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Here’s another option
Never let it be said that we here at One Day | One Image don’t offer our readers several options when it comes to interesting travel trailers. This one, only 92 miles away from this little gem, is larger. But that native landscaping across the front might slightly impede access to the doors. And while I suppose that one might consider that a security feature, it still appears unnecessarily formidable for residents.
To find this one, go to Marathon (pronounced, for some reason MARE-a-thun instead of like the race), and turn north at the cafe that’s just west of the Gage Motel. Go to all the way to the end of that street (three blocks), then go left all the way to the end of that street (six more blocks), then go right. This will be on your left. Look for the water tower, and you can’t miss it.
Marathon, Texas
photographed 8.16.2013
PS – If you get to town early enough, go ahead at have breakfast at the cafe. Sit outside. And chat up the waitress. She’s got a lot to say. (They are Italians, but are leaving today. He’s from Italy – been out here for better than twenty years. The dog’s name is Sparky. The flies are pretty bad this year. It’s been hot, but starting to cool down. Those people got here yesterday. You smell fruity.)
Behind the HiWay
There are several renovated trailers at El Cosmico, in Marfa, but they may not have the charm of this one that I saw in back of the HiWay Cafe, just down the road in Valentine. Also, this one has those concrete blocks hold it up, so you know it’s stable. No neighbors to bother you – everything around is abandoned and falling down. And the tree right there provides some shade, although to be honest, this IS the desert, and the shade’s probably never as much as you’d hope. It’s also just a stone’s throw (literally, and I can’t throw very far) from the railroad.
You don’t have to take my word for it; it’s right there on the main highway (or: only highway), between 3rd and 5th Streets*.
Valentine, Texas
photographed 8.16.2013
*By the way, and because I know you want to know, the highest street number in town is 8.
Nooses? Yes, it looks like nooses.
I don’t really know what would have gone on at the ice house (other than the making of ice, I mean), so I am not entirely sure why there’d be a row of big eye bolts on the outside of the building.
But check out the noose-shadows on the corrugated metal wall. I’m not saying that was my favorite thing I’ve ever seen in Marfa, but it’s right up there with this. Oh, and here’s a wider view of the ice house, taken on a previous trip. Before I knew about the nooses.
Marfa, Texas
photographed 8.16.2013
Some travel advice
Should your travels take you to Alpine, Texas, this is my advice: book yourself into room 208 at the Holland Hotel. It’s got a balcony that overlooks the main drag and (AND!) the train depot. But it also has good balcony-related scenery, like this railing, which caught the early morning light in a very nice fashion.
If you don’t like sound of frequent train whistles, though, you might want to stay someplace else. (Like Denver.) There are a LOT of trains that go through Alpine.
The bartender at the Century Grill, conveniently located in the hotel lobby, makes a very nice dirty martini. Enough of those and the train whistles won’t be a problem.
And, if you head a couple of blocks down the street, stop in at the Saddle Club. When I was there, relaxing* on the open patio in back, a photographer was shooting various menu items. At one point, he brought me over a plate with chicken skewers on it, saying, “Would you like some chicken? I haven’t even touched it!” How could I say no to a deal like that!?
Alpine, Texas
photographed 8.18.2013
*Shiner Bock. It was VERY relaxing.
What I didn’t photograph that day
This was my first visit to Valentine. This is what happened:
I was in Marfa. I thought about going to look at the cemetery. And headed out that way. Then saw a mileage sign that said Valentine was 35 miles away. I ditched the idea of a cemetery visit and headed over to Valentine.
Not too much going on in Valentine, other than the famous (?) Prada Marfa scuplture (or, installation, if you will), which to be honest I didn’t look for because I was a lot more interested in the way the storm looked over the HiWay Cafe. Also, the sculpture/installation has had its picture taken a lot, and I wanted to try to make things right with the Cafe.
And, I am a little bit of a contrarian: if “everyone” takes a picture of something, you can be pretty sure I’ll aim my camera elsewhere. (Sorry. None of you really needed me to point THAT, did you!?)
Valentine, Texas
photographed 8.16.2013
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