El Paso --- Texas

Saturday night in ole El Paso!

We arrived here Friday afternoon, got settled in our RV park and left to sightsee the area. El Paso has a population of about 800,000. Even with a wonderful freeway system we managed to be get lost many times, even with our smartphone navigation. Actually, I wonder if it was the navigation or was it the "director" -- ME?  We shopped at El Paso Saddleblanket, which is 2 acres of Mexican and Indian handweavings, pottery, blankets, oriental and Persian rugs, sterling silver and turqoise jewelry, artifacts, saddles, ropes.....oh everything western. Then there was another building with 1 acre of home furnishings. I doubt if anyone living outside of Texas would want this furniture! There even was caskets to buy.... lined with cowhide!

After finally finding the Visitors Center, we picked up some interesting reading material and ideas as to what to do, where to go. We knew we wanted to have Mexican dinner at Rose's Catina, which we fnally found after wandering around again. Remember Rose's? It's the cantina Marty Robbins sang about in his song, "El Paso". His records are on the wall, the jukebox has his songs and it is a very lively place! Three Mexican troubadours came through singing their music and playing their instruments. We paid $5 per song. It was worth it! The food was great and the atmosphere fun. Buster  had a Lonestar beer, which he hasn't drank since 1965! (Think he was barely 21 then! Or was he??).  The building itsef is an old rock, small building and is definitely a hole-in-the-wall along a desolate street near the Mexican border. After dinner we tried to take a different route home, ended up off the beaten track in the dark. The GPS gave us directions and we'd end up at a detour or dead end. Finally wandered around Ft. Bliss and the Airport and got back on track and made it back to our RV, scratching our heads wondering why the GPS would change from miles to kilometers. Found out that depending on where you are, it can change -- we were evidently too close to Mexican border.

This morning we drove the "Border Highway". It follows alongside the Rio Grande and the big fancy fence separating Jaurez, Mexico from the U.S. The Mexican flag flew proudly in the breeze and we could see many modern buildings and manufacturing aeas through the fence. We knew we didn't dare cross the border. The border crossings are very large and modern.

We stopped by a Justin western boot outlet store. It was fun to look at all the fancy boots, belts, purses, etc. We asked for a good BBQ place for lunch so then went to State Line BBQ. We ordered one plate, shared it and still had enough for dinner tonight! Texans like to eat! It was delicious. Buster was commenting that last night his Lonestar was $1.50 at Rose's and today it was $4.00 at the BBQ place!

We tried to find a good Mexican flea market. Never did locate one. So we drove over the Woodrow Bean/Transmountain Road, which took us over the mountains alongside the city. We were up over a mile in elevation. Other than those mountains, it is flatter than a pancake throughout the area.

There was a huge dust storm today and we couldn't see the city from the top of thoses mountain. So we came back to town, explored the area around  the beautiful Univ. of Texas El Paso campus and came home. Visibility was poor and we were ready for some R&R.

End of our day. Came home and did nothing. Watched the eastern snowstorm on tv and glad we aren't back there! We will be outta Dodge in the morning and head east. We hope to be in San Antonio area in 2 days.

We've heard so many stories of how dangerous El Paso is. We did not have any problems, other than getting lost. Everyone was very friendly everywhere we went. Don't think either of us care if we ever return, it's a "been there, done that" city.

Susan