Finally, a chance to get out of town for a few weeks  with plans to visit New Mexico, Arizona and San Diego. Day 1 saw us make a beeline south to Taos. I think we set a time record from our driveway to the Orlando’s Restaurant parking lot – 4 hours and 31 minutes. For 20 years this has been my favorite eatery in the Taos area. We know they stop serving for a couple of hours between lunch and dinner; that’s our incentive to arrive before 2:30pm.

Although I peruse the menu and think that perhaps I’ll make a new selection I fall back on my long-time favorite – a shredded beef burrito smothered in green chile served with beans and posole. Note – I never cared for posole until I had Orlando’s; now, I even make it at home.

Bob opted for fish tacos and their excellent french fries. Our perky and efficient waitress said she prefers the fish tacos on blue corn tortillas instead of the usual flour. When Bob can’t make up his mind she suggests one of each.

Although we are stuffed we can’t pass up sharing a thick white chocolate, macadamia nut cookie. Pleased to once again enjoy an Orlando’s lunch.

On our way to Santa Fe we stop at Stephen Kilborn’s pottery studio in Pilar. I purchased my first hand-thrown and painted coffee mug early in the 1990s. Adding a few pieces each year I now have complete dinner service for eight and numerous serving pieces. Instead of selecting a single pattern I preferred a potpourri of Stephen’s unique endeavors. Recently he added a bee pattern and I had to have one of the small oval plates – a size I use almost everyday.

Day is done.

Overnight is at Old Santa Fe Inn just a few blocks from the historic plaza. A daughter-in-law found this lodging when she planned out 50th anniversary. We’ve returned a half dozen times since. Although we’re only passing through Santa Fe on this trip we want to indulge in a bit of the local ambiance by bypassing the typical brand hotels.