Mexico to Albuquerque

These last few days have been pretty busy for us. Monday, we went to Palomas, Mexico. We parked our car right outside the border and walked in. I had always heard about the smell of Mexico, but had never experienced it myself. It is not very pleasant. We went to the Pink Store, which is just a few yards into the country. It's very "touristy" with lots of souvenir type stuff inside. I felt much safer once we got into the building! We ate lunch there and were serenaded by their Mariachi band..it was pretty cool.   

They were a happy bunch :)

 Inside the Pink Store..painted ceramic sinks..interesting.

Tony had a great time in Mexico.

Thursday, Tate, Jase, and I went to Rockhound State Park and climbed a mountain. It was really great weather!

Jase with a Yucca plant (before)

 Tate! :)

Jase with a yucca plant (after)

 We could see for miles. It was so cool!

 Friday, we headed to Truth or Consequences, NM again to play another gig. On the way, we stopped in Hatch, NM (the chili capital of the world)

Today we ate at this really cool restaurant, but we can't remember the name! It was great, the best chimichanga I've ever had.

We play tomorrow at a Baptist church here in Albuquerque. We are staying in their missions apartment tonight and tomorrow night.
I have really enjoyed seeing the new scenery and enjoying the mountains, but I'm ready to get back to the Ozarks!

Arizona and New Mexico!

 We had an awesome time at the Grand Canyon! The trip on the way back was really cool. We stopped at a Navajo Indian roadside shop that was by a scenic overlook. It was really neat. A lot of the trip back looked like Colorado!

 We wanted to see an elk so bad! But, we did get to see a small Mountain Lion cross the road while we were driving through Flagstaff.

Thursday night, we stayed in Holbrook, Arizona. It was a big town in the Route 66 days. The town is the orginial homeplace to the "Wig-Wam" hotel..which inspired a lot of the stuff on the movie, Cars. 

Friday night, we played at the Silco Theater in Silver City, New Mexico. We even had cool tickets :)

And yesterday, we played at Morgan Hall in Deming, New Mexico (where we are staying the rest of the week). It was really fun! They had an awesome piano that I was able to play. This was our first gig to be able to sell our CD's!

Today we played a little church in Truth or Consequences, NM. Very interesting name :)

It's been a fun trip..lots of new scenery I had never seen before!

We have the day off tomorrow, so we may go climb a mountain!

Grand Canyon!!

Tate and I were able to take a few days off and head to the Grand Canyon! Words cannot describe how awesome it was. I took about 375 pictures, but none of them can compare to the real deal. We traveled to the south rim, which is about 7,200 feet in elevation. Yesterday, we spent just a couple of hours there, but the cold and high wind made it almost miserable. Today, we spent more time and even hiked a little ways up the trail..not down! Those people have to be insane! Most of the canyon sides were covered in snow and ice. At several different areas, we saw several foot prints where people had hiked down the slick path.. no thank you!

 

 A mule deer on the side of the road by the entrance. They are very, very tame.

 A place to fill up your water bottle with Grand Canyon spring water.

 Entrance to the first look-out

 Sign read "People have fallen here"

 Geology Musuem

 On our way back towards New Mexico, we saw the sign for a Scenic View and thought we would stop.

 Navajo Indian Roadside Store

 We stopped and looked at their stuff. A lot of their jewelry was really cool.

 My pictures are slightly out of order. This is where we stayed in Scottsdale on the way to the Canyon. Got a super good deal on an awesome resort. I love Priceline :) The ceiling was my favorite part!

 The outside and patio

 This was right outside our room...so cool!

 We stayed in Williams, Arizona last night. It was a neat old Route 66 town. Best part..the hotel had a pool!

This was one of the trails that lead to the bottom. Most of the trail head was covered in ice. We weren't feeling that brave :)

Tonight, we are staying in Holbrook, Arizona. Tate and I got to do laundry for the first time together on the trip..how sweet lol :)

Tomorrow we play in Silver City, New Mexico. But, before we head that way, we will be stopping by the Petrified Forest..it looks so cool! That's all for now..better get some rest.