Most New Mexicans are happy to welcome you to the Land of Enchantment and pleased that you had the good sense to come here. That's not just because tourism is important to our state - it generates $600 million in state and local revenue each year. We're also proud of where we live and want you to love it here too. That being said, it's often easy to tell if someone is a tourist in New Mexico.
1. During winter months, they are surprised by the low temperatures and snowfall that occur in some regions of New Mexico. The sight of snow on cacti blows their minds.
2. They are stunned by the sun's intensity and the lack of humidity.
4. They are amazed by the colors of our sunsets.
3. They are wowed by the brilliant blue of New Mexican skies. (Pictures like this usually aren't photoshopped. )
5. They struggle to adjust to high altitude conditions in many parts of the state. Elevations here range from 2842 feet to 13,161 feet above sea level.
6. They are awed by New Mexico's natural beauty.
7. And alarmed when they find swaths of land where there's no cell phone reception.
8. Tourists who live in big cities often don't realize that speed limits here are higher. On many stretches of freeway it's 75 mph.
9. They struggle to pronounce place names.
10. They have never eaten a sopaipilla before (which they also cannot pronounce).
11. They claim to like spicy food but aren't always prepared for the heat of New Mexican dishes.
12. In between gasps, they reach for water to cool their mouths, rather than milk (which admittedly isn't often on hand in a restaurant setting).
Can you spot out-of-state tourists? What are some other giveaways that someone isn't local?
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