Fast Two Weeks

Above, Jessica at Kiva Café this morning. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The last two weeks when my former roommate Jessica was here went very fast. It probably due to us being busy going to Durango and Navajo Lake State Park. She left today for Iowa.

We headed to the Albuquerque Sunport this morning with a stop for breakfast at the Kiva Café in the Grants/Milan area. She enjoyed her meal (chocolate chip pancake) and I enjoyed my enchilada breakfast plate.

We got to the Sunport around 11:00 and she immediately checked in. After out goodbyes, I headed back to Jamestown around noon and reached home around 2:20.

After getting home, I went to get my mail and did some laundry.

It was an enjoyable two-week visit. She's looking forward to returning next summer.

Yesterday In Gallup

Above, from left, Russell, yours truly and Larry at El Sombrero Restaurant.

Yesterday, I was in Gallup as I had to take Larry Lucier to his physical therapy session. 

While he was doing that, I had other things to attend to, such as picking up a framed poster that had to have the glass of the frame replaced as it fell and cracked. 

Following that, I headed over to the Gallup indoor flea market on Coal Ave. to browse around. I didn't see anything that I would want, but it was a fun way to pass the time. 

After Larry was done, we headed over to the El Sombrero Restaurant on Historic Route 66 for dinner. This was the first time Larry and I have been there (and Larry has lived in the area 12 years). 

He ordered a burrito with green sauce and I ordered chile rellenos with red sauce. 

While there, we spotted one of our community buddies, Russell Azbill. He had just finished eating and was heading out. We called him over and he sat with us and we had a good conversation on wills, space program, autographs, guitars, guns and other topics. 

On the food, Larry was pleased with his, but I thought mine was just "okay". The rellenos were good but the sauce was disappointing. There was no kick to it. The chips and salsa that was brought after we sat down was mediocre. 

Thus far, this was the most disappointing Mexican restaurant in Gallup. The better ones that I have been to include Genaro's, Don Diego's, El Rancho Hotel's restaurant, Earl's, Cocina De Dominguez and Kiva Café (in Milan-Grants). There's one left in Gallup I have to try: Jerry's Café. It is a small restaurant and usually has a line of people waiting to get in. I've been told that Jerry's Café is one of the best in Gallup.

Day Trip To Albuquerque

Above, dinner at Sadie's of New Mexico.

Yesterday was spent roaming around in Albuquerque, New Mexico with my houseguests Mitch Geriminsky and Dwight Kuntz.

We headed off in the morning and stopped for breakfast at the Kiva Café in Milan (which is next-door to Grants). The guys liked their food.

Above, the enchilada breakfast plate at Kiva Café. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When we entered Albuquerque, we headed to Kirtland Air Force Base to tour the base and to do some shopping at the BX (base exchange) and the commissary.

Following the visit to Kirtland Air Force Base, we headed over to Old Town and did some browsing around the shops. I found one shop that was interesting. It mainly sold different varieties of balsamic vinegars. 

Above, assorted balsamic vinegars at a shop in Old Town Albuquerque. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Once we were done at Old Town, we headed a few miles to Sadie's of New Mexico Mexican restaurant for dinner. Naturally, Sadie's didn't disappoint any of us. 

After dinner, we headed back to Jamestown and managed to get back to my place before sundown. 

For the evening's entertainment, I showed them the docudrama, Stan & Ollie and the Laurel and Hardy short, Our Wife. 

Mitch and Dwight will be heading back to Lake Havasu, Arizona this morning. We all had a good time this weekend.

Trip To Albuquerque

Above, yours truly at one of the hot tub dealers. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today was spent in Albuquerque for a dentist appointment.

I got into town two hours early, so I went to a couple of hot tub dealers to see what they have. I have been considering getting one since I moved to New Mexico. If I were to get one, it would be set up at the brick deck. There was one I liked at Hot Tub Albuquerque.

Along the way, I stopped at the Sky City Rest Area for a brief "pit stop". While I was leaving, I looked over the picnic shelters they have available for weary travelers. They definitely have a New Mexico pueblo motif style. It is located across Interstate 40 from the Sky City Hotel and Casino.

Above, one of the picnic shelters at the Sky City Rest Area. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After I was done at the dentist, I headed on home. I had in mind to stop for dinner at the Kiva Café in Grants. I got there around 3:30, but they were closed for the day. Apparently, they just serve breakfast and lunch. So I pressed on ahead.

Above, this is the hot tub I'm leaning towards getting. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I stopped off at Bowlin's Bluewater Outpost. They have a Dairy Queen inside and I ended up having a grilled chicken salad bowl. It wasn't bad, but I was looking forward to Mexican food at the Kiva Café.

You can't win them all!

Quick Trip To Albuquerque

Above, outside of the Kiva Café. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today, I had some business to attend to in Albuquerque.

I got on the road early this morning at 6:30 in 21° outside. A little bitter cold out. Before getting on Interstate 40, I stopped at the Flying J to get a cup of coffee to bring along.

Above, Cabela's ammo shelves were actually stocked with ammo today. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One of the things I had to do was to exchange a pair of jeans I bought two weeks ago at Cabela's. The size was right, but the jeans were flawed. They had no rear belt loops. The other pair I bought at the same time had them. 

Above, inside the Kiva Café. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I was able to exchange them without any problem. While there, I went over to the ammo section and the shelves were fully stocked. This was the first time in ages I've seen it stocked. I bought some Winchester 9mm hollowpoint rounds. 

After that, I did other things I needed to do.

Above, my chicken enchilada lunch. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

As things turned out, I was done before noon. So I headed home instead of staying the night at the Route 66 RV Resort. 

On the way home, I did stop in Milan (about 30 miles from home) and tried out the Kiva Café for the first time. It is listed as a best place for enchiladas in the New Mexico Enchilada Trail. This was the third restaurant I've tried that's in the trail. I had chicken enchiladas. They were excellent. The sauce (red) was good, but I sweated profusely. (That's one way to tell if the sauce is any good.)

Before heading home, I went next door to the Chaco Trading Post to look around. It has to be one of the nicest gift shops I've seen here.

After browsing, I got back into The Beast and headed home. 

New Mexico "Enchilada Trail" Four Years Later

Above, this evening at Genaro's in Gallup.

Four years ago, about a couple of weeks after I moved to Mexico, I posted about the "New Mexico Enchilada Trail" of restaurants who Only In Your State says have the best enchiladas.

This evening, Larry Lucier and I went to Genaro's in Gallup for dinner. It was one of the restaurants recommended by Only In Your State that first got me to try out. Of course, I had enchiladas.

I was telling Larry about the "Enchilada Trail" during dinner and after getting home, I looked it up and found that I have now been to two of the restaurants listed. The other one was Sadie's of New Mexico in Albuquerque (actually, I've been to two of their restaurants in Albuquerque). 

There is one on the list that I haven't been to but is not too far: Kiva Café in Milan. Milan is right next to Grants and is about 40 miles away. I'll have to give that restaurant a try.

The website seems to have been updated in 2020. 

To see who made the list, go here.