This is the eighth installment (really, we’re getting close to the end) in the series of diaries describing my vacation in early June on a road trip with hubby, my mother-in-law, and her little black dog, on an extended tour of the state of California. We’ve reached San Luis Obispo. While there were other sights to see, one morning our host took us to the Madonna Inn for breakfast. For devotees of camp, the Madonna Inn is not to be missed. In its design and execution, it is so over the top, it’s almost impossible to describe. Take mid-20th Century kitsch, a Victorian penchant for excess, and lots of money and bad taste, put them all in a blender, and press frappe. Multiply that by a million and you’ll get something close to the Madonna Inn. It has to be seen to be believed.
By the way, none of the photos in the diary are mine. I was too stunned by what I saw to be able to take any photos, apparently. More over the fold
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Alex Madonna was a construction contractor who managed to score a lot of contracts to lay concrete for the freeway system through San Luis Obispo in the post WWII years. This made him very rich. His wife, Phyllis, wanted to open a very special hotel. Alex opened his checkbook wide open and let her do whatever she wanted to, no expense spared. The result was the Madonna Inn.
So you arrive for dinner at the Madonna Inn. After entering the building, this is what you see:
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I suppose I should mention that pink was Phyllis Madonna’s favorite color. There’s a lot of pink at the Madonna Inn. Frustratingly, I can’t make this image larger, so you can’t see the detail of exactly how garnish it is. But there are both fake grape vines and humongous artificial flowers hanging from the ceiling, above tables with pink tablecloths, surrounded by pink upholstered chairs and benches laid out in sinewy lines.
Here is a staircase from the basement to the main floor of the inn:
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Note the grapevines again, this time in stained glass. It’s also difficult to see, but the bannister is carved in loving detail. And while we’re in the basement, let’s take a trip to the men’s room, shall we? There’s a communal urinal that’s not to be missed:
It’s a waterfall! At least it’s triggered by a motion detector so it’s not running all the time. Let’s step over to the bar….
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Again, note the elaborate carving, and PINK!
The hotel itself features themed rooms. I’m running low on time, so I’ll just give you a few samples. Nothing say “Old West” better than a bed on Conestoga wagon wheels.
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I hope you like the color blue. At least it’s not PINK!
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Then there’s the ever popular caveman room. Be sure to bring your club and animal pelt.
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Okay. Enough of this nonsense. On to the comments!
Top Comments (August 17, 2016):
From Thestral:
In SMod's diary about Tea Party advocates spending most of the money on overhead, pierre9045 make a great suggestion.
From Tara the Antisocial Social Worker:
In Hunter's front-page diary, In Wisconsin, Donald Trump delivers 'outreach' to white Americans frightened by scary black folks, libera nos sums up Trump's notions of "law and order.”
Top Mojo (August 16, 2016):
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Top Photos (August 16, 2016):
Tonight’s picture quilt is courtesy of jotter!