America's answer to Paradise Cave (NM)

I’ll be frank, there is a whole lot of nothing in this state. We spent many, many hours traversing dry, flat, empty plains, hopeful that there was something to distinguish it from the insipid Texan landscape. On the surface there isn’t really, it’s only once you venture underground that things get interesting.

Thirty miles south of Carlsbad is a national park, like no other we’ve seen in America. Although not the biggest, it’s arguably one of the most interesting, with over three miles of publicly accessible dry caves and tunnels to explore. Having been blown away by our visit to Paradise Cave and Phong Nha in Vietnam, we had high expectations, and thankfully, we weren’t disappointed. We were however, a little shocked (and bemused) to find a fully operational cafe and toilets 72 storeys below ground. The only reason I can be so precise is because there was also an elevator, which took less than two minutes to return ‘intrepid explorers’ to their car. Oh America. If I had a professional interest in geological integrity, I might have found the whole set-up a little worrisome, but since I don’t, I would definitely recommend it to anyone with a curious disposition.

As far as the rest of New Mexico is concerned, I can’t be certain that Washington DC has any idea that it actually exists. The political invisibility manifests itself through pot holes, abandoned towns and large areas of undeveloped land; but it’s not all bad, since it’s also given way to a certain amount of freedom. This is evident in a number of neighbourhoods which seem completely unbridled by typical American regulations. In place of brick or wood, bulbous clay constructions are the norm, and although they might seem incongruous at first, an encounter with any local will prove that nothing else will do. Mexican culture really does dominate here, and so, if you’re a guacamole aficionado or a taco die-hard, then this is the place to spoil your palate.

Beyond Santa Fe, the landscape changes dramatically, revealing canyons, mountains and the ever so beautiful town of Taos. It was there that we watched the Patriots scrape a win against the Seahawks, who together put on a tremendous show for the 2015 Superbowl. Although Lucan was there for the ads, I’ll admit, the game had me hooked right until the end.