5/21/12 You kill it, we grill it!

La Posada was purchased in the mid-1990's by two artists and a preservationist, and their restoration of the hotel and grounds is more than admirable.  Every detail is true to Colter's vision and plan while updating to more modern touches.  The building is a showplace for the artists' work, and every area is comfortable and filled with architectural and lighting details.  For example, our room is painted in a warm orange with turquoise trim; lapis blue tiles; a built in bookcase filled with books; large pale green towels; punched tin light fixtures; and decorated with lovely indiginous baskets. I can't describe it adequately - check it out for yourselves at www.laposada.org.

We're such a fine sight to see

After a brief walking tour of downtown Winslow this morning - waiting our turn for a photo op at "the corner" because this goof ball and his tiny guitar was ordering his photographer around (probably his wife, poor thing) to take his photo about every five feet - we said goodbye to Winslow around 10:30 am and jumped back onto I-40 which is where we unfortunately traveled west until Winona.  This is all desert, arid and b-o-r-i-n-g.

How do you like my $16 photo?

To break up the monotony, we decide to travel south off of I-40 to see Meteor Crater - created about 50,000 years ago by a hurtling meteor bent on smackin' Earth.  What we didn't know was that in order to see this huge hole, we were expected to pay $16 a person.  Being the stupid gawkers that we are, we paid it.  A short film detailing the study of the hole proved to be pretty interesting and a breathless hike to the rim (not breathless in the sense that it's beautiful, but more in the sense that in the dry heat, I was breathless!), we took some photos of the hole, pondered the 8th wonder of the world, then got back on the highway.


West of Winona, the terrain changed completely.  No longer desert but now into mountain terrain with actual trees and pretty views.  We drove quickly on the Route through Flagstaff (Giant Alert! at Granny's Closet) and pulled into Williams (the gateway to the Grand Canyon) for gas ($4.20/gallon!) and a stroll down their main street.  Had a nice conversation with a photographer manning the local art gallery, and we enjoyed a plate of shredded beef taquitos on the outdoor patio at Cruiser's Cafe 66 - a renovated service station.  The Route west of Williams along Crookton Road into Seligman is really lovely - along an old railroad bed and well off the interstate.  

Seligman is a tiny town along the old Route with 500 residents, 13 souvenir stores, and a handful of 66-era motels.  We're staying at the Supai Motel with a wonderful neon sign and shared a half rack of ribs at the Roadkill Cafe ("you kill it, we grill it").  Looks like tomorrow morning we'll be doing our best to bolster the economy here in Seligman.


Happy trails, S

Through the telescope; I couldn't stop shaking it was so cool!