Someone Else's Party

El Paso, Texas... what a piece of shit. It even smelled like it.



We stayed in a historic hotel downtown, now converted to a cheap hostel. Leather arm chairs in the lobby, friendly service, historic light switches: that was the upside. The downside was that it was opposite an absolutely pounding nightclub. Luckily, I happen to like 80's Euro Discoteque - some others in the group were not so pleased.



Antonio on the front desk assured us that those who take the time to explore El Paso find worlds-best amenities, for example the art museum, the music scene, the annual film festival (unfortunately now defunct due to city budget cuts) and the view of the city at night. At least this is what he's been told by guests who have traveled to other places.

Perhaps Antonio is right, but we will never know. We were outta there ASAP come morning. Rode much faster than I would have liked today, but getting out of town fast just seemed like the right thing to do. We rode hard to the next town of Fabens, about 25 miles. It was right out of an old border town Western movie. We stopped at Nena's Mexican Restaurant on the outskirts and had a most excellent second breakfast before working a stiff head wind south east along the border to the Community Church in Fort Hancock where we are camping for the night.

We discovered that this night was the town's annual festival - the Fiesta de Santa Teresita - at the Catholic church. It was in full swing when we arrived, the rancheros in their fresh pressed jeans, shiniest buckles, and crisp cream hats, the senoritas in their tightest jeans and low cut tops. There was a great Mexican band playing, there were stalls for all kinds of Mexican food and stalls where you could play a game to win a prize. Beers were only $1:50 and came with a free koozie. We ate, looked around and did a little dancing, before returning down the road to the campground, the lights of the other Mexico twinkling deviously from across the river.

Reg on the Mechanical Bull

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