I was pretty
tired on Sunday with a long drive facing me on Monday, so we decided to forego a visit to Mesa Verde (we’d toured Anasazi ruins
before at Montezuma Castle NP) and do some things for the RV then go out to dinner. Bev had done some research and wanted to go
to the Diamond Belle Saloon located in the
historic Strater Hotel in the old part of
Durango. Room 222 in the hotel is the
Louis L’Amour Room where the author did much of his writing – especially the
series about the Sackets.
If the
saloon customers were dressed for the 1880’s, the saloon may have looked as it did then –
the servers actually were. The first two shots are from the web.
Note the saying below the balcony in the above shot. One of the big attractions for us was the Ragtime Piano Player during happy hour. This is the player for the night then joined by a part time player (when he's not in college) who just happened to be in the audience.
They were each very good, but it was awesome when all four of their hands were banging on the ivories. We had a
drink or some then shared a Margherita Pizza
Both were
just pretty good but the pot roast was very tender - we weren't there for the food anyway.
The place was about half full when we arrived but was soon packed due
mostly to a tour group from Britain and they seemed to be having a good time.
After dinner, Bev hit a few stores in the old part of town
and I took
a few shots of the Durango/Silverton RR rail yard as the maintenance and clean-up crews took over. It's a bigger operation than I expected and likely keeps Silverton alive with it's three train/day schedule. They have a little switcher to move the cars around the yard.
Photos can
be enlarged by clicking on them.
and later shared the pot roast special
Have a great
day and thanks for stopping by Almost Heaven South.
Larry
9/17/12
event date
Looks like a real cowboy saloon right out of the movies. Cool.
ReplyDeleteSam
It was and we had a blast
DeleteI love old saloons like that... there's just something about being transported back in time that makes me feel good!!
ReplyDeleteIf you ever get up to Durango, it's a must stop by place.
DeleteSounds like a very enjoyable evening, Larry. I love visiting the small towns in Colorado. My son went to school in Boulder and I did a lot of exploring when I was there to visit.
ReplyDeleteCathy - We went thru Boulder on our way back from Estes Park and it looked like a nice college town. There is a lot to be explored in the area.
DeleteWhat a fun place!! I think the pizza and the pot roast both look delicious.
ReplyDeleteIt was so fun and only a couple of states from Oregon.
DeleteLooks like a fun place to kick back and relax...especially after your mountain roads.
ReplyDeleteIt definitely hit the spot after the previous days white knuckle road.
DeleteI've been to that hotel! It was at least a dozen years ago and I'd forgotten all about it. I wish we'd been there for a happy hour though. Sounds like a lot of fun!
ReplyDeleteMary - Now you have a reason to go back and I'd sure like a repeat visit.
DeleteOf course you found a train! It looks like a fine little town, and a great saloon. This has been a great pictorial travelogue, Larry.
ReplyDeleteThanks Marjie - hope you are enjoying it. Perhaps you should try and get a kid to go to Fort Lewis College then you could visit often :-)
ReplyDeleteLarry, Durango sure is a picturesque town with lots to look at... We really liked it when we visited it a few years back. We didn't go in the hotel though so thanks for the insight. Take Care, Big Daddy Dave
ReplyDeleteI've never been to a real saloon before. Did they have the typical "swinging saloon doors" or was that just a Hollywood myth?
ReplyDeleteI'm "catching Up" on my blog reading (I do better at posting) and have enjoyed your back posts. We love Durango and visit often. If you ever get back and get a chance ride to the train. It 's stupendous.
ReplyDelete