Just got back from a fast trip to El Paso. Saw some friends
close as family and some other people I met for the first time.
Interstate 20, probably as with all interstates, is heavy
with Police. Some 10 mile stretches had four or more cars giving out tickets.
And yes in Texas there are areas with 80 MPH speed limits and people were still
getting tickets. Be careful out there if you are going to be traveling over the
next two weeks.
I hate to say it, but I was very unimpressed with Motel 6.
We left late so went ahead and spent the night on the road instead of going
straight through. We stayed at a Motel 6 and was seriously under impressed by
the customer service, attitude, room itself (the bedspread was covered in
grease so we slept with our clothes on), beds were weak, and cannot say much
more. We didn’t even stay in the morning. We just got up and left. And in today’s
world amenities are important and they had none. No ironing board, no breakfast
or continental breakfast, no shampoos etc… Maybe Motel 6 was significantly cheaper
in the past than other chains or maybe times have caught up with them, but they
were almost as expensive as the hotel we stayed at in El Paso and we felt we
got a good deal there and paid about $10 more for the night. And it included
breakfast which since there was four of us is well worth the extra ten by
itself. It was an older La Quinta and you could tell, but it was clean,
customer service was great, people were nice. Strange how big of a difference. Anyway I am frugal, (kids say cheap) so I
watch out for things like this and usually we plan ahead, but the Motel 6
experience should not have been as bad as it was.
I will be posting a very few set of pictures on my facebook
page from one El Paso Christmas scenario as soon as I find the cord I can run
from my phone to the computer.
And boy there is a difference in where you are located on
planet Earth nowadays. We went to a full restaurant for dinner Saturday night
with friends and the prices were impressive to me especially since full meal.
It was mainly Mexican (Tex-Mex), and tasted fairly well, but the prices
compared to Dallas were about ten to twenty percent less. Spent with tip $18
for two meals and one beer. Place called Ventanas Bar and Grill at the
Racetrack Casino in Sunland Park. I won’t say great food, but definitely worth
going for the price. The chips weren’t that great, but the chili had a fair
kick to it. I hadn’t been out there
since they built the Casino and added all the restaurants and Night club. I did
go to the Race track many many years ago so was pleasantly surprised, not
overwhelmed. We left for other endeavors
right after eating.
El Paso always seems to be in need of renovation. I lived
there for 6 or 7 years once upon a time and it still seems the same. Well
larger, but it looks the same. I mean certain areas of town haven’t changed a
bit. And when I say renovation I mean it looks like someone needs to come along
and fix up something. And this is the way it always looks. I like El Paso and
have many friends there, but somehow or another that city just grows within a
time bubble. New businesses or developments come, but they quickly fit right
into this scenario of someone needs to come along and fix something that seems
to be falling down. There are some real nice places and there is definitely great
food if you know where to look, but it just has this “if someone would come
along and do that and that” then it would be great feel to it.
I have been all along the US Mexico border my whole life off
and on and El Paso-Juarez is definitely its own world. And I want to quit
mentioning a certain person running for President’s name, but you can tell this
person has no idea the wonder of the Southwest. For people who have lived in
this area for generations there was no border for the longest time. Yeah there
were signs and bridges, etc, but border, no. As kids we use to follow the
migrant farm workers out into the fields to gather what was left and no one
thought twice about it. Now all the modern retirees that moved out here have no
idea the history nor la familia (even with all the wars and skirmishes over
three centuries) of how people, the real people that is, have gotten along. I
wish people would concentrate on the real problems and unfortunately there are
some serious ones instead of demonizing what was once a very calm and peaceful
place to live. Honestly it wasn’t perfect, but what this one person is saying
about one issue is discounting what is a wonderful, vast, beautiful place to
live and play. If you get the chance you need to visit the American Southwest.
I have crossed the deserts many times and enjoy it every time. (just make sure you are prepared before you
go out)
Anyway enjoy your holidays, be safe, if you travel take the
extra moment to make sure you are ready, and I hope you have great times with
family and friends these next two plus weeks. Remember Christmas doesn’t end
till Epiphany, not three o’clock in the afternoon on the 25th. Take the time to make the most out of all your
days throughout the year, but it never hurts to spend some extra time enjoying
the Joy of the season. It helps if you
don’t spend the whole time in the stores, but with people you love and I hope
you get/make the opportunity.
And no matter what you do, do not go the bathroom and start
remembering old Ghostbuster lines. Embarrassing as hell to start smirking at
that time. “Don’t cross the streams” oh &^%$ my brain is losing it. Yeah some
ole fart unable to spend two minutes in a restroom. sheesh
No comments:
Post a Comment