New Mexico! Wow, What A Ride!

**emily_hope** · 06-08-2008, 02:39 PM

We're back!! My DFamily and I just went on a trip that was almost 3500 miles!! We live in Georgia and we drove to New Mexico! Many, many stops along the way.

We started out on Sunday, June 1st and drove all the way to Shreveport, Louisiana before stopping for the night.

The following day we entered the big WIDE state of Texas. (Takes awhile to drive across this state, let me tell ya.) We went to Dallas and went to the Sixth Floor Museum, where Oswald shot JFK. Gave me chills. Then we drove out to South Fork... the Ewing Ranch. My DDs had no idea what this place was all about. I had to tell them about the Ewings and the TV show Dallas. I used to watch it every Friday night. The light bulbs went on when I told them about "Who shot J.R.?" They had heard this when they were very young, but had no idea what it really was all about. We didn't tour the house, just got a good look at it.

Finally, day 3 we make it in to New Mexico. Our destination! We visited the Carlsbad Caverns. WOW! Beautiful! My DMother, who is almost 77, walked down into the caverns. I was worried about her, but she was determined. The elevator made for a nice ride back to the top. People used to climb back out, but they no longer allow people to do this. You have to take the elevator out. We rode around the area for a little while and returned for the evening Bat Flight. Thousands of bats exited the cave in search of food and water. We didn't hang around to see them reenter the next morning.

We headed to El Paso. While in El Paso, we walked across the border into Juarez, Mexico. I can now say I have been out of the United States. Juarez is a very poor area of Mexico. The border police warned us not to go in, but we still went. They said there had been 350 murders already this year. There were actually very few tourists there. At the market, the sellers told us the police were making things bad for their business, that it wasn't as bad as they made out to everyone. Both DDs got a sombrero!

We spent the next night at the Riverwalk in San Antonio. Been here before, liked it so much we wanted to see it again. Beautiful place! So enjoy strolling down the Riverwalk.

Next... Houston. We went to a mall in Houston and they had an indoor ice skating rink. We didn't try it, but it was interesting watching all those who did.

Our next big stop was New Orleans. We really had not planned to go to New Orleans, but decided to ride through. There is still so much devestation from Hurricane Katrina... very sad. Not the same place we visited before the Hurricane. We decided to leave New Orleans by way of the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway. So glad we did. That bridge is something else. I believe it is the longest bridge in the world. It is almost 24 miles long!

We also drove through Mobile and walked on the pier at the beach. Another fabulous trip and tons of fun had by all.

A big thank you to all the Frugal Villagers who gave me some great tips for the trip!

**Darlene** · 06-08-2008, 02:47 PM

Wow, what a trip, so glad you enjoyed yourselves!
Where you were in Mexico is indeed one of the most dangerous places. Drug cartels and all. Glad you made it in & out of there safe.

So you take lots of pics to share? I love virtual travel.

**dcompton** · 06-08-2008, 03:03 PM

I grew up in Ft. Worth, and had relatives in New Mexico and Colorado whom we drove out a few times to see. Believe me, I KNOW Texas is a wide state! ("Are we STILL in Texas???") It was interminable for a 7 year old, and after a while, like 10 minutes, phone poles and tumbleweeds lost their appeal, and that was all there was to see for endless miles in those days. AND the speed limit was only 55. We went to Carlsbad Caverns on one trip, but sadly, I was too young to really appreciate it and mostly remember being cold and being given my dad's jacket to wear. And a box lunch we bought there. So much for absorbing the grandeur of nature, right?

I'm glad you had a good trip. Once you get past the tumbleweeds, there's some beautiful country out west.

**Laurie in Bradenton** · 06-08-2008, 04:07 PM

So glad to hear you had a good time. I love family rode trips and am looking forward to mine next week.

Laurie in Bradenton

**Mom23boys** · 06-08-2008, 05:56 PM

I am so glad you had a safe and memorable trip! It sounds like your family enjoyed the sites. Your detail of your trip makes me want to pack up and hit the road.

**dianne9106** · 06-08-2008, 06:02 PM

So glad you had such a nice time!! That was awesome! Juarez must be off limits to US Soldiers now -as it is a nice little tourist spot for new soldiers just getting into the military. You guys done soooo much - DH and I are by far the LAZIEST tourist known to man!! YAY for your trip!
Dianne

**Edna_E** · 06-10-2008, 11:09 PM

Glad you had such a great trip! Welcome home.

I have to say I'm fascinated that you got to walk across the border and back, given the reports from people who live in the are who have been hassled and threatened (some for several hours). I wonder if it is because your ID was from farther away - like do they expect the "locals" to know better, but behave in a more accomodating manner to tourists from a distant state? Anyway, I'm glad it worked out for you, and still not likely to try getting by with it myself.

**emily_hope** · 06-10-2008, 11:52 PM

Originally Posted by Edna_E

Glad you had such a great trip! Welcome home.

I have to say I'm fascinated that you got to walk across the border and back, given the reports from people who live in the are who have been hassled and threatened (some for several hours). I wonder if it is because your ID was from farther away - like do they expect the "locals" to know better, but behave in a more accomodating manner to tourists from a distant state? Anyway, I'm glad it worked out for you, and still not likely to try getting by with it myself.

When we came back into the US, my DH had his military ID (retired) and he showed it to them and they said nothing, just let him pass. My DMother, my DDs and myself were asked what we were doing in Mexico and had to show our picture IDs plus a certified copy of our birth certificates. We were detained but only for a few mintues.

**TheRootedNomad** · 06-11-2008, 06:56 AM

It sounds like you all had wonderful trip! I'm very much looking foward to our next trip that isn't to visit family or at the very least that we take extra time to stop and see the sights instead of "how fast can we get there".

**PrairieRose** · 06-11-2008, 09:22 AM

So glad you had a wonderful trip! I know you took lots of pics and made lots and lots of great memories.

About Juarez, I was talking with a man the other day who lives in Juarez. He told me that he was recently sitting at a stop sign behind a car load of people when an SUV pulled up beside it and started firing into the car. They killed everyone in the car and then pulled up beside him and pointed their guns at him. He said he raised his hands and looked down....they sped off. He said he had lived there all his life and he can't believe what his hometown has turned into b/c of the drug cartels.

I'm glad you didn't witness or were victim to anything terrible.