O little town of Bethlehem

Here I am...in the Bethlehem Marriott.

Blackbird and I wish we had had the foresight to book rooms in the Bethlehem Inn.
I especially appreciated the illuminated star, above the red neon sign.
But there was probably no room...

We had Mexican food for dinner.
The Internet reviews were scattered - one called the restaurant "a jewel of the Northeast" (ringing enodrsement for Mexican, eh?); another claimed it was a racist establishment with lousy food and service.
I don't know about any of that - the food was fine, the service passable, in our experience - but there WAS a strolling guitar player complete with giant black velvet sombrero.
And Blackbird cheerfully wished our waitress a "happy Cinco de Mayo."

We did some window-"shopping" on Main Street.
There are an AWFUL LOT of Nativity-themed thingamabobs and geegaws here.
And weirdo wildlife - stuffed horses with some bizarrely-proportioned Santa Claus astride its back.
Dolphin coffee table sculptures.
"Hon, move the dolphin, wouldja, I want to put my glass down."

The town drunk stumbled by us.
Or maybe she was just a disheveled middle-aged woman having trouble with her wedge-heeled espadrilles.

I told the hotel clerk that we met on the Internet.
Well, Christ, I didn't want her thinking we were with the cheerleading convention.
Ha!

It only took me half an hour to figure out why my Internet connection was not functioning.
Now I am having anightcap, watching "House" on cable, and enjoying the view from my balcony.
Of the parking lot.
And the Super CVS.

We debated visiting Unclaimed Freight tomorrow.
I remember the cheesy TV commercials from when I was little.
"Unnnn(nnnnn) Claimed(aimmmmmmeeddddd) Freight(ttttttttttt)!!!!!!"
It might be a nostalgia trip...