Lunch at The Amador Bar & Grill - Las Cruces

We ejoyed a delicious lunch at The Amador Bar and Grill downtown Las Cruces.    It is a rather large complex including a brewery, a roof top bar which will open next week and conference center.

The Broken Spoke Brewery,  They have a huge selection of beers available.

The Restuarant has a great bar.

Lunch is served under a covered and well insulated side area.  It was very pretty with lots of greenery.

The food was delicious.  We shared a tuna and crab stack and a cheese platter

The cheese platter.

It was a most enjoyable day.

Cheers,
Ross and Beverley 

Downtown - Pt 2

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Las Cruces lies 225 miles(362 km) south of Albuquerque, 48 miles (77 km) northwest of El Paso, Texas and 46 miles (74 km) north of the Mexican border at Santa Teresa.  Its population is made up of 34% white, 2.4 % black, 1 % native American, 1% Asian, 5% mixed race, and 56% of residents are of Hispanic or Latino origin.  Its very flat which makes it easy to walk around.

In the middle of the plaza is a water feature which spirts out every now and again.

There are pieces of art scattered throughout the Plaza.

Lots of Adobe buidings 

More to follow,
Cheers,
Ross and Beverley 

Down Town Las Cruces , New Mexico - Pt 1

Today we ventured to down town Las Cruces.  This as a an area which was previouly inhabited by the Manso people, with the Mescalero Apache living near by.  The area was later colonized by the Spanish beginning in 1598, when Juan de Onate claimed all territory north of the Rio Grands for New Spain and later became the first goveror of the Spanish territory of New Mexico.  

The area remained under New Spain's control until 1821, when the first Mexican Empire claimed ownership.  This area was also claimed by the Republic of Texas during this time until the end of the Mexican- American War  in 1846-48.  The Treaty of Guardalupe Hidalgo in 1848 established the USA as owner of this territory, and Las Cruces was founded in 1849 when the US Army laid out the town plans.

Fast forward to today were Las Cruces is a pretty city with many historical features and in the 1960's La Cruces undertook a large urban renewal project, intended to change downtown into a modern city centre.  

The mountains surrounding Las Curces.

The Las Cruces Courthouse

Throught out the downtown there are some interesting architecture.

There are many interesting areas to visit such as the Book Store.

The Coas Book Store is New Mecxico's largest second - hand bookstore with more than 5000,000 books in stock.  This includes new and used books, including regional and out of print books, CDs, DVDs, Vinyl, VHS, audio books ( we bought 3 of these), and games.  Coas Books is a family owned and operated, with two locations in Las Cruces, NM.

We had never seen so many books outside of a University.

More to follow,
Cheers,
Ross and Beverley 

La Posta Restaurant - Mesilla

La Posta is a Mexican restaurant in an 18th century stagecoach station and is a rambling old adobe which was here before Mesilla itself.   It stands at the corner of the Plaza.  

IIt also features a piranha and aviary.

The Avairy

Throughout the rambling building there a nooks and cranies which show the original building.

There is pretty tiling.

They offer over 100 varieties of tequilla.

Outside dinning is available.

 Inside is bright and cheery.

The servings are huge.

The Piranha's.

They are rather large.

 This is the State Flag and the crew of the USS New Mexico SSN 779 flew this flag at the North Ploe in March 2014.  'La Posta Abajo De Mar" ( La Posta under the Sea) was the official name given to the galley of the USS New mexico by iys crew in 2009.

There are many ornate areas thoughout the restuarant.

With religious pictures pictures painted in alcoves.

Also  pictures depicting the native population.

Outside memories of a bygone past.

Cheers,

Ross and Beverley 

Historic Mesilla - New Mexico

Our RV park is located is located very close to old Mesilla Plaza, which is an historic town within the boundaries of Las Cruces, New Mexico.  During the American Civil War, Mesilla briefly served as the capital of the Conferderate Territory of Arizonia.  By 1850, Mesilla was an established Colony.  Its like many early settlements where it suffered from Apache attacks, being originally a Mexican territory, battles during the Civil War etc.
Today the Le Mesilla Historic District includes Mesilla Plaza, The Fountain Theater, The Basilica of San Albino and the rebult Gazebo as the original became unsafe to use.
Situated around the Plaza there are number of shops mostly all of historic significance.
The Galeria was one such shop.

It was full of all things Mexican.

The Plaza is not all that large and is very easy to walk around and reminded us of Santa Fe.  There are interesting lane ways. 

Impressive adobe buildings both old and new.
The new:

The Old:

The fighting spirit is still alive and well in this town.

Cheers,
Rossand Beverley