Road Trip to Mexico! Off visiting family in New Mexico, we decided to make the 25 mile drive south to the Mexican border town of Palomas for a quick fix of Mexican – more like Tex-Mex – food, something we rarely get to eat back home in Florida. The Pink Store and restaurant is a quick 5-minute walk from the U.S. side of the border – no documents required to enter Mexico but be prepared to show your passport to re-enter the States.
In our younger years and long before we met each other, my husband and I spent much time in Mexico – he hitchhiked through the country every spring and summer break and even took a summer of college courses there; I made a couple of very long road trips by van with family. We remember fondly the meals bought from street vendors (but not so fondly the intestinal disturbances likely brought on by who knows what combination of food, water and beer). Older, but likely not wiser (I am, after all, the one who ate sago pancakes made with river water during a trip to Papua New Guinea), I looked longingly at the lone street vendor but there was no chance of stopping as everyone else was fixed on our destination: the Pink Store.
La Catrina – I want this!
La Catrina greets us at the door of the Pink Store. They have a fun selection of statuettes portraying this Day of the Dead icon and part of the ritual of our visit is to walk off the big meal by meandering through the rows of handicrafts and souvenirs.
I am told Mexican Coke tastes better because it is made with cane sugar, not High Fructose Corn Syrup. I have probably had 3 Cokes in the past 5 years so I am not one to judge; however, everyone else was having margaritas so I got a little crazy and ordered the Coke – it was pretty good.
We ordered squash blossom soup and combo plates with enchiladas, chile rellenos and tacos, wandered around the gift shop then waddled back across the border, satisfied. Sorry, street vendor – maybe next trip down.
Jeffery Quad Armored Truck at Pancho Villa State Park
A road trip wouldn’t be complete without a stop to a museum or park – we decided to visit Pancho Villa State Park, a few miles north of the border, in the town of Columbus. I’m a little confused about why a town would name a park for the person who attacked them – killing people, looting and burning – but I suppose name recognition has something to do with it. Anyway, it was an informative history lesson, so I’m including pix of the Jeffery Quad Armored Truck, the U.S. Army’s first armored vehicle and a replica of a 1916 JN-3 airplanes used by the First Aero Squadron in the 1916 pursuit of Pancho Villa. Then it was home for a nap!
Replica of JN-3 airplane at Pancho Villa State Park museum
