I decided to make travel and writing my life; Tucson, Arizona was my first stop. I loved Tucson, and the hostel where I slept.
I moved there to take a live-in position at The RoadRunner Hostel. That fell through but I still had one of the most perfect weeks of my adult life. I felt so free and unattached; not necessarily irresponsible but surely not bound by anything; not lazy, just relaxed.
Luckily, I had other options. I returned to my brother's in Tempe and continue to compile my list of near-by hostels. I'll be living in the west for spell.
Anyhow, the view of the mountains right outside the front door did great things for my travel-weary bones.
You see, my trip country was from Atlanta was via Greyhound.
While reading a health-related magazine some six years ago, I discovered hostels. It sounded like a great idea. The article said that some colleges set aside a few dorm rooms during student breaks to rent to travelers. Wow.
I was armed with two things: a list of places to visit and a growing curiosity about everything.
As luck would have it, my first hostel experience was Atlanta, Georgia, my home at the time. Actually, it's in Decatur, just over there from downtown Atlanta.
It only took one evening in the Atlanta Dream Hostel to convince me that hostels were, indeed, a great way to travel … and live. The only hard part has been convincing my friends and relatives to try them.
In fact, one of my medium-range intentions is to live and work in a hostel for a while, ultimately owing/ operating one of own. I've almost settled on a name for it.
But, as to the Dream Hostel: It had not only dorms and private rooms, but boasted such variety as theme rooms. Each private room had a different setting. Being the gypsy that I am, the Outwest Room was my favorite. So cool. All sorts of western memorabilia.
Then there was the Jesus room, really. Religious decorations.
My overall favorite was the Elvis RV. Right, a dead RV which was decorated with every conceivable Elvis Presley momento. An Elvis dream come true.
Ah, did I mention the Tea Room? It's out back of the hostel proper, adjacent but across the yard. It's open to the public and served the best coffee in the city.
To date, this one remains my favorite.
Tucson, Arizona is one of my favorite small towns.
The RoadRunner Hostel is perfectly located for its name. It's in walking distance of both the train and bus stations. The RoadRunner theme is repeated throughout the building.
The dining table has roadrunner place mats; pictures of roadrunners adorn the walls; wood roadrunner carvings on the window sill. In fact, the clock has a bird motif that makes a different sound on ever hour.
The hostel has one amenity that makes a warm day in Tucson even more pleasant; bike rentals for a small daily fee.
Just up the street and around the corner from there is the Hotel Congress. Grand old hotel building. To my delight, there was very little "modernizing" done to it. Light fixtures are ensconced in the walls over the small dining tables in the coffee shop.
Now, the coffee shop, that's another thing. If you find yourself ready for breakfast in Tucson, go to the Hotel Congress Coffee Shop. That may not be the proper title of it, but who cares? The Oven Roasted Potatoes are the best $1.50 that you will spend.
Unlike the Roadrunner, the Congress has only two beds per room and there are private baths and phones in each.
I say that Tucson looks just like it did 100 years ago, except now there are cars instead of horses and buggies. If you go into the Congress, you'll feel a bit of 'stepping back' but you'll love it.
My plan was to move permanently to Tucson to finish the rewrite of a book.
I am still aiming at living/working in a hostel.
That was the first week of the new year.
I had the great pleasure and privilege to attend my first inter-tribal pow-wow. It was called Thunder in the Dessert. A grand week-long experience, all around, but that's another story.
Safe Travels… sweet dreams… EssDee.
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