Down State Route 91, south of Santa Rosa, New Mexico, is a tiny place called Puerta de Luna. It’s not really on the route to anywhere, but it’s a nice enough drive, as the road winds between the Pecos River and red cliffs.

The town was settled in 1863, and thrived until it lost the position of county seat to Santa Rosa. It’s claim to fame is that Billy The Kid ate his 1880 Chrstmas dinner in the home of Don Alejandro and Dona Secundina Grzelachowski.

It is also locally famous for its green chile, known as PDL.

Also – and I can’t decide if this is sad or entertaining – Google maps locates it incorrectly. So if you want to go, you’d have better luck with MapQuest. Or a state highway map.

Puerta de Luna, New Mexico

photographed 8.7.2011