Remembrance of Breakfasts Past

"What would you like for breakfast this morning?" my husband, Wayne, asked one dreary February morning as we were sitting at home in El Paso, Texas.

 "Eggs Benedict at Wynn's Hotel in Dublin," I replied facetiously. Our travel funds were in short supply with the stock market bouncing up and down, and we had no plans to travel to faraway lands anytime soon. But at least we have our breakfast memories.

Not all travelers may agree, but to us breakfast in a new city is one of the highlights of a trip.  (We have friends and relatives who prefer to sleep in and miss breakfast, can you imagine?)  We began to reminisce about breakfast meals we have enjoyed in our travels.

First place goes to Wynn's Hotel in Dublin, Ireland.  Wynn's is a traditional (shall I say staid?) Victorian hotel located near the famous Abbey Theatre.  A maitre d' ushers guests into the elegant dining room with views of  passersby on Abbey Street Lower.  Your coffee cup in filled with steaming strong coffee as you are being seated. Wayne invariably orders Eggs Benedict and swears that they are the best he has ever had.

Wynn's Hotel, Dublin Ireland

The runner-up for our best breakfast memory goes to La Fonda On the Plaza Hotel in Santa Fe, New Mexico.  Santa Fe is only a six hour drive from our home (close by Texas standards), so we have been guests at the hotel many times, often during the Christmas season.  The breakfast room, La Plazuela, is a large, bright area with a fountain in the middle and hand painted glass tiles on doorways. Eggs Benedict is again usually Wayne's menu choice.

La Fonda on the Plaza, Santa Fe, New Mexico

I generally order a less ambitious dish, like this one with yogurt, granola and fresh fruit.

La Fonda Hotel on the Plaza, Santa Fe, New Mexico

Another breakfast memory is not so much about the food but rather the incredible views from the balcony where breakfast is served at the CS Vintage House Hotel in Pinhão, Portugal.  This picturesque small city is located on the Douro River in the wine country.  I could sit all day and watch the boats on the river and gaze across to the vineyards on the hills. 

Pinhão, Portugal

A much less extravagant breakfast that still brings us happy memories was in a small tea shop in the village of Greenwich, UK.  I look forward to ordering tea (hot tea we would call it in Texas) in Britain because you are served not just a cup but a whole pot of tea with sugar and cream on the side.  Scones with clotted cream and jam are the perfect accompaniment to the tea, which always tastes better to me than our American tea.   

Greenwich, United Kingdom

A breakfast we can have any time we feel like driving about an hour from our home is in a small restaurant called The Shed in Las Cruces, New Mexico. What a perfect place to start a relaxed Saturday enjoying the multicultural atmosphere of the "City of the Crosses." We have to remind ourselves to bring a hearty appetite, because servings are quite large.  The quiche comes with a variety of fresh fruit and crusty bread.

The Shed, Las Cruces, New Mexico

Our last standout memory are the breakfasts served on the long distance VIA Canadian train between Toronto and Vancouver.  We have taken the four-day trip both ways, east to west and west to east, once in the dead of winter.  I can't say enough about how much we love to the travel on the Canadian. And being served a sumptuous breakfast while watching the Canadian landscape pass by through large picture windows is about as much fun as a person should be allowed to have.

VIA Rail Canada

I'm not sure where our travels will take us next.  To the Isle of Skye in Scotland? Northern Spain? A train trip in British Columbia?  Wherever it is, I know Wayne will ask me, "What do suppose they serve for breakfast?"

A Magical Visit to Taos, New Mexico

The arrival of the Christmas season each year fills me with expectation of something out of the ordinary.  I long for the Ghost of Christmas Present to sprinkle magic dust on our household as he did for Christmas Eve revelers in Dickens' famous work.

When autumn arrives, my husband, Wayne, and I start making plans for the Christmas holidays, trying to avoid having nothing better to do than sit around by ourselves, flipping through Netflix.  Our first choice is always to celebrate with family members, but logistics are often complicated.

For several seasons now, we have traveled to Santa Fe, New Mexico, about six hours from our hometown of El Paso, Texas, and stayed at the luxurious La Fonda on the Plaza hotel.  This year we decided to gamble on a new location—Taos, New Mexico.

Taos is a small town located in north-central New Mexico, about a seven hour drive from El Paso.  (Readers from other parts of the country may be surprised that Texans think nothing of spending long hours on the road.  We met a mother and daughter from San Antonio, Texas who told us they had traveled with their dogs for two long days to spend Christmas in Taos.)

And did we find magic in Taos?  Indeed we did, in small but significant ways.  Here are a few, in no particular order.

On a short drive to Taos Pueblo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, we were charmed by the many beautiful horses roaming contentedly, often in front of humble dwellings. The snow-capped Sangre de Cristo Mountains formed a backdrop to the peaceful scene.    

Our perfect stay at Casa Benavides Historic Inn prompted my five star review on Trip Advisor.  Located just a block off the central plaza, Casa Benavides spoils guests with personalized service, comfortable rooms, and a breakfast worth getting up for.  On December 25th, we shared the breakfast room with a large family, all dressed in identical Christmas pajamas.  The ultimate comfort, although I would never be that brave.

At about 3:00 p.m., it was time to eat again, with afternoon tea and homemade pastries produced by three staff bakers.  On Christmas Day, tea was served in the decorated sitting room, where you could observe passers-by at the front window or chat with other guests. Staff members dressed up in holiday finery and joined us.

Casa Benavides makes liberal use of the distinctive shade of blue found in Santa Fe and Taos.  I can't replicate the color at home, but I can recognize it immediately.

We admired the rounded corners of pueblo-style architecture that have an amazingly serene effect on the soul. No sharp angles, just a pleasing flow.

A special dinner at Doc Martin's Restaurant in the Taos Inn (THE place for live music) satisfied both my carnivore husband, who ordered a steak, and my vegetarian leanings, with a quinoa and fall vegetable dish.  We shared a decadent dessert, something with strawberries and cream, as I recall.

Taos shops and cafes were open for business.  We popped in a small bakery for coffee and pastry, served by the baker herself.  Maybe because we showed interest in her baking  she handed us a bag of free rolls as we went out the door.  Also memorable was the proprietor of the only store open on the plaza on Christmas night.  When we thanked him, he said he enjoyed being there because he didn't have friends or family to be with.  

Of all of our experiences, my peak Taos experience was visiting San Francisco de Asís Mission Church as volunteers prepared the grounds for Christmas Eve.  

Paper bags turned into farolitos (luminarias) appeared to have been hand decorated, perhaps by school children.  Candles nestled in sand in each bag would be lighted on Christmas Eve.

From simple decorations on paper bags to intricate jewelry displayed in store windows, we admired the creativity on display.  Taos has long been a mecca for famous artists and writers.  I have heard said that the light in northern New Mexico has a special inspirational quality.  

Taos may not a vacation spot for ticking off tourist experiences, although if a traveler was of a mind to, they could visit the Rio Grande Gorge, Kit Carson Museum, and Taos Pueblo Christmas celebrations.  But on this Christmas holiday, Taos seduced me with bracing clear cold air, warm hospitality, and sunsets against the sky, a startling shade of dark blue.