Now come with us to the Wild West, to 1881, Williams, Arizona, which is the Gateway to the Grand Canyon!
WILLIAMS 1881
GATEWAY TO THE GRAND CANYON
And YES, I too did drive the Historic and famous Mainstreet of America!
Route US 66...
Famous AND Infamous as it was established in 1926 and it served as a major thoroughfare for those who migrated west during the Dust Bowl; called The Great Okie Migration
Williams, Arizona is right on Route 66!
Williams Junction Amtrak, is where our Grand Canyon Railway Hotel was and you can see Route 66 on the map.
To the left is the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel ←(click it) and here you also see some historic Lima Locomotive at the Arizona State Railroad Museum here in Williams, AZ.
The weather for our stay during Labor Day weekend was absolutely fabulous!
This is the layout.
A huge hotel and the green roof below is their huge restaurant.
A huge hotel and the green roof below is their huge restaurant.
To the left of the restaurant, you see the Railway Depot and also you can see the train...
photo is from the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel link above...
This is the view from the hotel, just across the road and here you enter the Railway Depot.
Here husband Pieter, standing behind the historic Railway Depot; ready to board the train!
Both of us did have breakfast early, when it still was quiet...
Both of us did have breakfast early, when it still was quiet...
This is the Grand Canyon train! You also can now see to the right, the green roof from the huge restaurant.
Below, you will see also The Wild West Photos...
History of the Train
dubbed the 'Cataract Creek Rambler.'
CATARACT CREEK GANG
WILD WEST SHOW...
Stay tuned!
the wild west re-enactments always crack me up. :) i like that gate / entrance!
ReplyDeleteDearest Theresa,
DeleteOh, it was hilarious but I feel for those guys as they always have to drop dead on the ground; not that soft!
Hugs,
Mariette
It is a wonder you could find your room the hotel is so big.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a fun holiday.
Dearest Kay,
DeleteWe had it easy, just op the stairs from the lobby and than to the right. But you are right it is huge and accessible from different areas.
This holiday we have enjoyed so much! Long over due for doing something just for the two of us...
Hugs,
Mariette
Liebe Mariette,
ReplyDeletedu hast schon sehr viel gesehen und erlebt.
Das bereichert dein Leben.
Frohe Sonntagsgrüße
Elisabeth
Liebe Elisabeth,
DeleteJa, wir haben sehr viel gesehen un auch erlebt und es hat unser Leben sehr beeinflusst und auch bereichert.
Liebe sonnige Grüsse zurück.
Mariette
Brings back nice memories, I have been at the Grand Canyon too and seen a wild west show. But that was at another place at the Universal Studios. It was great fun.
ReplyDeleteDearest Marianne,
DeleteFond memories for you and for both of us as well. We wanted to do this for quite a long time but always we traveled back and forth to Europe for family events and such. After doing that for sixtyfour times, now it's our time!
We enjoyed this very much and glad you did as well at Universal Studios.
Hugs,
Mariette
I've been to Williams long long time ago. I wanted to ride the train but didn't have chance. Maybe next time :-) I think I saw the Wild West show, though, if I remember correctly. The setting in your photos looks familiar!
ReplyDeleteDearest Tamago,
DeleteGlad that you too got to visit Williams, including the Wild West show; so unique for the Wild West. Too bad you didn't get to ride the train but you always can go back...
Hugs,
Mariette
Hello Mariette,
ReplyDeleteNow that really looks like the wild-wild west!
I hope your trip was not too wild!! LOL!
I bet you had much fun and much to discover!
Great photos in both your last posts!
Keep well :)
Dearest Noushka,
DeleteOh, it was quite wild and so real. Next post this Cataract Creek Gang will come back... We both enjoyed those children so much; they had a blast!
This trip was great and filled with wild life, adventure and fun; above expectation.
Thank you for your compliment, we're by far not as professional as you are but guess we captured some nice forever memories.
Doing great and walked for 1-½ hour in sunshine of 29°C; feels heavenly!
Hugs,
Mariette
Dear Mariette,what an interesting place to visit!
ReplyDeleteAmazing pictures of the wild west!!I love the old train stations!
Thank you for sharing!Have a lovely day!Hugs!
Dimi...
Dearest Dimi,
DeleteBeing Dutch by birth, this was quite a fun adventure to see the Wild West re-enacted! Riding the train was also lovely to do, you will see that next.
The day was lovely, warm and sunny and hope your new week will be likewise.
Hugs,
Mariette
Hello Mariette, There is so much to explore in the Deep West, both natural history like the Grand Canyon and human elements like mining towns and cowboys. I never had the chance to travel there personally, but the Old West is really a basic component of the American psyche.
ReplyDelete--Jim
Dearest Jim,
DeleteGuess for us as new Americans it was about time to fully explore this basic American psyche component! We both loved it and yes, always great to combine history with nature and interlaced with fun!
Kindest regards,
Mariette
I just love everything 'western' and I also had the chance to enjoy a wild west show in Phoenix!!!
ReplyDeleteI am so tempted to scan the old photos from my visit to this beautiful and interesting area!!
Keep on showing us yours, dearest Mariette!!!!!!!!!!!!
Many hugs!!!!!
Dearest Marie-Anne,
DeleteGood for you, this was so much fun for both of us and a very relaxed start of our Arizona vacation! Why don't you go ahead and scan your old photos, they do bring back lots of fond memories for you. You will see more from this trip!
