Flagstaff, Arizona

My first train trip in U.S. ever to Flagstaff, took 6 hours. It was a very pleasant one, not just mention the bar and restaurant, but especilly because of great sceneries. When I arrived at night, I was lucky to get a room at a motel near railway station. Day before yesterday I then went trough the historical part of this, another well known Wild West town, with about 60,000 population. The most charming place is The Weatherford Hotel,built at the end of 19'th century, where Zane Grey wrote his maybe most famous novel, The Call of Canyon. Other guests the hotel has noted, were President Theodore Roosewelt and the publisher Randolph Hearst. I yesterday went to see that magnificent Grand Canyon. I just was amazed, the trip was worth of every penny ($88.)and took 10 hours.
Tonight I shall take again a nightly Greyhound to be early in the morning in Las Vegas.

Santa Fe ,New Mexico

After, once again, 24 hours travelling I arrived to tiny but very beautiful, historical town of Santa Fe.The population is about 70,000,and I guess that most of the inhabitants are artists, because of so many galleries and exhibitions.
For me the place was a romantic Wild West city from the past. Even the inn where I stayed had the name of famous US. Marshall Pat Garret, and the street was naturally Santa Fe Trail. The first bar,The Anasazi Lounge, I landed, had as bar tender a very friendly lady, Lynn,whose family came to Santa Fe already in 1590's, when the first Spanish mission was established. Her famous earlier family members were Pat Garret, Billy The Kidd, an outlaw and Lucien Maxwell. who was at his time the biggest land owner in whole U.S.A. In 24 hours I thought to know everything important , and decided to continue with Amtrek to Flagstaff, Arizona.

Disapointing news

On my last day in San Antonio I did receive very disapointing message from my girl friend Kaisa in Finland. She had got a new dream job but in condition she would start to work next week.Just 10 days before we should meet in Vancouver. She had no other choice than cancel her trip to west coast. Of course all I had planned had to be forgotten. She was very, very sad too, and she told to me that this should not change our relationship at all, and she would be waiting my return in 9 months time. Well,I needed a couple of days to recover, and to see the sunshine again

San Antonio, Texas

Before leaving today to Santa Fe with Greyhound again for a 24 hours ride again, I shortly commentate San Antonio. I mainly came here because of Alamo. Every little boy in my childhood even in Finland knew Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie and Colonel Travis, because of the battle of Alamo in 1836 ,when all fort defenders, apparently 189 men were killed against the Mexican troops of over 6000 men under General Santa Anna. The site is today very interesting and impressive, thanks to The Daughters of the Republic of Texas, who since 1905 have taken care to preserve this heroic place for future generations.
Another famous and gorgeous place is the whole Riverwalk a must to visit. It really is a tropical river like in rainforest ,which snakewise goes trough the whole downtown. There are bothsides a plenty of bars &restaurants to rest when strolling along side the river. Mostly all the best hotels are on the banks of the river or very near anyway.

Austin , Texas

I arrived very late to Austin , So first next day I started to do excursions to Austin's music bars. I immediately found on 6th street a bar Nuno's where a band played most beautiful blues ,I've heard in many years. I just now do not remember the singers 77 years name but I have his record, and I try to remember it next time . I then went to The Ivory Cat, where Kenny Luna had his music show, and I enjoyed the nice company of Lauren and Diane.The last evening I started at Belmont's Garden Patio moving then again to Nuno's. At Belmont's I had talked with Katie 21,a pretty waitress of German parents. Now after finnishing her job she suddenly appeared at Nuno's. She then first offerred to me a drink, then she commanded the bar tender a friend of hers to offer another drink to me , and did agree with him that all my further drinks would cost only $1. instead of $4.50. So I had again very nice company and very unexpensive evening.

Cuba Libre in Dallas, Texas

Cuba Libre has been my favourit drink during this whole trip with the exception of some or more beers. so it was very funny coaccidence that the almost nearest bar & resturant to my hotel in Dallas uptown had this name. I soon became into very friendly relationship with miss Heather Cary, General manager. She soon introduced her most important people there to me, and I really was in good hands.
So I herewith send my best regards to all of you, especilly to Ellen 24, who I did choose to be Miss Cuba Libre.
The rival of next door was The Porch, Also very popular place in the evening.So my best greetings there to beautiful bar tender Emily.
Next day because of a taxi non-show,miss Gaydon Sage, General Manager of La Quinta Inn took me personally to the bus station, even I missed the bus by one minute,I am very thankful to her helping me a lot in different cases.

Dallas

On Sunday, the17th.I left Nashville with with Jensen's, for a rideof almost 700 miles, over 1000 km.to Dallas. Because of a heavy thunder storm in Dallas, we overnighted in their luxurious camper near Benton in Arkansas, having a nice rhum party. We then next afternoon arrived to Dallas. In the evening I did check the famous Greenville avenue, but because of Monday , it was quite dead. Next day I was up just for lunch in La Quinta Inn, where I had a room with my friend's help. The only restaurant open for lunch in the neighborhood was Cuba Libre, where I enjoyed a very good Mexican taco lunch. Afterwards I took a taxi to downtown about 3 miles away to The 6th Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza.This museum, opened 1989, tells with original films (videos), pictures and all kind of materials, including the riffle, of the assassination of president John F. Kennedy at it's authentical place.The corner, where the sniper, Lee Harvey Oswald lured behind the school book boxes, is excatly in the condition, as on that terrible day Nov.22.1963. From the next window you can imagine, how easy it was to kill the president from that open window.This shocking event came into my mind as clear as if it did happen yesterday, not 44 years ago. Later on that very hot afternoon I walked along the Market street, visiting some bars. At Landry's I met a very good looking African American couple Nate and Carolyn, both 23. Yet unmarried. Nate smiled proudly, when I said to Carolyn that she should be a photo modell with her looks. She laughed, and said that as a matter of fact, I am. After they left, the bar tender brought to me a new drink and said, that's from the young lady.