Thanksgiving Road Trip - Days 3 & 4

Yesterday was pretty much an all day drive from Sedona to Albuquerque.  I made it into town around 4pm and got settled into my hotel.  I did make one stop along the way (other than pit stops and gas) just east of Gallup to stop at the Fire Rock Casino (http://500nations.com/casinos/nmFireRockCasino.asp) on the Navajo Nation lands.  It was a nice break a little over half way through.  I got a little lunch at the food court (they had Navajo Lamb Stew – it was actually very tasty!) and, as my dad puts it, paid my entertainment tax by gambling a little bit.  I had stopped at this casino a few years back on what happened to be opening day when we were driving through.  It hasn’t changed much.
 

After I got into town, I called my friend Donna since we were planning to have dinner.  She and her husband Ron came and picked me up at the hotel and drove me across town to Sadie’s (http://www.sadiesofnewmexico.com/sadies-4th) for some New Mexican cuisine.  Of course, I HAD to have a Margarita – I ordered the Santa Fe (a classic margarita with the addition of some cranberry juice…very tangy!).  For my main course, I had the shredded beef brisket enchiladas with red sauce.  While the plate looked a mess, the food was absolutely delicious!  I could have eaten another plate of those enchiladas (but I was quite full with that I had).  The beef was tender and seasoned well, and the red sauce just complimented it so well.

 They dropped me back at the hotel and I wound up turning in early as I was exhausted from driving all day.  This morning, Donna picked me up and we drove out to Sandi Peak and rode the tram to the top of the Sandia Mountains.  You get such an incredibly stunning view of the entire valley area, and from the top of the peak, you can see the other side down into Santa Fe.  There was a little snow at the top, but most of it had melted.  The snow season should be starting soon though.

 

I have never done one of the trams before.  They have one like it in Palm Springs, and I just haven’t done it, so this was a perfect excuse to do it this time.  We walked around the peak for a while and took in the amazing views.  I bet at either sunrise or sunset it is even more gorgeous.  Perhaps on another trip.

After the peak, we drove out to the Sandia Casino (http://www.sandiacasino.com/) for lunch (and a little gambling).  Donna had not eaten at the Council Room Restaurant and Bar, so we decided to try that out.  It’s a very well appointed dining room and the service was impeccable.  We shared some nachos that were good (not great, but definitely good) and I had burger to order for my entrée.  The burger was cooked just right, seasoned well, and I added blue cheese and bacon.  It satisfied my desire for some beef.  Afterwards, we gambled a little and I basically broke even – playing about $50 worth and winning it back.

Donna dropped me back at my hotel to rest a bit and kick back.  I met her and her family a little later across the street at the Bravo Cucina Italiana (http://www.bravoitalian.com/index.html) a nice Italian chain where I had the chianti braised beef raviolis that were quite delectable. 

Tomorrow, I am off to Colorado to visit friends in Colorado Springs and will make a couple of stops along the way.