(ABQ) and Farmington, N.M. (FMN) . Durango/Purgatory is located in the Southwest corner of Colorado, near the intersection of Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico. It's six to seven hours by car from DIA, a 340 mile drive via US-285, and three and a half to four and a half hours and 214 miles from ABQ using NM-44 and US-550.
In addition to its popular use for hangovers, prickly pear remedies have been used traditionally in Mexico for a wide variety of disorders. The heated cactus pads have served as poultices for rheumatism, and the fruit of the plant is consumed as treatment for diarrhea, asthma and gonorrhea.
Also called cactus pear, the prickly pear has a melon-like aroma and a sweet but rather bland flavor. I have even made wine out of this fruit. Pads: Blue-purple, or magenta cactus pads are 4 to 6 inches in diameter, about 5/8 inches thick.They are almost round and flat.lso called cactus pear, the prickly pear has a melon-like aroma and a sweet but rather bland flavor. I have even made wine out of this fruit. Pads: Blue-purple, or magenta cactus pads are 4 to 6 inches in diameter, about 5/8 inches thick. They are almost round and flat.