A chance encounter in rural Shaanxi from New Mexico, USA?
I took a trip to Albuquerque and Santa Fe in New Mexico over Thanksgiving holiday. One of the few trips I didn't need to plan ahead... because there wasn't much to do, just pure relaxation. I really have to say, the architecture here... isn't it just a copy of the cave dwellings in northern Shaanxi, China?
Albuquerque: 📍Old town, basically like the loess courtyards of northern Shaanxi... just wander around.
📍Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort, a Category 4 hotel with pretty good value for money in North America. The hotel has tons of activities; I recommend the massage at their spa 💆♀️. I brought a book, and the weather was so nice I wanted to spend the whole day at the spa. The only downside was that there didn't seem to be many good restaurants at the hotel.
📍Abuelita’s🇲🇽 restaurant, found on Reddit, a family-run restaurant, delicious! I recommend the Chil Relleno and Sopapiñola. Their signature red and green sauce (Christmas sauce) is a flavor I've never had in Texas before; it's very cheesy and spicy. They only serve breakfast and lunch, so it's great! 😋
📍Pueblo Cultural Center: There was a traditional tribal dance performance the day we went, quite interesting.
📍Sandia Peak Tram: Tickets need to be bought in advance. If you want to see the sunset on holidays, go early. We arrived at 4:10 pm for the 5 pm sunset and waited in line for almost an hour, but luckily we made it on the cable car up the mountain.
📍Ten 3: A very nice restaurant on Sandia Peak, accessible by cable car. I recommend making a reservation for fine dining for even better views. Located at an altitude of 10,300 feet (about 3 kilometers), hence the name Ten 3.
📍Sawmill Market: A pretty good food court.
Santa Fe: 📍The Plaza, lots of museums and art galleries, great for exploring!
📍Canyon Road, full of art galleries, I loved it! A day to cleanse my eyes! The only downside was the little earthen houses, with chili peppers drying in the sun outside – it really felt like they needed a few old men in cotton robes and tucked-in hands from Shaanxi to belt out some Qinqiang opera!
📍Kakawa Chocolate House, a chocolate shop! We tried four kinds of hot chocolate, but only the signature Kakawa American was the best, with a nutty flavor.
📍La Boca, the food was good, but the atmosphere was great too – dim lighting, kind of like a European pub.
📍Tumbleroot Pottery Pub, a bar where you can make your own pottery; even the glasses are handmade by the owner.