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Route 66 and travel to Las Vegas
First stop after leaving Tusayan was Valle a small retro town just off Route 66. This is one of many towns surviving on the tourism connected with historic Route 66. Amongst other things there was a Flintstones themed camp ground, a retro service station with olden cars including an old police car and a 60's Ford Fairlane. I also saw a Tee Pee hotel and an old airplane museum.
We drove on and turned on to Route 66 and headed for the town of Saligman - main surviving town of Route 66 - historic route. The movie Cars is modelled on Route 66. Route 66 was the first real highway across the US and the road where Americans first experienced cross country travel on their first road trip. It too survives now on tourism.
Saligman is everything 60's. Kitsch in every way, but pure delight with old shops, vehicles, advertising and no credit cards accepted - cash only. There is a special milk bar also selling burgers and fries. There have the shops door handles instructions on backwards, doors open the wrong way, the salespeople joke with you. I ordered a chocolate shake and the girl who had dark skin held out her hand and said "ok, one chocolate shake" as she vigorously shook my hand. Another example of good ol' fashioned hospitality and sense of humour, like we have experienced throughout our journey.
We had a leisurely hour to experience Saligman before hitting the road and Route 66 again for a short period, then the main highway to Las Vegas.
Our next stop Hoover Dam.
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