Desert Road Trip, USA (Part 1)

Overview

Roman and Sharon travel from Safford, Arizona, into New Mexico, then change their plans and head toward Monument Valley. Their vlog combines desert scenery and sightseeing with hotel stays, grocery runs, and meals.

Travel Highlights

• In Safford, they recommend Rafter G BBQ, praising the meat and noting that the restaurant closes at 7 p.m.
• At White Sands National Park, they explore the bright dunes and stay until sunset. They compare the scenery to Dune and note that the heat is intense; one of them feels dehydrated after only a short time outside.
• In Albuquerque, they visit several locations associated with Breaking Bad, including Walter White’s house and car wash, Jesse Pinkman’s house, and other filming spots.
• They explore downtown Santa Fe, admiring its adobe-style buildings and visiting the area around Loretto Chapel. They also drive to a railroad crossing near Eldorado associated with a Breaking Bad scene.
• They change their plans from a drive to Durango to a longer journey toward Monument Valley. After a long drive, they check into a lodge and request a room upgrade. They say that asking politely led to a better room at no extra charge.

Practical Habits and Routines

• Desert visits: Wear sunscreen, consider bringing a light jacket, and watch out for dehydration in the strong sun.
• Hotel checkout: They do a “final check,” looking around the room—including under the bed—before leaving.
• Exercise: They fit in a roughly 45-minute workout at a hotel gym.
• Travel meals: They often stock up at supermarkets and eat in their hotel rooms, choosing items such as fruit, salads, salmon, chicken, shrimp, and other prepared foods.
• Roman says he usually tips, and they describe giving money to street performers as a personal tradition.
• They joke that travel can involve a lot of driving, eating, and relaxing at hotels, alongside the sightseeing.

Notable Locations, Businesses, and Speakers

• Locations: Safford; Rafter G BBQ; White Sands National Park; Alamogordo; Albuquerque; Santa Fe; Eldorado; Farmington; Monument Valley.
• Products and businesses: Organic yerba mate, kombucha, Whole Foods Market, Trader Joe’s, Little Bear Coffee, McDonald’s, Cinnabon, Chick-fil-A, Marriott, and Hilton hotels.
• Speakers: Roman and Sharon.