• "It's Pronounced MAD-rid"

Teddy, me, and Rena at The Hollar, in Madrid

MAD-rid. I'm talking about one of the artsy little towns on the Turquoise Trail. They know you're a tourist, but if you pronounce it like the town in Spain they'll think you're a stupid tourist.

The dogs and I deserved a day trip. After our usual morning hike, I fortified myself with Café Fina's Mexican Mocha and bacon-date scone. (I'm not going home unless I find a place that makes bacon-date scones.)

Tomato caprese salad

And we were on our way. Evidently Teddy and Rena's mom takes them to exercise somewhere along the way to Madrid, because Teddy started his curious yodeling a few miles down State Road 14. It's annoying, but it's the only annoying thing he does, so I can forgive him.

Drive into Madrid and you've turned on the wayback machine. Hippies in their 60s and 70s who never got the memo that it's OK to bathe, man, stand around. For hours. Bow-legged bikers in studded black boots straddle sparkling purple bikes. You know some of these people have done time, just not which ones. The shops along the main drag are almost literally falling apart. It's part of the caché of the town. Then there are we tourists in our SUVs and Lesus's, all white bread Midwest folk.

Worth $98?

Teddy and Rena and I got our picture taken by Connie at Connie's Photo Park. Connie did all the artwork herself and she's got costumes for kids. No cost, but donations appreciated. The dogs stayed in the car when I went in a few stores, including Heaven Boutique, where the saleswoman convinced me I need a $98 slinky kimono. "Don't you go to the theater? The opera?" she asked. "I'm a pet sitter," I laughed. I bought a slinky black T-shirt.

Lunch! Lunch was highlight of the day. The Hollar has an extremely dog-friendly patio, so much so that one family ate inside while its portly Jack Russell-mix wandered the patio unsupervised. I only wanted a Diet Coke but worried that might seem rude, so I ordered the tomato caprese salad. I don't know what Anthony Bourdain would say, but I loved it! (You might want to get the baslamic dressing on the side.) Rena and Teddy were very well behaved. The waiter brought them a big bowl of water and took our picture. Don't let the fact that The Hollar looks like a hole-in-the-wall scare you. Go.

Me heap big brave buffalo-riding woman

It's five o-clock the new time (we sprung forward today) and the dogs are dozing. If I'm lucky, all the action today might be enough for them to skip the afternoon walk.