and Irma's blew that other place right out of the water.  I had the #1 combo plate, Christmas style, which meant half red sauce and half green sauce.  

The next afternoon we were back home in Tucson, one day earlier than we needed to be, but it worked out for the good as that we got home before a very violent thunderstorm hit our side of town.  The next day it was southeast Arizona getting it, making for some adverse driving conditions.

So, I'm back home, and one thing I'm telling myself is that I need to create a photo album page where I can post pictures of our adventures.  I don't know when I can get to that.  We've got some other irons in the fire right now and one reason for our trip was to get away from them for a week.  The monsoons should be done in a week or so, and I might send out my updated resume as that I'm interested in finding out what kind of contract work is available.  I don't feel a strong inclination to come out of retirement, but I think I need to be aware of what is out there.

That's it for now.

Mexican Restaurants in Tucson

For very many years I have had a weakness for Mexican food.  There are some good places in San Jose.  I know of a good one up in Mesa.  There was one in El Paso I was at many years ago that was good.  Not that I'm biased or anything, but I think Tucson has some really excellent places, and after a great meal that we had two nights ago, I figured I would do a blog entry about what we have here.  And all that I mention are recommended.

The Mexican cuisine here is heavily influenced by our neighboring Mexican state of Sonora.  If you know where to go here you can get Mexico City style or New Mexico style.  In no particular order, here are the places we like to eat.

In South Tucson, we have had a lot of fine meals at Guillermo's Double L.  This place features Sonoran cuisine, with the #1 combo meal on the menu being my go-to.  My most recent visit was with two friends who were co-workers when we worked at Paragon Space Development.  

Over in Catalina, north of Tucson on state highway 77, is Carlota's.  I've met the same two friends up there as well.  I was introduced to it on my first day on the job when I was with Tucson Embedded Systems.  Their lunch combinations are all good.  They have since moved to the western side of the highway and have expanded their menu.  Folks, they have some selections that I haven't seen anywhere else.   You can't go wrong here.  And it's Sonora style.

On the east side here in Tucson, is Poco & Mom's.  This place features New Mexico style.  As far as I've been able to determine, it's the real deal.  I have eaten New Mexico style in Deming and Silver City.  This style has some more zing to it than Sonoran style, which means "mild" is zing and "hot" is rocket fuel.  The breakfast sopapillas are a favorite.

Also on the east side is the family-run Los Nopales at Golf Links & Harrison.  My way home from work took me by this place, and I noticed that their parking lot was always full, even on a weekday.  A full parking lot is usually a barometer of how great the food is, and when Sheila and I tried it we learned why the parking lot is almost always packed.  It's Sonoran style, generous portions, and family-run.  They close on occasion for vacation, during Holy Week, Fourth of July week, and of course Christmas.  We were there two nights ago.  

Over in midtown, there is La Parilla Suiza.  This is Mexico City style, with some selections you're not going to see elsewhere.  Sheila and I had our first date there.  There are other La Parilla Suiza locations and I've heard that one or two of the others are not as good as this one on Speedway, but I haven't verified that.

While we're still on the Mexico City style, this can also be had at any of the Guadalajara Grill locations.  This was founded by a husband and wife team, and they added a second, and maybe a third location, before they divorced.  Two of the locations mysteriously burned down to the ground when the divorce proceedings started.  That was some fifteen years ago.  Anyway, they are back in commission.  I've always enjoyed the food here, but I happen to like the others you just read about somewhat better.

One other Eastside Tucson gem is El Sur on 22nd.  This is a family run restaurant, somewhat hole-in-the-wall, and excellent honest Sonoran cuisine.  The drawback is the parking is a bit challenging.  And the inside is almost always packed too.

Finally, one local chain here is La Herredura.  We are partial to the one on Tanque Verde near Bear Canyon.  Their menu selection includes some seafood dishes that I don't see elsewhere.  One seafood dish pictured in the menu, I'm guessing it's filete ajo or something like that, is a favorite.  Their #7, red chile and green chile combination, is another excellent selection.  I need to get back there in the near future.

With that, it's a wrap, and a bit different type of article than the others I've written here.