Friday Ojo Calente, New Mexico

 

Not something I really looked forward to honestly. In the middle of nowhere New Mexico and already hot outside. Why would anyone in their right mind go to hot springs?

Boy was I wrong. Way Wrong!!!

 

They had a bunch of different pools fed by natural hot springs that contained different minerals and were at differing temperatures. 

 

 

 

This one was soda springs and was indoors sort-of. It was peaceful and quiet. They had whisper cops to keep the noise down. Definitely not the place to bring small kids or adults turning 50 who have problems becoming board easily. The fake fart noises echoed throughout the area surprisingly well.

 

 

 

This was just a cool fountain that had their "Hot Eye" logo on it.

 

 

These were the pipes feeding the "Iron" springs. It was pretty deep and had hot gravel on the bottom of it. It seemed to be the most popular of the pools.

 

This was the largest of the springs. It was the Lithium pool. It was supposed to relax you a great deal. We used to give Lithium to mental patients. It DID have a very calming effect.

Right beside it was a smaller and much hotter springs that had Arsenic in it. It felt good but just seemed wrong. I was careful not to drink any of it.

 

 

 

The hammocks beside the Lithium pool.

 

This was one of several springs with the same minerals in it. We rented a private pool early in the morning. It was very nice just hanging with three others. I could see it being very nice in the snow. It had it's own fireplace and was secluded from the other pools.

 

 

There was also a mud pool. I was the only one out of the group to try it. It was fantastic. You slather mud All over your body then let it dry. You sit around on a chase lounge drying yourself in the sun like a lizard then when the mud starts cracking you dip into the mud pool to loosen it up. Afterwards you shower the remaining bits off with the hot springs water.

It was an incredible morning.

We stopped on the way back at the Taos Mesa Brewing Company, ordered several flights of beers, and had a bit of lunch. I had Creamed Crab Bisque with Crab Fritters.