Road Trip in New Mexico

Traveling to a city because of a TV show—maybe not many people are as obsessed as me? From Nanjing to Los Angeles, then to Albuquerque… all just to trace the footprints left by Breaking Bad. 🎬 I flew from LA to ABQ at noon. Looking out the cabin window, the azure California coastline gradually turned into the dusty U.S.-Mexico border landscape. After landing, I picked up my rental car and kicked off my road trip! 🚗 Stop 1: En Route to Santa Fe – A Breaking Bad Motel Spot On the drive from ABQ to Santa Fe, I passed a motel—and instantly recognized it as the “sinful location” that appeared multiple times in Breaking Bad! I turned the car around to check it out. Besides our vehicle, there wasn’t a single other car there. Just like in the show, it felt desolate and remote. The only difference? Nearby hillsides were dotted with upscale houses with neatly trimmed flowers and grass. Such a stark contrast in ABQ! 😮 On the Road: Little Bits of Better Call Saul & NM Vibes Along the way, I saw so many billboards for legal services—art really imitates life, and this totally screamed Better Call Saul! ⚖️ Plus, the New Mexico state flag was everywhere I looked, a constant reminder: “You’re really here, in this land.” 🚩 Wild Weather: Dust Storm & 80-MPH Winds Mid-drive, we hit a dust storm and 80-mph winds. My phone pinged with a National Weather Service alert: “Pull aside, stay alive!” ⚠️ A sudden crosswind hit the highway, and even the Wrangler started drifting. Rolling right along with us were tumbleweeds—they bounced like balls until they got stuck against a fence. What a wild ride! 🌪️🌵 Safe Arrival in Santa Fe: Mexican Food to Warm Up After making it to Santa Fe safely, I was starving. When in New Mexico, how could I skip Mexican food? I ordered spicy menudo and pork belly tacos. Taking that first bite—all the tiredness from the trip melted away. ¡Qué rico! (So delicious!) 🌮🍜 Post-Dinner Find: Breaking Bad Tequila I wandered into a supermarket after dinner and spotted the tequila brand founded by Walt and Jesse (from the show)! As a die-hard Breaking Bad fan, I had to grab a bottle. It was bottle No. 2898—such a lucky number, I loved it! 🥃 Nighttime in Santa Fe: The Blue Hour On the way back to the hotel, I looked up—and there it was, my favorite blue hour. In that moment, I knew I’d made the right choice to come. Because that’s just who I am: chasing the little joys and moments that feel like “me.” 🌌 #BreakingBad #Albuquerque #SantaFe #USRoadTrip