Thanks for that. When in California, we also cannot get enough of the Mexican food. Nowadays we can make our own here in NZ, but for many years many key ingredients (even tortillas) were not available. South of the equator, Mexican restaurants used to be a travesty. Not so now, but nothing like you find in CA. Happy travels
I can vouch for Tim and KC's top notch, restaurant quality Mexican food. The chili rellenos were fabulous on a chilly windy evening. And the chips and salsa sat right in front of me on the coffee table next to my Hazy IPA. So what could I do?
Thanks Tim! I can so relate to your experiences trying to recreate Mexican flavours abroad. It was the same for us a few years after arriving, but we finally found a place with authentic yellow and blue corn tortillas, and I mail order them in packs of 75 and keep in the freezer. 😄 They also stock jars of proper sauces, salsas and dried chilies which fill out my quarterly boxes of comfort food. And agreed, it still doesn't match the variety, freshness and ubiquity of fabulous latin flavours in California.
Lovely post, and brings back fond memories of the trip Sonya and I took down 395 to Death Valley in February 2023 - just a few months after we started dating, because nothing says romance like Valentine's Day in Death Valley - which included stops to hike around the Alabama Hills and explore Manzanar. (We spent the night in Bishop on our way back north, because Sonya had fond memories of the hot springs there, but the temperature was about 10º F when we arrived, so we took a pass.)
Thanks Martin, and of course many thanks for your and Sonya's recommendations! Bishop is fabulous, and I also have good memories of that part of Owen's Valley, including the hot springs! I was there when it started snowing once-magical!
I loved reading about the funky places, animals, and people you unexpectedly found along the way. Those kinds of discoveries add a lot to a trip and make them even more memorable. I too have learned the hard way several times to stay inside a national park and in the center of town. Though it may be more expensive, the cost in time and energy to get to the places you want to see adds up.
We stayed in a campground national park in St. Arnaud, New Zealand that didn't have all the kitchen and bathroom facilities we'd gotten accustomed to and wanted. I was grumbling a bit about the sparse kitchen. However, we sat in the kitchen/dining area with few other people, a view through an enormous picture window overlooking the lake and the mountains, and a tasty meal with wine. When we walked back to our campervan, we saw more stars than I've seen in years and then an eclipse. The next day we hiked up a ridge. It became one of our best spots. A lot to be said for serendipity and staying inside the national parks.
I don't know why I haven't learned that lesson sooner! You're much smarter than me.
And absolutely hear-hear to serendipity and sometimes pushing ourselves to do the slightly uncomfortable thing. So many times it ends up leading to the most rewarding moments, as your story so ably illustrates. Thanks for your thoughts!
Wow, so many adventures! I hope Spain can live up to this! Your posts really give me wanderlust (and this time, made my stomach rumble too 😅). The descriptions and the photos of the light got me thinking about that trip to New Mexico me and Mum keep threatening to do... I shall pick your brains on that one! I hope you are settling back in at home and gearing up for the next bit of travel 😊
I'm sure our time in Spain will give me plenty to be impressed with (honestly, the bar is pretty low 🤣🤣). And, yes, lets have a good natter about New Mexico, one of my other favourite places. Land of Enchantment, indeed!
Thanks for that. When in California, we also cannot get enough of the Mexican food. Nowadays we can make our own here in NZ, but for many years many key ingredients (even tortillas) were not available. South of the equator, Mexican restaurants used to be a travesty. Not so now, but nothing like you find in CA. Happy travels
I can vouch for Tim and KC's top notch, restaurant quality Mexican food. The chili rellenos were fabulous on a chilly windy evening. And the chips and salsa sat right in front of me on the coffee table next to my Hazy IPA. So what could I do?
Sounds dreamy!! Looking forward to hearing more details !
Thanks Tim! I can so relate to your experiences trying to recreate Mexican flavours abroad. It was the same for us a few years after arriving, but we finally found a place with authentic yellow and blue corn tortillas, and I mail order them in packs of 75 and keep in the freezer. 😄 They also stock jars of proper sauces, salsas and dried chilies which fill out my quarterly boxes of comfort food. And agreed, it still doesn't match the variety, freshness and ubiquity of fabulous latin flavours in California.
Lovely post, and brings back fond memories of the trip Sonya and I took down 395 to Death Valley in February 2023 - just a few months after we started dating, because nothing says romance like Valentine's Day in Death Valley - which included stops to hike around the Alabama Hills and explore Manzanar. (We spent the night in Bishop on our way back north, because Sonya had fond memories of the hot springs there, but the temperature was about 10º F when we arrived, so we took a pass.)
Thanks Martin, and of course many thanks for your and Sonya's recommendations! Bishop is fabulous, and I also have good memories of that part of Owen's Valley, including the hot springs! I was there when it started snowing once-magical!
I'm glad Sonya likes your idea of romance in Death Valley. Certainly, not many people would think that sounded very promising.
I loved reading about the funky places, animals, and people you unexpectedly found along the way. Those kinds of discoveries add a lot to a trip and make them even more memorable. I too have learned the hard way several times to stay inside a national park and in the center of town. Though it may be more expensive, the cost in time and energy to get to the places you want to see adds up.
We stayed in a campground national park in St. Arnaud, New Zealand that didn't have all the kitchen and bathroom facilities we'd gotten accustomed to and wanted. I was grumbling a bit about the sparse kitchen. However, we sat in the kitchen/dining area with few other people, a view through an enormous picture window overlooking the lake and the mountains, and a tasty meal with wine. When we walked back to our campervan, we saw more stars than I've seen in years and then an eclipse. The next day we hiked up a ridge. It became one of our best spots. A lot to be said for serendipity and staying inside the national parks.
I don't know why I haven't learned that lesson sooner! You're much smarter than me.
And absolutely hear-hear to serendipity and sometimes pushing ourselves to do the slightly uncomfortable thing. So many times it ends up leading to the most rewarding moments, as your story so ably illustrates. Thanks for your thoughts!
It's never too late for us young folks, is it?
Wow, so many adventures! I hope Spain can live up to this! Your posts really give me wanderlust (and this time, made my stomach rumble too 😅). The descriptions and the photos of the light got me thinking about that trip to New Mexico me and Mum keep threatening to do... I shall pick your brains on that one! I hope you are settling back in at home and gearing up for the next bit of travel 😊
I'm sure our time in Spain will give me plenty to be impressed with (honestly, the bar is pretty low 🤣🤣). And, yes, lets have a good natter about New Mexico, one of my other favourite places. Land of Enchantment, indeed!
Can’t wait! ❤️