Day 15

Heading out of Texas early, as the room wasn’t worth hanging about in, we were on our way to New Mexico. Lynne having booked a manicure for 5pm in Santa Fe meant we were working to a deadline. And yes, I did just write that, I really needed a manicure! I think this wedding has changed me into a proper lass, like! Picking up the old Route 66 again, New Mexico have done a great job of preserving it. Stopping in a Mexican restaurant for lunch that has been there since the 50s was again an experience; we think the food was also from the 50s!
Matthew’s favourite driving route so far followed - he likes looking at a whole load of nothing! It was exactly as you imagine the southwest to be: layers of different coloured soil, the odd shrub or cactus, and wide open. It was a welcome change from built up cities, and one of the reasons we decided to make this trip; to see just how different the landscape of this vast country is.
As Matthew was enjoying the trip, Lynne was getting twitchy about her nails - 4 o’clock and we weren’t there yet. Matthew, ever optimistic, managed to get us there, checked into the hotel and to Nail Time with 10 minutes to spare - a good husbandly duty. Now, girls, think Steel Magnolias and that is exactly where I had my nails done! It was brilliant, they even had a stupid small dog dressed in a pink T-shirt wandering around!
The Santa Fe Motel and Inn is one we highly recommend. Don’t know if our judgement is slightly off par after some of the dumps we have been in recently, but the chillis on all the towels and pillows were a quirky touch. As always, food was next on the agenda. Los Mayas, with its outdoor patio, live guitarist and huge margaritas was the decision! Not disappointed, we had a feast of New Mexican food and had to stay for an extra drink as we couldn’t actually move from our seats - total overindulgence.
We had a waddle around Santa Fe before heading home for the evening. Matthew thinks he’s going to really like it here!