New and Improved Mexico

Today we drove from Flagstaff to Albuquerque, pausing along the way to see artifacts left over from Route 66 (these dinosaurs roam freely along I-40---not sure if they were displaced by the construction of the Interstate or not).

We briefly visited Gallup, NM and saw weathered signs pointing to cafes and motels that are no longer in business. A few still are, though, and many of the newer businesses (it appears that Gallup is growing) seem to be joining in the spirit of Route 66 by putting up old-timey signs.

We also drove the Route through some hilly areas. The new highway cuts through hills, but the civil engineers in charge of 66 were a little more delicate with the terrain. We returned to the highway after seeing a sign asking non-Indians to not take pictures, movies, or make sketches of the local village.