 Home of the famous Buffalo Burger, the Bagdad Café is a ramshackle building filled with unexpected delights. Located in Newberry Springs on Route 66, between Ludlow and Barstow where you can hear the train horns from the railroad and the truck horns from the I40 yet still feel as if you are in the middle of nowhere, it is utterly charming in that quirky, vintage, a-bit-broken-down-and-deserted Route 66 way. Of course we had to stop. Bagdad Café gained cult status particularly, for some reason in Scandinavia, after the German arthouse comedy movie "Bagdad Café" was released in late 1987. Starring Marianne Sagebrecht as Jasmin Munchgstettner, CCH Pounder as Brenda-at-the-end-of-her-tether and Jack Palance as ex-Hollywood scenic artist Rudi Cox, the movie tells the story of an abandoned German tourist dropped off in a desert motel and café bringing mayhem and joy to the staff, guests and patrons. You can watch the trailer or even rent or buy the movie here. The song "Calling You" by Jevetta Steele from the movie soundtrack was nominated as Best Original Song at the 1989 Oscars. Check it out here. If you look closely at the photo, you can see the Airstream Trailer from the previous post to the left of the café. Featured in the movie, it was the trailer lived in by the character played by Jack Palance. Stepping inside the café is like stepping back in time, into the movie itself. Notes from various different currencies from around the world are stapled to the walls and serve as a well-worn-wallpaper, an old, original juke box stands at the entrance, the counter, with the original bar stools, stretches the length of the café, while small leatherette booths in the back complete the scene. Food and drinks were no longer served, but the current owner Andrea Pruett was happy to chat with visitors. She encouraged her guests, mostly enthusiastic Europeans, delighted to play out a scene at "Bagdad Café," to pose behind the counter holding a Route 66 shield. It was pure Route 66 kitsch. Brilliant! Henry was astonished that I held Andrea's hand, chatted with her as if we were old friends and gave her a big hug as we departed, with Andrea insisting that she 'wave us goodbye.' "Do you know her?" Henry asked. I do now.
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I found this Airstream Trailer repurposed as a little shop full of homemade knick knacks parked right outside the legendary Bagdad Café between Ludlow and Barstow on Route 66 in San Bernardino County, California. I thought it was gorgeous! Shaped like a little silver bullet, the Airstream Trailer never seems to age. The design of these little beauties is impeccable. Of course I was hoping Matthew McConaughey was hiding inside, as he is a famous Airstream enthusiast. Alas, he was not. Just a lovely couple, having a lovely time, in a lovely cloud of marijuana. Lovely.  |
AuthorLaura Barnes is a retired educator. Mostly she loves books, travels and mischief. She dabbles in writing. 
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