New Mexico: The Land of Disenchantment strikes again

New Mexico, a blue(ish) state, may be a haven, or heaven, for liberal Texas women seeking abortion in a post-Dobbs world, but that's about all it is.

Having grown up in Gallup, I know whereof I speak when I call it the Mississippi or West Virginia of the west, only with less water. It bills itself as "The Land of Enchantment," but many know better.

A Democratic governor has refused to adequately fund the state's Environment Department to crack down on oil and gas wellhead leaking, methane flaring, etc. Sounds like the RRC, eh?

NM's Department of Transportation can't even get the right info on its website as to what state rest areas are open or not. Meanwhile, even as other "blue" areas move forward into a COVID-future world, it keeps the rest area on I-40 near Gallup closed. I understand Navajo fears, but, the rest area isn't even on the Big Rez. (I wonder if that's why the Acomita Rest Area, near Sky City, is closed despite the state claiming it's open. That said, Taos Pueblo reopened to the public during my trip.)

And, the rest area by the stunning Rio Grande Gorge bridge near Taos? They lock the restrooms at night. Kind of makes it useless. That said, it IS the Mississippi or West Virginia of the west, only with less water. Signs there say that rest area water is for visitors only — as in, NOT for locals with wells running dry.

And, I Tweeteed NM DOT about all of this.

Old Town Albuquerque can't keep restaurants open on the plaza. The two oldies, La Placita and Hacienda, were both closed what, four-five years ago, my last visit? Now, La Placita admits it's COVID permanent. Hacienda has no such sign. The former street taco place a block east of the plaza? Closed. There's a hole in the wall in a calle a half-block north, but it shuts at 9 p.m. even Friday and Saturday. Ditto for a bar with selected eats another block north. 

That, in turn, was something I also saw in Taos. Restaurants close at 9 p.m. even on weekend nights.

Meanwhile, there ARE plenty of wine or wine-and-spirits tasting bars on the plaza for the hooch-focused.

Add in that the WiFi at the airport didn't work and there you go.