Welcome to Flagstaff, Northern Arizona. This is a historic little town that
takes art very seriousl! I can't think of a better way to spend a Saturday
afternoon exploring - there could be coffee and bookstores involved. This is a
great place to start- this is the Flagstaff portal by Sean Griffin.
I'm going for brunch at the excellent Brandy's Cafe!
I actually came in forbrlunch a couple of days ago I had to come back. They do a
signature hollandaise sauce which is to die for and a particular way of sautéing potatoes... and the coffee also brilliant.
This is Louie the Lumberjack - he dates back to 1963. In those days there
were hundreds of these huge fiberglass figures all along route 66 trying to
lure in passing motorists. These days there aren't many left.
This is the enormous Mother Myth mural which traces the history of route 66 and Flagstaff.
You may find that your walk around downtown Flagstaff is occasionally
halted by the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe
Railroad which runs straight through the heart.
They go on forever!
The is historic route 66 straight through the center of downtown Flagstaff
...and it's a big day for dogs
This is painted by a Navajo artist called hero and represents the morning prayer
Already one of my favorite bookstores anywhere in the world!
This mural commemorates all things NAU that's the Northern Arizona University
which has its main campus here in Flagstaff.
It's a spectacular piece and it's deliberately surreal but you could say
the most surreal thing about the whole thing is that most people won't find it
It's down a back alley by a little parking lots and some bins.
I'm really missing my dogs right now!
Well, I can't join in the dog walking but I can join in the coffee drinking.
Who cares about the train. Enjoy the coffee!
This is Wheeler Park.. what a great name! No, not named after me but after Rollin
Wheeler, mayor of Flagstaff in the 60s.
The yellow is significant as its the Hopi directional colour for the north
and accordingly very appropriate for its home at the Museum of Northern Arizona
...and as you're up here do pop into this great little Museum. It's got everything
you need to know about the geology and the peoples of the amazing Colorado
Plateau
Flagstaff's a really cool town, I really like it and I had a great time doing the
public art tour... they've really done an amazing job.
Apparently I've only seen about 1/5 of what there is because the art is
scattered all over the wider city. I'll have to wait and do that another time!