Aaaah Yes. New Orleans.
Well after our coffee and Beignets we spent most of the day in the car.
Around 9pm we arrived in Austin, Texas to stay with Lianne's friend Brittany and her Swedish fiance.
Texas was not at all what we had pictured. Rolling green hills, wild flowers, and charming farms eventually gave way to a city full of hipsters, food trucks, and wonderful window shopping.
I was in love with being surrounded by Day of the Dead skulls and Frida Kahlo's face on everthing. I had to shove my hands in my pockets to keep myself from reaching for cash.
The guitar pick earrings painted like skulls and a silver Frida banded bracelet were really appealing.
I think we were both more than a little tempted to buy some cowboy boots as well.
We were pleasantly surprised to find ourselves sitting by a lake in the afternoon, two swans came right up to say hello. Having attended Umass when there were two cranky rented swans hanging out by the pond, Lianne, Christina (our friend who was still in town for South by Southwest) and I were sure to keep our distance. Brittany was instantly terrified without provocation.
That night we went to a lovely restaurant and played trivia. Our team was called "Handful of baby teeth" (for obvious reasons....what?) We did not win. But we would have been close if the last two rounds weren't so absurdly difficult. We just barely beat a huge storm home and listened to astonishing loud thunder all night long.
In the morning, we said goodbye and left for San Antonio.
We walked along the river and found a wonderful outdoor theater (still in use). There is a moat between the audience and the stage creating the most literal 4th wall I have ever seen.
For lunch, we chose a Mexican restaurant. Lianne impressed the waiter so much with her Spanish that he stuck around for hugs and inappropriate leaning. Perhaps it was the mid-day margarita, but we found it to be hilarious.
We met Christina for coffee after and she informed us that we were in one of San Antonio's only coffee shops. I am still bewildered.
Texas is huge. Like really, really, big.
So we headed West towards New Mexico and decided to stop at a motel in a random town along the way. Fort Stockton was pretty much a small strip with some fast food and a huge Walmart. We arrived in Las Cruces, New Mexico yesterday after taking a slight accidental detour through a, army missile testing area.
Whoops.
We were looking for the White Sands National Monument and were redirected by a kind Security Guard who only allowed to through (rather than making us turn around) because his shift was ending. We were totally not supposed to be there.
We found an amazing Mediterranean place for dinner and went to bed happy with our breath smelling of garlic and mint.
This morning we went to the actual White Sands. Walking through the dunes was amazing, and the weather was perfect. Not a cloud in the sky but enough of a breeze to keep us from melting.
The sand is crystal and white but cool to the touch a few inches deep.
Yes, we wore hats, suntan lotion, and sunglasses, Mom.
After the Sands, we headed towards Roswell. Eventually, we found ourselves driving down a desert road that it really just completely empty. I have decided to assume that we drove right over the secret army base that is conducting experiments on extra terrestrials. Its just more fun that way.
This town is pretty hopping though. The most activity we've seen since San Antonio. And there are aliens everywhere. In front of KFC, painted on the walls, and in every advertisement. Tomorrow will be the full Alien experience. Im pretty pumped for the crash site and the museum.
Today, we went to the mall, got our nails done, and rented a redbox movie.
We will stay here tomorrow night as well. I've already signaled a Mexican place called Casa Aliente as our dinner destination for tomorrow night. Ay Caramba!
Was that too much info?
Sorry.
I hope you have started planning your own cross country trip by now.
Cant wait to hear about it!
<3m
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