A Slower Pace / Old Mesilla

  Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States
Tuesday, August 5, 2008

San Albino

Although Deb has been to the facility once before, she asked if I minded driving the both of us to work this morning.  The directions are pretty straight forward; I could drive it in my sleep...I probably did this morning.  If I paid more attention to the route in the morning, I might have spotted the speed trap that I got caught in after work.  Can you write-off a speeding ticket in your expense report?

Billy the Kid Cafe

For dinner we decided to meet two other co-workers, Jim and Ken, at Old Mesilla.  This section of Las Cruces was founded around 1500s by Mexican colonists.  Billy the Kid was sentenced to death at the county courthouse here.  The most prominent structure in Mesilla was San Albino Church.  Interesting note...in front of the church there was a statue dedicated to those who sacrificed and served but there was no indication of what war this monument was meant to commemorate.  Also on one side was a gravestone for all the aborted innocents...it is a Catholic Church.  The square was pretty desolate but all the available parking spots were taken?

We went to La Posta for dinner only to find out that there was a 45 minute wait...that was where all the people were hiding.  Actually I did not mind waiting because it would have given me some time to check out the tank of piranhas and tease the macaws and toucans they had in the cage.  The others were hungry though, so we tried another restaurant in Old Mesilla, Double Eagle restaurant.  The Double Eagle occupies a 150 year old hacienda which was once the governor's mansion.  Supposedly the restaurant was said to be haunted by a woman's ghost.  I did not see an apparitions...until after a few of their award winning mango margaritas.  For dinner I had a house specialty Grilled Chicken Mesilla, marinated chicken topped with green chile and cheese...it was okay but nothing to rave about.  After another post dinner round, we called it a night.