Hitting the road before daylight had its benefits: the highway was all mine for a couple of hours. It was quiet for a while, too -- until I noticed a light pattering sound coming from above me that made me pull over right outside El Paso, Texas, to check on it. I had been so worried about my bike not getting stolen the night before that it didn't even occur to me someone would want to take two paintings I had left on top of the SUV, tightly wrapped with a thick blanket and secured with ropes. Well, the paintings were gone. I felt so disappointed that I decided right then not to stay in another crappy hotel for the rest of the trip.
DAY 2: NEW MEXICO TO LAREDO, TEXAS
DISTANCE DRIVEN: 708 miles / 1,139 km
TOTAL DRIVE TIME: 10 hrs
LODGING: La Posada (1000 Zaragoza St., Laredo, TX 78040)
Rudy was due for his annual check-up and shots before leaving L.A. Having run out of time for a vet visit before the trip, I needed to find one before crossing the border. When traveling to Mexico with a pet, it's definitely easier to do it by car than by air, but I knew I might still be asked to present a certificate of good health and up-to-date vaccinations, so I needed to be prepared. A quick vet search on Yelp pointed to King-Care Pet Center in a quaint Junction, Texas, off I-10E. There, Dr. Gregory Bogard took good care of us and had us back on the road with everything we needed in less than an hour.
From Junction, I took US-83 S to Laredo, Texas, getting there a little before sunset. With secured parking being my priority for the night, I picked La Posada, a historic boutique hotel minutes from the border, with a covered parking structure that is monitored 24/7. Definitely an upgrade in quality and price ($170/night), but absolutely worth the extra money. La Posada is set on a beautiful property featuring two separate pool areas, lush gardens, gym, business center, restaurant, and bar, among other amenities. Our pet-friendly room showed no trace or smells of previous pet guests, so we both enjoyed a quiet and restful night.
Tip:
I definitely recommend staying at La Posada for a night or two if traveling through Laredo. Service was impeccable and accommodations were of the best quality. Plus, it is pet-friendly, with plenty of green areas to walk your furry friend!
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