Day 32 Gallup NM to Albuquerque NM 140 Miles
It's nice and cool in the higher elevations here in New Mexico. We had a pleasant drive to Albuquerque, sunny with not too much wind. Pretty red sandstone cliffs that got more colorful as we approached Albuquerque.
Just as we accepted the fact that the electric stairs were going to cost us a bit at a RV service center, they started to work! We happily motored the 140 miles to Albuquerque giddy that when the RV was started and moved a few feet they worked.
We're at a lovely place just a few miles west of downtown, American RV Park. We are under a BIG tree...a rare thing out here.
Of course, when we parked and tried to get out the damn stairs wouldn't work! Everyone knows how uncooperative mechanical devises drive men insane, don't we? So far Jim has traced every wire, fuse and connection to no avail. He and another man tested the wires, looked at the schematics and we even bought two new batteries for the RV. Nothing. So we 'fixed' it by buying a step stool! The dogs are very confused.
Later, because most of the day was shot with the damn stairs and shopping for batteries, then returning the old ones...we went out for Mexican. The man helping Jim with the damn stairs recommended a place near the old town section of downtown.
Note to self: Mexican food in New Mexico is WAY, WAY hotter than anything on the east coast! Damn, I knew this from a previous disaster in New Mexico on an earlier trip and I still screwed up. I tried, I really, really tried to eat it. But half way through I felt like a dragon. Certainly, I thought, if I blew hard enough flames would shoot out across the restaurant. My New England palate is much too wimpy for the real southwestern fare.
Not only was the food too spicy, it was just mediocre at best. The service was even worse. In fact, it was so bad that I emailed the restaurant. Here is a copy of the email:
Your Mountain Rd. location was recommended to us, so we tried it tonight (May 29th @ around 6:30pm)
We had a unique experience...the waiter introduced himself,and took our drink and appetizer order. Soon he came back with our chips and salsa and a coke for my husband. My margarita was nowhere in sight. Ten minutes go by then the SAME waiter appears at our table and says, "Hi, my name is Jeremy and I'll be your server this evening, can I get you something to drink?" My husband and I just looked at each other....huh? Is this a joke or deja vu? We must have been very forgettable.
We looked surprised and Jeremy looked confused. We kindly explained to Jeremy that we'd already gone through that part of our dining experience (he had said exactly the same thing to us ten minutes ago) and we were now waiting for the other drink and our appetizer. Suddenly Jeremy seemed to 'come to'. He apologized. We got the drink and appetizer promptly. We finished the chips and salsa and put our dishes to the side of the table...where they stayed, and stayed. They were still there when we left.
We got our food, which was okay. Jeremy came by close to the end of our meal, asking if I wanted another margarita. I didn't but requested a coke, which never showed up in the 10 minutes or so that it took to finish our meal.
Now, we just wanted to get out of there so I could go somewhere for a coke, I was thirsty! No Jeremy to be found. Fortunately, the manager was visiting with his family in the booth behind us. When he got up we asked if he could help us to get our check so we could leave. It took a bit, but HE brought us our check...I think even he couldn't find Jeremy.
As we were leaving the parking lot, WE found Jeremy! He was walking outside smoking a cigarette (I HOPE it was only a cigarette) even with all the tables he had on a busy Friday evening, he had time for a ciggy.
I guess he wasn't in the weeds, after all!
We took a ride around the block (probably a few blocks, couldn't find our way out) to see what the 'old town' area was all about. We decided we will come back tomorrow in the daylight to explore the museum and shops. Also tomorrow, we want to ride up the mountain Sandia Peak Tramway.
Oh yes, 'In the weeds' is restaurant speak for overwhelmed.
We will stay here tomorrow and most probably leave Sunday morning. We are still trying to decide our route towards the New England area.
Now, I'm going to sit back and watch the final Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
No comments:
Post a Comment