Mark, Mister and I pulled off Route 20 in New Mexico to fill up on gas, when we had our first stray chihuahua sighting. “Look Mark, a CHIHUAHUAAAA!!!!” This particular chihuahua was looking adorable as he jumped up and down around the legs of customers walking into the store. I got out of the driver’s seat with my camera and started talking to him the way I talk to Mister,
“Well hello there good looking, ca-”
“BARKBARKYAPYAPYAPYAPYAPYAPYAPBARK.”
I grabbed Mister for bait, but this other chihuahua was not having it. Mark paid for the gas and we continued driving down 20 toward the border. We weren’t headed anywhere in particular. This drive was the result of many failed Google searches for New Mexico border town fun — when I found nothing but information on border towns in Mexico and how Americans should not cross the border or risk being kidnapped/murdered, I decided to forgo any planning and just drive until we found something interesting and Mexican.

As we continued down the highway my mind began to wander as I imagined finding another stray chihuahua on the streets and taking him in — this of course could never happen because a) Mister would probably not like some stray dog just waltzing into his life and b) stray chihuahuas are MEAN! c) they are probably smelly and very dirty too. And what were the chances we would find another stray chihuahua just walking around town? We missed our chance with the mean dog back at the gas station.

In the distance to the left I could see a black SUV driving toward Route 20, down a long, straight side road. When we reached the street I took the left. Not even twenty yards ahead of us I spotted another. “OH LOOK! Another chihuahua!!!” Really?! My dreams have come true and even more so, Mister’s, he was in the back clawing at the window and crying for a chance at sniffing his fellow chihuahuas butt. This sure beats cow sightings for Mister.

(Do you see him, he’s a tan dog toward the middle center of the photo) The dog continued running from us as we stalked him all the way down the road trying to take a photo of him. He led us to his neighborhood full of one story houses with messes all over the lawns of each home. He met up with two larger dogs who escorted him back to his yard, making sure we didn’t get out and try any funny business.

As we turned the corner on the next block we found yet another chihuahua running around the streets!

He was yappy as well but a little more friendly when I busted out the Mister bait.

After making a big fuss about this third adorable sighting we realized we were interrupting a celebration going on across the street. Everyone stared us down — embarrassssiiiinnnnggg. We hopped back in the jeep, drove around the corner, AND THERE WAS ANOTHER CHIHUAHUA!

We saw at least three more before leaving and each time Mister flipped out and nearly clawed our eyes out trying to get to the other dog.

The only road leading out of town was the same road leading in, so we turned around and began driving back to 20. We passed by the celebration again. This time they were playing the drums and dancing around in costumes. A few minutes down the road I realized, “MARK! We have to go back! I have to take photos!” This was exactly what I was looking for: something interesting and Mexican.

Unsure of whether they’d let me in, I gathered some courage to get out of the jeep, which by now, we had driven slowly past the celebration four times, and ask for permission to take photos of the festivities. Although no one seemed too excited about it, nobody protested either.

The previous day was the Virgin Mary’s birthday, so that’s what everyone was celebrating. They dressed up in these fabulous outfits:

And preformed a choreographed dance with maracas, while these guys played the drums.

Every so often these two masked fellas would dancefight, then tell jokes and everyone would laugh. The jokes might have been about that idiot photographer girl…

The dancing and drumming were great, but what I really had my eye on were these five kids playing on the other side of the yard. When I felt like no one was looking, although that was probably impossible being the tallest, whitest person there sticking a camera in their business, I walked over to the kids and said hi to them.

“Hey guys, what’s up?” I take a picture.
“Nothing much.”
“Do you mind if I take some photos of you?”
“Okay!” said the kid in the red hat.
Now, if I’ve learned one thing from drawing caricatures of kids, it’s that kids LOVE to tell you how old they are and to get real specific with fractions they don’t yet understand.
“I’M FIVE”
“I’m six!!!”
“I’m five too! No I’m five and a half.”
“I’m not.” said the girl.

She was probably four, but before she could answer me I complemented her on her complete set of silver capped teeth. Without hesitation everyone else stuck their fingers in their mouths and pulled the edges of their lips apart to show me all their silver molars.

“Can I take your photo over here?” I pointed to a spot they could stand so the sun wouldn’t be behind them.

I swear, I didn’t set them up this way, and I am so glad they all knew how to pose.

But this was just one stop on our border town drive, we needed to continue on.

Photography is thirsty work. I was so thirsty I could drink a Mark Head sized cherry limeade.

We drove down Route 20 for a little bit before we stumbled upon a flea market. I suppose in the summer this place is bustling with shoppers and vendors, but on this Saturday in December it was dead.

The chihuahuas we met earlier in the day all looked a little skanky, like you wouldn’t want your dog sniffing their wormy behinds. This guy though, he was on a leash, and clean looking!

Unfortunately Mister was a jerk and only felt like growling at the other guy. Or maybe we can just pretend that’s a smile Mister has on his face…

The hottest flea market item?

PUPPIES!

The owner was trying to sell one of the puppies to two guys standing behind us. On of them replied “yeah, I’ll have to get an iron.”

You know, ’cause they’re so wrinkly! Hilarious and adorable!!!

Back in the jeep and on Route 20 again. The next place to catch our eye…

An outdoor pottery store.

Cheap pottery.

The theme of the day was Mark Really Wants Mexican Food (and is going to go on about it for five hours). That’s alright, I suppose this is to make up for all those Thai food cravings I’ve had.

Chile Limón chips held him over for a few hours.

We found a store that sold vintage clothing, disco shirts and Mexican dresses.

Some were too big, too bad.

Mark couldn’t handle not having his mouth full of Mexican food any longer. After reaching El Paso, only to find that the smaller towns we stopped in were more charming than this large city, Mark turned us around and we headed back to where we started so we could finally get him some dinner.

Mark was describing all the creative Mexican dishes he hoped to consume that night, when we drove past a row of colorful storefronts with hand painted text all over them. “Ooooh!” I began to get excited but knew we couldn’t stop because Mark was on a mission.
“What Katie?”
“Oh, it was nothing it was just–”
“Well, what was it?”
“Colorful buildings with text all over them!!!”
“Okay, we can turn around.”

What a guy!

Finally!

Mark is in heaven.

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