Dreams from Biancavilla

  Circa Mega Bar mixologist making Irish Car Bombs (I politely declined) Neon Boneyard-Golden Nugget (our hotel) Illuminating Fremont Street.  The “1905” on the Golden Nugget sign pays tribute to the founding year of Las Vegas. Designer Kermit Wayne wrapped the Golden Nugget building in neon and incandescent light bulbs, a concept which became known as the “decorated shed.”  Kermit Wayne (1914 -1993) was a designer for the Young Electric Sign Company (YESCO) who created the 1958 Stardust sign and the 1961 Golden Nugget sign. Guy McAfee (1888 -1960) was a former Los Angeles police officer and gambler who came to Las Vegas in the 1930s. He nicknamed “The Strip” after the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles and opened the Golden Nugget on Fremont Street in 1946. Joe and Paul got a singing telegram to celebrate their birthdays  Neon Boneyard-Ugly Duckling Car Sales The Ugly Duckling Car Sales sign is an example of a double-sided sign that includes detailed neon work and metal channelling. When the

Can you guess which photos are the New Mexico stretch, and which are Arizona? Hint: although we’re headed to Mesa, AZ, New Mexico has many beautiful flat-topped rocks! The colors are more stunning in person. If New Mexico had a sea as well as political blue-ness, I’d move there. We listened to murder podcasts most of the way. It gives you a new perspective when overhearing rest-stop conversations of others, or when viewing caves along the bottom of the mesas. As we hit a certain stretch after the north woods of Payson, it was apparent that no signs of civilization (e.g., gas stations) would appear for about 35 miles. I was scouting out any dense brush which may be cover for a roadside pee. This turned out to be the least of my worries, as Joe noted “I should’ve filled up with gas back there”. We had about 37 miles to civilization, but under that amount of gas to get us there. As Laura said later, “Thank goodness it’s all downhill”.  We made it. Whew! Laura and Megan gave a warm welcome