Sunday, November 9, 2008

Mute Monday: M is For











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19 comments:

  1. JennyNovember 9, 2008 at 5:17 PM

    SO want to take a trip on this road JUST to see the fabulous neon, motels, etc. What a fabulous part of American Culture and your beloved Southwest. Great! Happy MM.

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  2. hNovember 9, 2008 at 5:40 PM

    That's so cool that you still have funky Motels in your part of the world. Be a cool Coffee Table book.

    Happy Mute Monday!

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  3. The Java JunkieNovember 9, 2008 at 7:28 PM

    Excellent, Moi! I love those old signs! Happy MM!

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  4. The Java JunkieNovember 9, 2008 at 7:32 PM

    Troll - if you're interested, there is such a book. It's called "American Signs" by Lisa Mahar.

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  5. PamNovember 9, 2008 at 7:50 PM

    Oh dont'cha just love those old motel signs! Great idea for MM. I'm along Route 66 -- you too?

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  6. Aunty BelleNovember 9, 2008 at 9:25 PM

    The cactus motel!! How funky perfect is that??

    Long years back, when daddy first drove us into these parts, I kid you not, thar' was a motel of cement tee pees. Names--whatelse?--The Tee Pee Motel.

    Happy MM!

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  7. VixenNovember 9, 2008 at 10:46 PM

    That is cool! Funky motels!

    happyMonday!

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  8. BearNovember 9, 2008 at 11:59 PM

    What an excellent take, Moi.

    Happy MM.

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  9. Joanna CakeNovember 10, 2008 at 5:17 AM

    Loving that rainbow! The motel is so quintessentially American! Happy MM x

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  10. Gnomeself Be TrueNovember 10, 2008 at 5:53 AM

    I wonder if there are more of those in AZ or NM?

    Come to think of it, I knew a "Westward Ho" once.

    Aunty...that teepee hotel is still here in AZ.

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  11. moiNovember 10, 2008 at 6:58 AM

    A.B.: Many of them are undergoing restoration, too. It's fun to drive down Central Ave (Old Route 66) and see all the neon.

    Troll: See Java below.

    Java: I wish more communities would preserve them.

    Pamokc: Cool! I do, too!

    Aunty: A lot of these old motor lodges were way over the top in the heyday of "car culture."

    Vixen and Bear: Thanks!

    Cake: You ever read Lolita? Nabokov's descriptions of America's byways and motor lodges as Humbert and Lolita roam the country are brilliant.

    Iamnot: NM and AZ share many cultural similarities.

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  12. Big ShamuNovember 10, 2008 at 8:48 AM

    Silly question, why does the guy in the first picture have cantaloupes on his shoulder?

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  13. KarenNovember 10, 2008 at 9:20 AM

    Looks like a great take on American culture. You always see these quirky Motels in road trip movies. Well done Moi.

    Happy Belated Mute Monday.

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  14. AnonymousNovember 10, 2008 at 1:15 PM

    Tipper and I invented kicks on Rte. 66.

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  15. ThursdayNextNovember 10, 2008 at 1:38 PM

    OMG I love this take! Fantastic!

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  16. MeghanNovember 10, 2008 at 4:14 PM

    Did you take some of those photos?

    As always, fabulous MM.

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  17. Wicked ThistleNovember 10, 2008 at 6:51 PM

    Heh, heh, you said "ho."

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  18. sparringK9November 11, 2008 at 7:56 AM

    we decided to take historic 66 on our honeymoon./ broke down in seligman. they held us there for days looking for parts. we listened to someone cough all night long through the paper thin walls of our shite motel (not featured n your essay) and ate in the one horrible restaurant. it was like a science fiction movie. trapped on planet 66. NOT a great time.

    happy MM!

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  19. hNovember 11, 2008 at 9:35 AM

    Troll Poll about....SHOES!

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