Romance in the Southwest
Last week, we were lucky enough to find ourselves in
Mesilla, New Mexico. Historic Mesilla was truly a Wild West town. Billy the Kid was a frequent guest, and in fact was tried and hung in the town. In the 1960's, the town became and historic preservation area and as a result has maintained the original buildings on the square and the adobe architectural vernacular which is so specific to New Mexico. It is a beautiful and charming place with shops and restaurants that I wish I had had more time to explore.
We did have time to have a very proper and nostalgic dinner at the
Double Eagle right on the plaza. You enter what seems to be a modest adobe building, but the interiors change quickly to a grand Victorian manse. We passed the Imperial Bar with its French Baccarat crystal chandeliers and gold leaf Corinthian columns on our way to the dining room....
The Maximillian Room is where we were seated, named for Ferdinand Maximillian Joseph, Archduke of Austria who was named Emperor of Mexico in 1864. Poor Max was unfortunately captures and killed by Mexican Leader Benito Juarez. They didn't think they needed an Emperor from Austria. We had a perfect view of the portrait of King George and the stunning Baccarat crystal chandeliers....
We settled in for a meal of Boeuf Bourguignon and the Pecan Pie from this area known for their Pecan orchards. I was charmed by the single dusty mauve roses at every table.....
I felt like I was in a bit of a time machine that night. But then I was always an easy mark for the romance of history.
