Jerome, a return visit.

On Friday we made a return visit to Jerome.  Its an old mining town on the side of a mountain which, once the mine closed, was virtually a ghost town until they made it a tourist attraction.  Copper has been mined in the area since prehistoric times with the Spanish moving in in 1583 and the Americans filing mining claims in 1876.  Now all thats mined is the tourists’ wallet.  

We visited here 2 years ago and its a great place to walk around.  There are the usual arts and craft stores, restaurants, B&Bs and even a Biker Bar.  We had lunch at Vaqueros Grill and Cantina and had the Fajita’s.  I had a beer in a boot.  Everything was great including the decor.  

Lori’s been feeling a bit under the weather.  Too much bouncing in the back of a Jeep perhaps, so we will be hanging out at the trailer the next few days.  Speaking of hanging out at our RV site.  I took Charli for a morning walk on the trail through the woods to the creek and what did my eyes behold.  A Coyote, in fact 2 of them.  They were also out for their morning walk.  Looking for breakfast no doubt.  Not knowing how many of them there might be lurking in the trees and not wanting to be on their menu we turned around and headed back to the trailer park. 

Whats left of what once was a pretty majestic building.

Typical of many of the buildings that have been restored.  Notice the wall of glass at the back of the building as seen through the doorway.  A pretty magnificent view.

This guy got to the saloon about 70 years ago and never left.

Vaqueros Grill and Cantina.  Our stop for lunch.  No need to punch up the colours on this photo.  Very visually stimulating.  I don't get the skulls.  There must be some local significance as we see them in the decor and artwork everywhere in the southwest.  Will have to ask someone about their cultural significance.

 Drained my boot and it was time to go.

In its day Jerome, as many frontier towns was filled with boarding houses, bars and houses of ill repute.  An example of the sidewalk advertising showing off the ample inventory available inside once upon a time.
 

 This brightly decorated candy shop caught our eye but not before we smelled the aroma of popcorn and fudge.  I'm sure the exhaust fans from the kitchen were strategically placed to vent out over the street.  Great marketing.

The House of Joy in the former Red Light District.  The inventory has changed.

 The Jerome Grand Hotel sits at the very highest point of town and the view (seen below) is fantastic. The road up was one way and I was very glad not to meet anybody on the way up or down.  Turning around the truck at the top was enough of a challenge.

Its Thanksgiving down here and we are sitting in Starbucks.  Only place with fast enough internet for me to post my blogs and update all our apps.  Tomorrow is Black Friday and we aren't going anywhere near a store so will be more time to catch up on some more blogs.