Back to the sleepy old town of El Paso.
Trip Start
Aug 25, 2007
1
10
12
Trip End
Sep 03, 2007
El Paso,
Texas,
United States
Monday, September 3, 2007
Cesar is telling us about Chihuahua, his home town. The Walmart here sells Levis at $60. The Walmart in El Paso sells the same pants for $23. That's the reason that the El Paso Walmart is packed 24 hours a day, and why most of the liscense plates in the parking lot are from Mexico.
I was amazed how much Chihuahua has grown. It's the US south of the boarder. Pick a fast food restaurant, or an Olive Garden, Chili's, Ruby Tuesdays, and they are here. The new University is modern. The once barren hillsides have houses crowded in on tiny lots. And the highway system is impressive. We passed one suburb that had all American States names on the street signs. And all the American stores that the newly come south of the border citizens would feel comfortable shopping in.
The only problem is water. Or lack of water. It's rationed. So, for Americans used to running water in the sink while cleaning dishes, it's a hard adjustment
Hills outside of Chihuahua
. The water agreement with the US is coming up in the near future. The US is holding an agreement that gives them a big supply of Mexico's water. Wonder what will happen when Mexico gets their water rites back? The Texas/Mexico border might not be the same. Our stop is for cheese. At Oscars. Cesar delivered on his promise. Now we're all anxious to get to the cheese. Most of the group goes into Cesar's restaurant to sample it. I remember that I liked the Asadero cheese, and want to get mine NOW. First in line in the cheese store next to Oscars restaurant, I ask for the Asadero. Since I'm speaking English to Mexicans, I'm getting a blank look. Then I do the hand motions of a round hunk of cheese. Blessed be the sweetheart from California that speaks fluid Mexican. She orders me a round of Asadero. I ask her what other kinds are available - chili cheese. Yep, give me one of those also. The two good size rounds come to only $10. Oh, to have a cooler chest that I could fit on the plane, I'd stack my freezer.
After the group is ready it's back on the bus. Past the sand dunes then to the first border patrol. We pull over to the bus area. Analy is behind us and pulls her car into the security area. She's asked to get out of the car. I ask Cesar why her when they are letting others go without getting out of the car. Men he says... They took a look at her face and want to see the rest of her. They want her to pop the truck open, then they'll tell her to get back in
Homes in the
. Yep. That's what happened. Well, at least it gave us all a little excitement. We knew she wasn't carrying drugs, but I thought these guys would delay her by searching the car. The dog never moved from his position. Maybe it was just too hot. Next site is the Church of Miracles. Before too long we are headed to the New Mexico border crossing. This is chosen because it is the quickest way to get across the border. The other border crossings that are closer to El Paso are usually backed up. We clear Mexico's in about one minute, then onto the US just up the street. All we do is take our immigration form and walk into the US customs office. The US officials take it and back out we go to the bus. Manuel says we'd be sittting at the El Paso border for about two to three hours before being checked thru.
A quick drive thru New Mexico and we are on the outskirts of El Paso. Everyone seems anxious to get to the airport. I'm thinking maybe we can stay on the bus and have Manuel and Cesar take us back to the Canyon
. A "so-long" to everyone, and some private "we promise to keep in touch and maybe we can get get toghether and do something next year." And a promise to connect with Gail and Mervin when we are back in Pittsburgh. Then we're headed to our car rental, and check in at the hotel.
My energy level seems sapped the moment I hit the hotel room, but we have to find a cooler to put the cheese in for the flight tomorow. I never knew how difficult it is to locate a small collapasable cooler. Walmart, Kmart, and two other stores. Our last stop before giving up is Big Lots. Yep there it is, one left and I grab it. Will the cheese fit in? Back at the hotel it's a YES. Now to put some ice in the cooler to keep the cheese cold. And it's dinner time. The question is where do we want to go? I'm not wanting Americanized Mexican food right now. I'd probably get teary-eyed. We drove by Landrys and said "that's it". After dinner, it was an early night.
