After breakfast at the Holiday Inn Express and a dash to Starbucks for the usual, we head to downtown Albuquerque for photo-ops. We find the lovely KiMo Theater, designed by the Boller Brothers, and take many pictures. One of them is shown here. Now, to find our way out of town along the pre-1937 Mother Road to Los Lunas. We see a few Historic 66 signs along the way, but never before a critical turn. McJerry’s EZ Guide keeps us on track and we finally turn west at Los Lunas after crossing the Rio Grande twice. Along the lonely stretch between Los Lunas and Mesita, we follow the railroad and we see that three very long freight trains have been stopped and sit, one after the other, on the tracks awaiting some signal to move again.
We are on Indian reservations throughout much of the day. There are prominent signs in inhabited areas warning “No photography”.
The old road parallels I-40 through Laguna, Cubero and into Budville, where we find the Budville Trading Co. closed on this Sunday morning. On through San Fidel and McCarty’s, we stop for lunch in Grants at the only place that has a crowd: the Dairy Queen. Inside, we see some splendid murals on the walls depicting Route 66.
On through Prewitt and Thoreau, we stop at Continental Divide, apparently named for the geographical feature that allegedly passes through the spot. We visit two of the three gift shops located on The Divide; both are pretty good. Outside the second gift shop, we see a mural suggesting that the local Indians may have interbred with aliens from Roswell, NM. (See photos.)
From here, we cruise on into Gallup. The Mother Road is a main thoroughfare in Gallup and is called Old Hwy. 66. The town stretches for about 8 miles along the road. We stop to admire the 1937 El Rancho Hotel, famous for its connection with Hollywood, which has many rooms named after movie stars. Not wanting to be recognized, we decide to stay at the new Hampton Inn, west of town.
At sunset, we drive back into downtown Gallup to photograph the mural art, the giant cowboy holding a muffler at John’s Used Cars, and the lovely El Morro Theater (also designed by the Boller Brothers) on Coal Ave. The temperature is already down to 42 and there is talk of a freeze tonight. Brrrr.
We are on Indian reservations throughout much of the day. There are prominent signs in inhabited areas warning “No photography”.
The old road parallels I-40 through Laguna, Cubero and into Budville, where we find the Budville Trading Co. closed on this Sunday morning. On through San Fidel and McCarty’s, we stop for lunch in Grants at the only place that has a crowd: the Dairy Queen. Inside, we see some splendid murals on the walls depicting Route 66.
On through Prewitt and Thoreau, we stop at Continental Divide, apparently named for the geographical feature that allegedly passes through the spot. We visit two of the three gift shops located on The Divide; both are pretty good. Outside the second gift shop, we see a mural suggesting that the local Indians may have interbred with aliens from Roswell, NM. (See photos.)
From here, we cruise on into Gallup. The Mother Road is a main thoroughfare in Gallup and is called Old Hwy. 66. The town stretches for about 8 miles along the road. We stop to admire the 1937 El Rancho Hotel, famous for its connection with Hollywood, which has many rooms named after movie stars. Not wanting to be recognized, we decide to stay at the new Hampton Inn, west of town.
At sunset, we drive back into downtown Gallup to photograph the mural art, the giant cowboy holding a muffler at John’s Used Cars, and the lovely El Morro Theater (also designed by the Boller Brothers) on Coal Ave. The temperature is already down to 42 and there is talk of a freeze tonight. Brrrr.
Ann's Bit: I am glad B is doing this. It is surprising how much one forgets so this will be a good chronicle of our journey (yes, I will print it out, maybe do one of the photo books like my friend, Joanne, does).
Love the scenery, all of it, even the junk yards at every Indian house. They don't landscape anything ever without exception. Their pottery IS lovely tho, thinking I might indulge in some as a memento of this trip. I do love the western USA.
2 comments:
looks like the Japanese did the artwork on the "indians", though your idea of interbreeding with Aliens seemed much closer. Check your email inbox for a joke about aliens!!!
Hmm, or maybe I will cut and paste the joke on a comment!!
Two aliens landed in the Arizona desert near a gas station that was closed for the night. They approached one of the gas pumps and the younger alien addressed it saying, 'Greetings, Earthling. We come in peace. Take us to your leader.'
The gas pump, of course, didn't respond.
The younger alien became angry at the lack of response.
The older alien said, 'I'd calm down if I were you.'
The younger alien ignored the warning and repeated his greeting. Again, there was no response.
Annoyed by what he perceived to be the pump's haughty attitude, he drew his ray gun and said impatiently, 'Greetings, Earthling. We come in peace. Do not ignore us this way! Take us to your leader or I will fire!'
The older alien again warned his comrade saying, 'You probably don't want to do that! I really don't think you should make him mad.'
'Rubbish,' replied the cocky, young alien. He aimed his weapon at the pump and opened fire. There was a huge explosion. A massive fireball roared towards them and blew the younger alien off his feet and deposited him a burnt, smoking mess about 200 yards away in a cactus patch.
Half an hour passed. When he finally regained consciousness, he refocused his three eyes, straightened his bent antenna, and looked dazedly at the older, wiser alien who was standing over him shaking his big, green head.
'What a ferocious creature!' exclaimed the young, fried alien. 'He damn near killed me! How did you know he was so dangerous?'
The older alien leaned over, placed a friendly feeler on his crispy friend and replied, 'If there's one thing I've learned during my intergalactic travels, you don't want to mess with a guy who can loop his penis over his shoulder twice and then stick it in his ear.
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