We recently made a trip out to west Texas to visit the small town of Marfa. More recently known for its role as the shooting location for There Will be Blood and No Country for Old Men, the town has seen its share of film production.
At first glance it really looks like any other town you'd expect to see out west. The buildings are ancient, the land stretches out in all directions, and the commercial presence is minimal at best. This is a good thing.
Beyond that is where Marfa's charm lies. While most of the exteriors have been preserved in their original form, each building holds unique surprises. Every building we visited was completely remodeled and modernized inside.
We stayed at a "hotel" called El Cosmico, which isn't so much a hotel as it is a collection of tepees, yurts, and vintage campers that look a little dicey from the outside. Once you go inside however, you almost have to do a double-take and make sure you're still in the same place. The tepees all have bamboo floors and futons inside. Very cool.
Everywhere we ate, all the meats, fruits, and everything were mind-bogglingly fresh. Where the food comes from, who knows? It's definitely some of the freshest and best-prepared food we've had in awhile. Not only can Marfians cook, but they're some of the nicest people in Texas. No matter where you're from, they embrace you and trust you as if you've lived there your whole life.
Needless to say, we'll definitely be visiting again soon.
