But at the Grand Canyon, we met a couple who's also been doing the cross-country trip--just in the other direction. We had an interesting chat with them in the cold, and they recommended swinging by a small town called Madrid. (It's not pronounced MadRID like the city, but rather MADrid, making it similar to the difference between Houston, TX and Houston Street in New York.) The story of Madrid is fascinating: it was once a ghost town, but was reclaimed by hippies. Now it's a bizarre small town of a handful of houses, a restaurant, a bar, and lots of Christmas lights. We stopped by a restaurant there called The Hollar, which had hands-down the best fried green tomatoes I've ever had.
After a quick bite, we headed to Santa Fe, where we met up with Will for some Mexican food and drinks. I tried to pay back our host after he paid for our meal--only to have him THROW THE MONEY BACK INTO MY FACE. Good man!
The next morning, we said goodbye to Will, promising to return for his wedding later this year. And then, we were off to Roswell. I was warned that the famous alien-town didn't offer much to see, so I allocated very little time to it. Apparently, 30 minutes really is all you need to see all the sights! What made Roswell so disappointing was how suburban and generic it was. Driving down town, you wouldn't really get a sense that something magical happened here. It was just Walgreens, McDonalds, and every other chain you'd expect in any generic town. The UFO Museum was interesting, but also doesn't offer much to see. The "evidence" is sketchy at best, but hey... I still want to believe.
Places to check out:
The Hollar (Madrid, NM) - http://www.thehollarrestaurant.com/
Come for the quaint town of Madrid, stay for the delicious food. Situated between Albuquerque and Santa Fe, this abandoned ghost town was reclaimed by artists and transformed into a weird hippy village. The Hollar is home to some amazing cheesy grits and fried green tomatoes.
Second Street Brewery on the Railyard (Santa Fe, NM) - http://www.secondstreetbrewery.com/second-street-brewery-at-the-railyard/
Where else can you go for a drink as trains pass on by and a half-blind man sings country songs for you? Good beer and good snacks, but most importantly, good people. Really enjoyed the conversations I had here with Will and the gang.
Horseman's Haven Cafe (Santa Fe, NM) - http://www.yelp.com/biz/horsemans-haven-cafe-santa-fe
Why yes, this cafe is located in a gas station. And you may notice that it has a line stretching out before it even opens. Why? Because it's that good. This is the very definition of a dive, with greasy diner favorites and Mexican food with a to-die-for green sauce. Seriously. The "level 1" may kill the most; and even I found the "level 2" spicy.
International UFO Museum (Roswell, NM) - http://www.roswellufomuseum.com/
There isn't much to see in the town of Roswell, but this tiny museum is a visit worth taking for any alien aficionado. The "research center" collects evidence and testimonies from close encounters. There's also some cool alien-related props, and hilarious posters.
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