The Muse is Loose

We had some traveling surprises last week while visiting West Texas. One was a FIRST I am still stunned by. It happened in Balmorreah, Texas. This tiny village has on it's outskirts an almost unbelievable spring for the desert setting. Hundreds of thousands of gallons burst to the surface each night and day. There is a giant natural pool that is loved by swimmers and snorkelers. The water is a chilly 72o all the time. It flows to a rather large lake and some water is also diverted for irrigation. It is truly an oasis in the desert.

There is one small store there. They have the only gasoline for almost 40 miles. I had failed to top off in Fort Stockton. I paid the clerk $20.00 for gas. There was no price posted. I knew it would be high. The pump cut off at 4.2 gallons! Some mistake for sure. I went in to tell the clerk. It was no mistake. I had just bought my first gasoline for almost FIVE DOLLARS a gallon. I asked him if the locals (mostly poor farm workers) had to pay that. He gave me a shrug. Can you believe being charged that in Texas with oil pumping everywhere? I think I got scalped!

A fun surprise was going to a "hole-in-the-wall" place to eat in Marfa. It was called, Squeeze Marfa. This unique place is the brainchild of Marianne Vollenweider of Switzerland. Her daughter is running the place. She is a fun young woman to visit with. Born in Switzerland, she is returning soon to work in her grandfather's chocolate factory. Her father and mother operate it now. It is in Zurich and Winterthur. The factory was begun in 1943. It is noted for unusual flavors in chocolate and macarons. Everything is done by hand and wrapped in their signature colors of black and white. We bought a small bar. It was all we could afford! You can order it through the Internet if curious. To meet the grand-daughter of this well-known Swiss chocolate-maker, and to meet her in Marfa, Texas (at the "Squeeze") was really special. The food was great. Almost helped me forget the $5.00 gas.