Royce here... blog editor-in-chief for the day. Barb will comment (critique?)later and add color to my mundane report of our day.
After three pretty "intensive" days, we were on s - l - o - w time today... a chance to recharge our batteries for more challenging things ahead.
Lazy morning... coffee, late breakfast. Barb kept blogging while I dug deeper into Pillars of the Earth. I'm so blessed to have a neurotic workaholic as my lady; she just can't help herself.
But we did make time for yoga, as we have every day since arriving. One can't help but do the right thing when the teacher is your traveling companion. Barb is incredible in her instructor role. My bones, muscles and tendons feel happy after every workout.
No doubt all parts will be equally p.o.'d at me when I return home and don't have Barb to help me achieve a better bod every morning. I have a long way to go to achieve her youthful flexibility, but I could get there -- and stay there -- by continuing this morning ritual eternally. I'm going to order a yoga DVD; it won't be the same, but I'll do my best.
We didn't step outside the adobe 'til well after noon. This is life as it should be, which is however you want it.
We hit the upper Ranchitas Road toward the Millicent Rogers Museum again because yesterday we were so set on getting to the museum that we didn't want to pull over to take a picture of the flower-bed pickup mentioned in yesterday's blog. Today, however, that photo was our top priority. (Hopefully you'll eventually see it on this blog.)
Mission accomplished, we set out for Arroyo Seco, a funky little art community several miles north of Taos. We visited it when we were here a couple of years ago and enjoyed the trek. Today, however, we discovered that, in some cases, once is enough.
Been there. Done that. Henceforth, we'll leave Arroyo Seco to first-timers yet to come.
Next stop: Orlando's for lunch. But we stopped first at a "Mexican dry goods store" that Barb spotted along the highway. Juan the shopkeeper was so thrilled to see us that he instantly began spouting discounts, crying "Business is slow."
Barb, wise Mexican goods shopper that she is, was excited to hear Juan's rockbottom prices for high-quality rugs for yoga. She walked away with three beauties, making two people (Barb & Juan) very happy.
Me? I was just salivating for lunch at Orlando's, a quirky little joint we visited on our last visit to Taos. Fun atmosphere, great food.
Sailing along again, we spotted the well-hidden Orlando's sign and whipped off the highway, all set for a decadant afternoon delight (cuisine and booze, that is). The time was precisely 3:07 p.m. I know this because the sign read, Lunch - noon to three. And the chain across the archway made clear that Orland is serious about his 3 o'clock cutoff.
But the really important thing was that Barb and Juan were happy. (I believe it's this kind of perception that makes some folks call me a wise man.)
Back on the road to Taos! A missed opportunity at Orlando's meant another opportunity to visit the highly recommended Antonio's Mexican food restaurant. We had alread enjoyed Antonio's top-notch sangria and tableside guacamole on an afternoon break on Saturday, so we were full of anticipation for a dynamite dining experience.
But, alas, Chef Antonio didn't cut the mustard when it came to the challenge of serving a five-star, full-fledged meal. We decided the chili con queso was something other than chili con queso (we don't know what). And our dinners were equally disappointing.
"Highly recommended" just goes to show that there can be a difference of opinion on what constitutes great Mexican food. We're grateful for good sangria or the whole experience would have been a downer.
But everything's a learning experience, as they say, and we learned that Antonio's is not "our place" in Taos. We're heading back to Orlando's tomorrow for an early dinner. (I'm the official clock-watcher; we're not missing out this time.)
So Goodbye, Antonio's and Hello, Smith's supermarket, where we replenished supplies for good home cookin'. Great supermarket for a tiny town, thanks, no doubt, to the year-round fluctuating tourist population.
Before heading "home," Barb did a dry run south of town to scout the location for her art class tomorrow afternoon. She's excited and all atwitter; there's nothing she loves more that going into her creative mode and ending up with multi-colored skin.
Once home, we took a nice stroll through the streets of Taos -- a very charming, very eclectic little city. Enticing, to say the least.
The walk turned into an unexpected adventure when we saw a small townhome community that intrigued us. Just by stepping into the area for a closer peek, we ended up in the home of strangers (Floridians) eager to show us their Taos getaway.
Earlier in the day, we managed a similar feat when we accosted the cleaning lady for the condo next to ours. The place is for sale, so she gave us the cook's tour. Really nice... and priced right. Hm-mm-m.
Barb thinks we must look terribly benign for strangers to open their doors so readily to us. I prefer to think it's because we're charming. (Please avoid posting comments to the blog on this particular issue.)
And that pretty much sums up another day in Taos for Royce & Barb's Excellent Adventure -- sans the unending quips and laughter that seem to follow us wherever we go.
Not quite as exciting as an African safari or a foray into the Alaskan wilderness, but for us, it describes a very satisfying day... the kind of prize we're always happy to claim.
Can't wait for manana.
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