Our Stay in Las Cruces, NM

New Mexico

June 2021

Driving Through Dust & Desert​

  • May 16, 2021
  • 0.75 mi
  • 18:50 min

We spent about four hours on HW-10 heading toward our next destination in Las Cruces, NM. Just before crossing the New Mexico border, we made a quick stop to stretch our legs, use the restroom, and grab a late lunch. We brought Hemmes with us to the table so we wouldn’t have to leave him unattended in the car. He immediately started to protest, wanting out of his carrier. The latter was definitely not a great idea, given the signs warning of poisonous snakes and scorpions in the area! We wrapped up our “to-do” list quickly and were back on the road within 15 minutes.

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While driving, we saw dust tornadoes whirling over the dry landscape. This natural spectacle thankfully didn’t delay our drive, and we arrived at the Airbnb in Las Cruces exactly at check-in time, thanks in part to the one-hour time difference.

Settling In, Native American Style

When we booked this Airbnb, we had been clear about bringing our cat, Hemmes. The owner had overlooked that detail, and though she normally refused to host cats, she kindly honored our confirmed booking rather than canceling. We were grateful and promised to leave the place spotless. We moved the rugs into an unused room and covered the furniture with our own linens. To keep Hemmes calm and the space clean, we even used our own sheets, so he was surrounded by the scents of home.
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By the way, the home is tastefully decorated in a Native American Mesa style. I absolutely love these decorations with patterns and bright colors.

We spent the day settling in and relaxing, with only an early-morning walk through the neighborhood to admire the beautiful Spanish-style homes.

A Hike Along the Majestic Rio Grande

Of course, we went to see the majestic Rio Grande in downtown Las Cruces. We covered about seven miles of the trail in La Llorona Park along the river. The park has a bit of a spooky reputation. Legend tells the story about La Llorona, the haunting Weeping Woman, who wanders the riverbanks at night, wailing for her drowned children. In Hispanic American culture, this story is often told to keep kids away from the river’s treacherous currents.

"The Rio Grande (big river) has been an integral part of the history of New Mexico for thousands of years. Running through the entire state, it is both its backbone and lifeblood. It originates in the southern Rocky Mountains of Colorado and then forms the boundary between Texas and Mexico before spilling into the Gulf of Mexico. Over 1,800 miles long, it is one of the great rivers of the world."

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We always imagine “parks” as lush areas with trees and plenty of shade, but La Llorona is mostly meadow with only the occasional tree along the riverbank. While the wide-open views of the Rio Grande and the majestic Organ Mountains in the distance were beautiful, there was simply nowhere to hide from the bright sun. After seven miles, we called it quits and drove to Old Mesilla for lunch.

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Settling In, Native American Style

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By the way, the home is tastefully decorated in a Native American Mesa style. I absolutely love these decorations with patterns and bright colors. We spent the day settling in and relaxing, with only an early-morning walk through the neighborhood to admire the beautiful Spanish-style homes.

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