August flew by in the blink of an eye, and September is hastily disappearing, as well. This Summer sure has been a busy one!
Over here at the love shack, we said hello and goodbye to two lovely lots of family visitors in recent weeks. We took a marvelous trip to Europe, which will be the subject of future blogs. Watch this space!
We also dealt with regional wildfires and deluges from monsoon season — thankfully neither of which did not directly affect myself or Mr Maximalista, although we saw first-hand the harrowing effect it had on our community.
On a happier note, today’s blog is about the trip that Mr M and I took in August, when we went to New Mexico for a few days to celebrate our 5-year wedding anniversary in romantic… Albuquerque?!
Yes: Albuquerque! And yes, it really was a romantic little mini-break. We had a lovely time, which is the cheery subject of today’s post.
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As you may be aware, considering the destination of our last romantic getaway — to Cheyenne, Wyoming — Mr Maximalista clearly has a perverse penchant for whisking me away to crime-ridden small towns in rural America.
Despite this perversity, we have so much fun exploring our local environs, and are simply in LOVE with New Mexico towns such as Santa Fe and Taos. Since neither of us have ventured yet to Albuquerque, we figured why not head there for our next mini-break?!
Thankfully, there was a Camp Bow-Wow just up the road from our hotel, so we were able to deposit Sadie for a little spa holiday of her own: she was booked for a bath, nail clip, and blueberry facial. (Yes, I know, I know…)
Sadie wasn’t the only one in for a terrific treat: the Clyde Hotel in downtown Albuquerque is swanky AF. I absolutely ADORED it, and recommend this 4-star venue to anyone. Especially those of you who appreciate art deco vibes blended with a soupçon of New Mexico boutique-y luxury.
We stayed in a standard King Suite, which suited us perfectly well for the duration of our brief stay. Here’s a quick video I took of our room.
Unsurprisingly, the lobby was also a sumptuous feast for the eyes. As was their 1922 Lounge, where Mr Maximalista and I ate supper, one evening. (I had pasta; Mr M had a burger. Both were delish.)
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Any visit to a new city for us simply isn’t complete without visiting local museums, and I have to tell ya, the Albuquerque Museum did not disappoint. In fact, we were delighted at the special pieces we discovered here. Here are a few of my faves:
We did not make it to the Turquoise Museum, nor the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History. Rest assured, we intend to hit them both when we go back. Preferably before the former closes its doors next year.
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Naturally, I managed to squeeze in a spot of shopping, as well!
We stuck to the Old Downtown area, which is quaint and felt safe. (We had been forewarned by various people to not stray from this area.) I particularly enjoyed poking around Warpath Traders, off Plaza Street, where I was able to pick up some stocking stuffers for the ladies in our family. And I may or may not have found a couple of items for myself…
The Church of San Felipe de Neri offered a welcome respite from the sun, which was blasting us with 100 degrees at mid-day. This adobe-style church is small and charming, with a museum just off the vestry. Definitely worth a visit if you have half an hour to spare.
For authentic New Mexico cuisine, I highly recommend Church Street Cafe. Do not be fooled by the tiny front entrance: this place winds its way back, through a charming hacienda consisting of a wonderful maze of little dining nooks, leading to a dining hall [below], and a vine-covered courtyard dining area.
The staff were hospitable, and the food was amazing. Be sure to sample their red and green chili peppers, a house special.
And of course, any trip to New Mexico would not be complete without the prerequisite margaritas. We supped ours on a long front porch overlooking the plaza.
What better way to idly watch other like-minded pedestrians milling about this charming little downtown.
Lots of love,
M xo
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