Gallup Arizona

We left our friends Michael and Rosie in Flagstaff in glorious sunshine, grabbed a coffee and hit the road.  First off we travelled for a while on Route 66 - always fun -  then onto the freeway coming off at Gallup to grab some lunch.  Gallup has been hard hit by the pandemic and most of the restaurants and cafes were shut so we ended up back at this hilarious hotel which has had a bit of a refresh since we were last here about 8 years ago.  Famous old western joint, film stars allegedly stayed when they were filming in the area and the highlight of the menu are various burgers named after them.  The best by far, and I think ordered by Rory when we were here once was the Ronald Reagan burger which comes with a side of jelly beans.  

We arrived at Albuquerque in time for our friend Susan’s trunk show and bought some of her lovely jewelry before checking in to Los Poblanos, a beautiful hotel, restaurant and lavender farm on the edge of town.  That too has had a refresh since we last stayed with new rooms and a much bigger footprint.  Sadly gone was the white peacock (eaten by a coyote we heard later) that seemed such a lovely emblem if one’s thinking of New Mexico through DH Lawrence’s eyes.  Only blue ones remain.  

Susan and Ben came over to dinner.  

All the Americans want to talk about our political mess with a particular fascination about Liz vs lettuce which was written up in the New York Times.