Blue Swallow Motel

Gallery: POP PhotosPosted May 2, 20171,754 views7 comments

I guess you could call this an "icon" alert. Wife and I traveled from California to Tucumcari, New Mexico, with numerous stops along the way to savor what's left of Route 66, The Mother Road. Tucumcari was a delight, with numerous neon signed motels and curio shops spread around town, as well as many nicely painted murals depicting the time when the Mother Road was the best way to travel across the USA.

The quote below is from the Blue Swallow web site:

"The Blue Swallow has been serving travelers along the Mother Road since 1939, and today, our guests enjoy a pleasant reminder of what it was like to travel across the USA in the “good old days. Come take a step back to a simpler time, meet your neighbors from around the world, and relax under the glow of the neon lights in the historic courtyard of the Blue Swallow Motel."

D800E, 16-35 f4 @ 20mm, f11, 2", 100 ISO

Comments

7 comments

Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on May 3, 2017 at 8:57 AM

Wonderful take on this iconic site, Reno. As an east coast transplanted family to the west coast we traveled the Route-66 several times during my younger years. I do recall many nights in motels similar to this one here. I also recall our old 50 era Dodge with the rams head hood ornament. During our travels across the southwest states the rams horns sported 2 of those old burlap desert water bags that got used often to cool the overheating radiator down.
Amazing to see the old neons are able to be supported by some kind of services still. Kind of wonder how long that technological world will survive not only in hardware, but talent & skills to maintain things over all....... laugh

Registered on February 25, 2006, 525 Posts, 8448 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on May 3, 2017 at 10:33 AM

Very cool image, Reno! Reminds me of when I was a little kid. And great bold colors to the neon.

Registered on November 19, 2003, 586 Posts, 11271 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on May 6, 2017 at 7:27 PM

Reno,

This is glorious! Wow, the bold colors are incredible, but then pale comparison to the story of the American Classic, Route 66.

Makes me want to get in my car and drive.

Lon

Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on May 7, 2017 at 9:06 PM

The color and composition are sumptuous. I'm not sure I'd call this an "icon" though. Just a great photo.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Williams on May 8, 2017 at 12:16 AM

This is soo cool Reno. I love it. Great lighting and colors and details and composition. I can see that in an old diner any day. Nice.

Registered on December 28, 2010, 636 Posts, 3499 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Sandor on May 10, 2017 at 12:12 PM

Reno: this photo certainly belongs in the POP section as it sure does pop. The colors, the subject and the composition are a treat. Richard

Registered on January 12, 2014, 453 Posts, 1625 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on May 12, 2017 at 5:21 PM

Great capture of this icon - congrats on the WP!
Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments