World Hum’s Most Read: May 10-16

What We Loved This Week: ‘The Zen of Bobby V,’ ‘When the Levees Broke’ and Arriving With Our Baggage

How Bad is the Violence in Mexico?

Tony Horwitz Blogs From the Road

Tony Horwitz: Rediscovering the New World

Ben Keene talks to the author of the new book “A Voyage Long and Strange” about travel, American myths and the importance of visiting places where “history happened”

In Patagonia, In Patagonia

Tim Patterson packs his fleece and long underwear, and enters the Twilight Zone where corporate branding meets the multilayered reality of place. 

Should I Quit Law School so I can Travel the World?

Vagabonding traveler Rolf Potts answers your questions about travel

‘The Worst Guidebook Writer Ever’?

Lonely Planet author Robert Reid reviews Thomas Kohnstamm’s “Do Travel Writers Go to Hell?” and weighs in on the controversy surrounding it

Have a Hockey Night in Canada

From Montreal to Sault Ste. Marie, the sport is the country’s greatest passion. Eva Holland explains where to go to indulge—and who you need to know.

Promised Land Closed

And other odd and unlikely signs from around the world. Aficionado Doug Lansky, editor of the book “Signspotting,” recounts his 10 favorites.

10 Sizzling Hot Travel Tips From Sir Francis Bacon

Rolf Potts repackages the 17th century philosopher’s ‘Of Travel’ essay in the manner of a 21st century magazine feature

Route 66 Hotels Face ‘Four-Lane, Divided Highway Called Progress’

Interesting read. A few years ago I stayed at the world famous Wigwam Motel on Route 66 in Holbrook, AZ. A cool place that’s still in relatively good shape. However, my wigwam smelled really musty and while I had the door open to air it out, an extremely drunk Navajo hobo stumbled inside and had a seat. Cost me five bucks and a bottle of beer to get him out. 

Another good Route 66 motel is the El Rancho in Gallup, NM.

I know that smell, TambourineMan. Nevertheless, glad to hear some first-person reports that some Route 66 are still in good shape.

Route 66 won’t return to its heyday simply because the traffic isn’t there. Most of the cross-country travelers are using interstates now.

The goal is to get enough of an increase in travelers (thank you, Pixar for the “Cars” movie) to help preserve a few of these motels and vintage businesses. There already are a number of success stories, like the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, N.M. and the Wigwam Motel in San Bernardino, Calif.

On my Route66News.Com’s listing of motels, there also are some historic hotels listed that are still operating/

Of course it is naïve ? the economics are against these old motels. But perhaps more jarring is the politics in local planning departments that encourage developers to buy these old motels and flatten them. The City of Albuquerque, New Mexico, showed terrible bad faith in approving the recent demolition of the National Register designated Horn Oil Motor Motel so some half-baked architect from California could throw some Mediterranean townhouses. Same thing is happening in the other big cities along Route 66. Change zoning policies and save some these relics. James

Am interested in the possibility of riding motorcycle along route 66 in late Feb./early March.  Cold’s OK but not snow.  Is this doable?  Thanks.