Old Mesilla is filled with galleries, shops and restaurants all surrounding an old plaza and the San Albino Church. It is very historic. In fact the treaty of Gaudalupe Hidalgo as well as the Gadsen Purchase took place on the plaza. Mesilla used to be on the west side of the Rio Grande but a flood changed the course of the river and it is now east of the river. Those were the days before the army corps of engineers built flood levees.
here are galleries like Azul, Laughing at the Sun, and Black Gold from the Sun that are funky and eclectic. Billy the Kid and Pat Garret both stayed at La Posta. La Posta was once a stopping point for the butterfield stagecoach. It is an atmospheric place to eat decent mexican. The wait is 45 min if you go during rush. Very reasonably priced.
TAke a stroll around all the corner shops off the plaza. In the summer there are fiestas every weekend. A mercado happens every thursday and sunday afternoons with all local artisans. Go later in the day towards 4 or 4:30 and they will cut you a better deal. Don't haggle too much, they are all very good people and do this full time.
During the fall months there are free mariachi performances every Sunday. There is a day of the dead celebration every nov. 1. Christmas eve is nice as they light thousands of Luminarias at dusk and there is singing on the plaza. This place goes back to when the native americans, spanish and europeans would all meet and trade on the plaza. The double eagle is haunted. The fountain theater shows fantastic films every night as well as saturday and sunday. www.fountaintheater.org visit www.oldmesilla.org for more things to do. Don feliz on the corner is a nice cheap place to eat. Have coffee at the Bean, also wireless. Have drinks in the double eagle bar, very classic place.
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Address: www.oldmesilla.org
Directions: take main st, I-70 to Avenida de Mesilla and turn south or right. Park on the Plaza or near the La Mesilla town hall.
Website: www.oldmesilla.org
Other Contact: www.fountaintheater.org
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on Mar 30, 2007
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