First off, I'd like to thank everyone for the really great comments left on my "Saturday Surfing" post. I have to confess that I had a fun time putting that post together -remembering some of the crazy and zany things that happened to me when I worked in Washington, D.C. forty some odd years ago.
Someday, maybe I'm sure I'll take some trips down memory lane to those days and as I think about and remember some of the great friends I had there, at work as well as after work was done. It was really a great workplace -provided you didn't think too much about the not-so-hot wages they tended to pay much of the time back in those days.
Tonight, thinking a bit though about the summer of 1970 when I got sent to Phoenix, Arizona by my place of employment. I got to go there for three weeks in July -a really wonderful time to visit Phoenix if you are into self-torture by heat -extreme heat! And then, I also got sent back there to work there the entire month of October that year too -which really was a fantastic time to be in Phoenix. It was still warm -very warm -but not the really scorching heat that we experienced working there that July.
Now, when I was out there then on both these company trips, we -the staff -stayed at the Westward Ho Hotel. I have no clue if this hotel is still standing today or not and back then, it wasn't a bad place to stay but wasn't the fanciest place in all of Phoenix either.
Compared to some hotels I've come across recently, the best thing about the Westward Ho was the fact that many of the rooms had a small kitchenette -stove, sink, refrigerator -even supplied with a meager assortment of pots and pans too -where as the places today may offer a refrigerator and a microwave. But today, these kind of hotels also have other amenities -wireless internet for one, and a set up in the suite that gives sleeping as well as living space in a together but yet divided atmosphere.
I remember because the kitchenette attached to my room was also attached to my boss's room and I guess because, being a woman, he figured I could also cook well enough that I could handle fixing food for a little get-together for the staff towards the end of our stay there too.
Today, for management to ask a female employee to prepare a little buffet type thing for the entire staff would probably be regarded as illegal, sexist or something along those lines, but back then, it was pretty much an accepted procedure.
And I have to confess that I even enjoyed doing it too! For me, it was really a lot of fun and definitely was a switch from the statistical recording I was actually sent out there to perform.
Boy, how times do change, huh?
14 comments:
These hotel rooms you're talking about - we call them Condotels here in the Philippines. Years ago me and my family always gets the chance to try out every Hotel in the city so I've seen some pretty neat rooms with small kitchens, stove, just like what you would see in a normal house only it's more of a minimalist style.
I enjoy reading your Memory Lane trips.
Westward Ho! That reminds me of a holiday I had (In the *real* Westward Ho! In Devon UK!) The beach has large round rocks and we were staying in a small chalet. We were lucky to come out of that holiday unscathed as the edge of *Hurricane Charlie* had come over from USA and we were nearly blown away! And the sky was black! I holiday to remember! In the 80s!
I would swear that there's a Westward Ho Motel in every town in America...
Whenever the family and I go on vacation we pay the little bit extra for a room with a kitchen because of the money saved by not being captive to the tourist type restaurants.
I like phoenix too I went in March and it was great.. I liked it that you could find fresh fruit growing everywhere and you could just pick it and eat it.
I love traveling for work.
When I worked for the Federal Government I use to have to do a lot of travelling, it was fun at first but then it got a bit to much. Can't say that I ever cooked for my colleagues...I would organize office parties and generally bring the food and set ....but to actually be told that was my duty....nope I don't think so.....If it was on company tab...I would let them foot the bill for my meals...
Westward Ho Hotel still stands in Phoenix, but it's not a hotel anymore. It was converted to senior housing in 1981. Glad they didn't tear it down. Here's a link for more information. Very interesting.
Westward Ho Hotel
Have a terrific day honey. Big hug. :)
Times change. people change. Hotels and Motels change. Nothing seems to stay the same.
Jeni,
Here is a link to the Westward Ho Hotel. It shows an early postcard of the hotel and then like it was in 2005. Interesting.
http://www.plasticliving.com/westward-ho/wh.html
Blessings,
Mary
I seem to recall Westward Ho motels from way back when my Dad was in the Air Force and we used to travel cross-country every two years or so. Even though packing up and moving and changing schools all the time could be a pain, I sure do remember all those car rides back and forth from Connecticut to Arizona or New Mexico or Florida and all the funky little places we used to stay.
I love hotels with the mini-kitchens! I'd much rather have a few less channels on my tv, less in the way of a continental breakfast, and more in the way of my own pots and pans in the room!
That's my kind of vacation -- local produce but no hefty food bill!
I remember my days of traveling for work very well. I've stayed in quite a few hotels. Have a super Thursday!
Self-torture-you cracked me up with that-how true! We are just ramping up the heat here with some 89 degree temps! Phoenix is really not a bad city to be living in-we'd love it more if we had family here, but they aren't into self-torture.
Westward Ho Hotel-sounds like fun!
My favorite hotel rooms are the ones with a separate sitting room. I like to be able to sit on a sofa in the evening for a room service meal or just to unwind before bedtime. That's much better from a nice sofa.
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