Sweetheart's Birthday Weekend Part 1

We decided to take a little road trip to celebrate Sweetheart's birthday.  He wanted to go back home to Albuquerque, NM to visit his old stomping grounds.  We made a long weekend out of it. 

We started our trip on Thursday morning.  We dropped Grievous and Boo-boo at the Pet Hotel and then started our journey:

We took the flagstaff route.  The air in Flagstaff is so fresh and clean (at least it seems that way to us because we are used to the city smog).  We had lunch at our favorite spot in Flagstaff, took some quick pictures of the snow covered mountain peaks and then got back on the road. 

We both LOVE road trips because we talk, laugh, sing, etc at will.  We don't have to watch our language or topic of conversation.   When we travel by air we have to be on our best behavior, which by the way, is sometimes hard for us! Ha!

It's such a beautiful drive.  Sweetheart tends to disagree because it's a seven hour trip and he's driven it many, many times.  This is only my second road trip to NM so I thoroughly enjoy every minute of it.   I always have my camera ready to snap a photo and I kept an eye out for the New Mexico sign.   Sweetheart didn't mind because it kept me quiet for a while......

When we finally reached New Mexico, it was about 5:30 -- right in the middle of rush hour.  I didn't think it was so bad, but Sweetheart, aka Mr. Impatient, had me using the imaginary breaks in the passenger side of the vehicle.  We stopped to have dinner at a Los Cuates Mexican restaurant -- one of Sweetheart's favorite childhood eating spots.  New Mexico has the best food -- they are famous for their green and red chili and our first meal in NM certainly didn't disappoint.  It was delicious!  

We stayed at the Double Tree in downtown Albuquerque and got our chocolate chip cookies at check-in. Once in room, we just relaxed and watched TV.   We planned on taking the train to Santa Fe very early the next day so we decided to just stay in the first night.    We look spent, yes?

We were up at 5 a.m. the next morning and took the shuttle to the train depot.  Turns out the train depot was about 2.5 blocks away.   As we sat and waited for the train, I spotted our hotel:

The temperature was 40 degrees.  I know this because, well it was really cold, and because I kept checking and reporting the temperature to Sweetheart as I looked it up on The Weather Channel app I have on my phone.   He was loving the weather but it was too cold for me.  I'm not used to that type of cold.  I'm from Arizona after all. 

We got to the station about 20 minutes early so we did our best to keep each other company.  Sweetheart kept asking if the train was coming.  I told him I was pretty sure we couldn't miss it if it were, but I would check anyway (insert sarcasm here).  Just in case I checked -- nope, no train:

So we decided it was good photo opp time.  

And because we both behave like 12 year-olds, we decided we would do a cute shot:

Then a shot of me looking at the camera and Sweetheart looking in another direction as if something was coming at us:

Then this:

check out Sweetheart photo bombing my Zombie shot

Just then the train arrived!  

Just in time too -- did I mention there were others waiting for the train?

It was a two hour trip to Santa Fe.  It was a nice ride and we actually got to see some Indian Pueblo's which was really interesting!

When we got to Santa Fe we walked through the square. I'm bummed that I forgot my camera.  So the few photos I did take were with my iPhone.  It's such an old and beautiful place.  Full of history and old charm.  We walked through the part of the square where the native Indians sell their hand made jewelry and trinkets.  We also walked to the old churches.  This is a picture of the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis.  It was built in 1869:

We ended our Santa Fe trip at The Palace Restaurant and Saloon.  We had lunch in restaurant then headed over to the saloon.  The saloon where Billy the Kid frequently gambled and drank:

After the saloon it was time to make our way back to the train station and head back to Albuquerque where we walked back to the hotel.  Later that evening, we drove out to the Hard Rock Casino in Belen to buy our collectibles and have dinner. 

Good times in Santa Fe!

Next stop:  The Rio Grande Zoo and Bio Park