Hugs,
Mariette
ach wie toll - liebe Mariette - ich hab früher so furchtbar gerne Western geguckt -
ReplyDeletejetzt bekomme ich hier tolle Einblicke - toll die Eisenbahnen -
das Hotel ist ja der Wahnsinn -
danke fürs Zeigen -
ich wünsche dir einen gemütlichen Abend -
liebe Grüße - Ruth
Liebe Ruth,
DeleteJa danke, auch wir sind damit grossgezogen in den Niederlanden. Fast jeden Sonntagnachmittag gab es einen Western im Fernsehen, die Gardinen zu und wir alle schauten es uns an. So kommt auch wieder die Zeit in Erinnerung.
Das Hotel ist auch von innen sehr schön, wir waren ganz nah der grossen Lobby im 2. Etage.
Auch eine schöne und sonnige neu Woche und alles Liebe,
Mariette
I would like to see the Grand Canyon one day so think you are so lucky to have been able to visit there and I like old trains as well
ReplyDeleteDearest Jo-Anne,
DeleteYep we finally made it out there, after 27 years...
Sending you hugs,
Mariette
I have very fond memories of Arizona, Mariette. We spent a family vacation there when Jillian was a young girl. My favorite spot was the Painted Desert. Looks like you and Pieter are having a blast, too! Can't wait for the next installment. xo
ReplyDeleteDearest Stacy,.
DeleteWe would have to go back for the Painted Desert... Also to see more of Sedona and spend some time there as well. All in all we do have lots of very fond Arizona memories; new and old ones!
Hugs,
Mariette
Dearest Mariette , I loved this interesting post .I see very often at TV ,the history of famous Route 66 ,I saw on cycle and the area of West ! The trains are adorable ,I notice that I was working for 19 years at Hellenic Railway and I know most of them .Thank you for sharing these interesting informations .Have a nice week !
ReplyDeleteDearest Marieette ,I loved this post ! I see very often at TV (Travel Channel )the famous Route 66 by motorcycle and the west area .I notice that I was working at Hellenic Railway for 19 years and I know more for the trains.Thank you so much that you sharing with us this interesting trip ! Have a nice week !
ReplyDeleteDearest Olympia,
DeleteInteresting that you worked for 19 years at Hellenic Railway, thus your interest for old trains and such. Travel Channel is often quite interesting to watch and we always learn so much.
It was a pleasure sharing with you.
Happy week to you and hugs,
Mariette
Que lindo lugar, adoraria conhecer esse país. Essa rota é bem famosa. Que lindo o cenário de faroeste.
ReplyDeleteAmei seu post.
Bos tenha uma ótima semana.
Dearest Anajá,
DeleteOh, the culture and the history of this part of the country is so special! We sure enjoyed our week long vacation in Arizona!
Wishing you also a pleasant new spring week.
Hugs,
Mariette
Liebe Mariette,
ReplyDeletedas ist wieder ein wunderschöner, informativer Post.
Die Route 66 dürfte weltbekannt sein.
Einen schönen Abend wünscht Dir
Irmi
Liebe Irmi,
DeleteDanke, es macht Freude so etwas weltbekanntes teilen zu können.
Es war wieder so ein sommerlicher Tag hier.
Alles Liebe und eine schöne Herbstwoche für dich.
Mariette
Lieve Mariette,
ReplyDeleteFijn dat jullie zó genoten hebben van vakantie.
Wanneer je veel weet over de geschiedenis en cultuur in Arizona en het Wilde Westen zal het nog interessanter zijn,moet eerlijk bekennen dat het mij nooit heeft kunnen boeien.Maar oude treinen ,stations en een treinrit maken daar kan ik wel warm voor lopen en greep ook al vaak de kans waar.
Liefs,Ger
Lieve Ger,
DeleteJa we genóten van prachtig weer, mooi natuurschoon en prachtige shows in het échte Wilde Westen. Wij zijn als europeanen toch allemaal wel opgegroeid met films zoals Bonanza; in Arizona groeit de Ponderosa spar waarnaar de Ponderosa genoemd was.
Of de cowboy film: Rawhide, met Gil Favor (Eric Fleming) en Rowdy Yates (Clint Eastwood)...
Dat kent iedereen nog wel!
Zo'n historische treinrit is zeker fijn en heel relaxed om te reizen en al zeker na een lange rit per auto de dag ervoor.
Liefs,
Mariette
Dear Mariette,
ReplyDeleteYou look like you are both having a great time traveling through the West! Oh, my heart belongs in Arizona - my favorite place to go! So fun to take the train and see the famous route 66! I am looking forward to seeing the rest of your trip!
A hug xo
Karen
Dearest Karen,
DeleteWe sure had both a great time and we want to go back; that's for sure!
Having lived and worked high in the mountains, at times makes you long for them. Here we could fully enjoy mountains and great nature!
Thanks for visiting and more than welcome to the next part.
Hugs,
Mariette
Dearest Mariette; Great trip to wild West♡♡♡ I vaguely remember the TV drama 'Route 66' p-:) May be(not for sure) the first American drama watching with my late father fascinated by the scene from America. Oh, I wish I could see "the Wild West show"(*^_^*)
ReplyDeleteSending Lots of Love and Hugs from Japan to my Dear friend in America, xoxo Miyako*
Dearest Miyako,
DeleteFunny that you vaguely do remember the TV series Route 66, together with your Father. Brings back mixed feelings and they stay forever with you during your life time. It is funny how the entire world got to know about the Wild West in many ways and that went on for decades. Maybe a bit different now with all the social media; not always better though for the youth. There were always good morals taught in those old movies; perfect for young families.
Hugs and love,
Mariette