I drove into Flagstaff on a fragment of the ‘historic’ Route 66, which I last touched near its other end south of Chicago many days ago, hoping it would be nice as my ‘Rough Guide’ says it is – and it is. I’ve spent very little time in towns you would have heard of since New York and it’s really nice to be in a bubbly place.
I arrived at the Monte Vista Hotel to find that it was an hour earlier than I thought (I’m now 8 hours ‘behind’ the UK), they don’t take AmEx (very unusual), the lift isn’t working and I am sleeping in the Debbie Reynolds room.
There were lots of young people drinking downstairs when I arrived and the place had a really nice atmosphere.
My room is very pink – very pink – and has a signed letter from Ms Reynolds from July 1991 giving permission for the room to be named after her. Ms Reynolds and I are sleeping above Bing Crosby – scandal!
I had a ‘quick nap’ when I arrived yesterday – the Arizona heat must have got to me – and found myself waking at 11pm and walking around central Flagstaff looking for a bite to eat. I found one in the Pita Pit opposite the hotel (after walking around several blocks) which had looked like an unpromising fast food place but was actually a promising fast food place. I had a pita bread with hummus, avocado and various other green things and it was just what was needed. I am sticking more or less to my four veggie days a week although I have had some excellent steaks in the other three days.
Sitting in Pita Pit I noticed that some of the lights on my hotel were out – my pink room is apparently in the ‘TEL VISTA’.
Having had a three and a half hour ‘nap’ I was more easily woken by the sound of merry young people saying goodnight, banging doors and heading off in cars. Funny, there are far fewer of them now in the early morning.
In a way I would like to stay in Flagstaff longer but it’s best to move on – there are plenty more places down the road and the bird list could do with a boost – I added no new species yesterday but who cares?, yesterday was one of the very best days of the trip. And today might be too!
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Nice to see that our ex-Chief vet has achieved notoriety in Flagstaff and has a room named after her…..
Martin – I did wonder whether to mention that, but then I thought that it would appeal to too few readers – well spotted! reminds you of those days when we were all going to die of Bird Flu eh?
I’ve stayed in that hotel. We were in Antony Hopkins (small and a bit dark), we moved into Humphrey Bogart (black and gold). Loved Flagstaff too. Bought some lovely Xmas tree decorations – mooses and a cowboy on his horse. Have a great time.