Cannot beat this weather

Nicky was our tour guide through Los Angeles today and he did a fantastic job. I don't think anyone could be depressed here due to the amazing weather.... there is a blizzard at home yet I'm soaking in 60 degree sun.

California Gurls

Finally made it to LA! Between the blue sky and the 60 something degree weather... Rey and I couldn't find anything to complain about. Of course the first thing we do when we got to LA is eat Cuban food and see Blue Valentine (another anxiety attack of a film). Then off to Nicholas' for a lovely game of Risk, chinese food and catch up. What better way to start LA life off?

Grand Canyon!

today was filled with sight seeing at the Grand Canyon... I wish it were less cold and less snowy so hiking and camping could have been more involved.

When I played house as a kid we always pretended to live in Arizona

....why we pretended to live in Arizona, I have no idea! We started at El Rancho Hotel then went to the Petrified Forest...which was a slight disappointment, thought it would be more filled with trees since it is called a FOREST. After we headed to our adorable hotel La Pasada in Winslow Arizona.

Albuquerque

We stayed with my Dad's friend Mark Rudd, if you don't know who he is you should. 

Our stay was in Mark's beautiful house he hand crafted himself, filled with adorable animals,

delicious south-west food, great conversation and wonderful colors. That's all I'm going

to say about our amazing time in New Mexico, but seriously look this guy up.  

ROSWELL ALIENS GALORE

Rey is an alien junky and was desperate to go to Roswell, so we went. It didn’t quite meet expectations… we hit the one museum and then some typical tourist traps and called it a day for that place.  

Who doesn't love Border Control?

In Texas there are more Border Control Rangers than Police Officers. So on that note, we are driving and driving it’s around 6am and the sun is still not up... we’re running out of gas so we’re a bit on edge and then we see a bunch of Border Patrol Rangers in big old jeeps hanging out on the side of the road. One of these keeps starts following me….no siren or anything but I still decide to pull over. The man walks to the car…

Ranger Man, “Everything ok?”

Me, “Yes, just weren’t sure if you were pulling us over?”

Ranger Man, “Oh no, I was just going to pass you but now that you are here mind if I check both of your IDs?”

Me, “No, not at all.”  (we hand him our IDs)

The next thing I know three more border patrol jeeps and a cop show up and start shining their flashlights into the car obviously wondering why/how I fit so much crap in my car…or thinking I’m smuggling drugs/people into the country... ya know same thing. Everyone was super nice, and then they checked our names to make sure we were citizens (I'm still not sure how) and then we were on our way…more tired and frustrated but on our way. And we drove and drove through the vast Texas terrain straight through to New Mexico…which didn’t have a welcome sign UGH. 

(I didn't get to take photos of the Border Control Rangers so here are some from the road) 

Hot Tubs of Water

I’ve been to Hot Springs before but being in Texas we’ve noticed how things are much less regulated. So there were no hours of operation on when we could use the community kitchen, any specific place to put our tent or the best part any strict hours regulating hot spring use. Thus, at around 9pm Rey and I already partially freezing, stripped in 35 degree weather (SO COLD) and went into one of the springs. The water was lovely and warm. I can’t remember the last time I saw so many stars, they were clustered and felt alive. I couldn’t stop thinking of the scene from Lion King when Mufasa discusses all the stars being great Kings from years past to Simba…even in Texas I’m still five years old at heart. It was one of the most romantic places I’ve ever been. After soaking we slept in our lovely tent (Ennis, named in honor of Heath Ledger’s character in Broke Back Mountain) and froze and froze and froze… next time we’ll bring sleeping bags. 

I can absolutely build a tent, No Problem.

We explored the spring area and met a bunch of people our age camping along the springs as well. Then came time to build the $20 tent (real classy I know) … Rey and I had never made a tent before but we were totally up for the challenge. It took a bit of work but we made it all by ourselves! (well, almost this guy helped but only for the last 2 minutes). Afterward being the only non-Texan residents on the grounds we received a lot of “You don’t camp much in NY, do you?” but it was all in jest and we were beyond proud of ourselves and took a 3-hour celebration nap inside my new totally great tent (Seriously all we kept saying was how awesome this tent was for 20 bucks, target ya’ll do it.). 

Chinati Hot Springs

We are both from NY yes this is true…but why does that give everyone the impression we cannot camp?  I found these hot springs a couple days earlier via google and we both loved the idea of spending a night here. We finally arrive to the springs LITERALLY in the middle of nowhere with absolutely no expectations (which is something I want to practice more in life). The springs are owned by an older married couple, we met the husband and his wife was in town. He had a hardy laugh at us when we asked if there was a grocery store near by.... apparently you’re supposed to bring food when going to camp in the middle of nowhere, who would have thought? We decided we would rather starve before driving another 2 hours down the dirt road to town, but luckily since his wife was already in town we gave her a call and she picked up some food goodies for us, mission accomplished! 

110mph

Today literally felt like the first real day of the entire road trip although it was actually our 9^th day on the road. Driving at 110 mph on empty roads, having a flawless backdrop and a sleeping girl in the passenger seat made for the physical visual to my illusions of what road trips were all about.  Texas is beyond beautiful; I’ve never felt so secure and so isolated all at the same time. When you step out of your car you hear the most wonderful sound of stillness... absolute stillness,  I’ve never heard that before. 

Everything is Bigger in Texas

Our second day in Austin we really learned the meaning of the statement above. From oversized jewelry to huge water glasses to gigantic cars... Texas was only filled with big and bigger items. Today we explored many thrift shops, ate true southern food, saw King's Speech at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema (If you're ever in Austin you need to go) and ventured to bars on 6th street.
(Hallie was an excellent tour guide but unfortunately my camera battery died mid-morning so not many photos were taken OH and Hallie got a ton of shit in high school for her bumper stickers!)