Didn't you say you grew up in El Paso? I'm headed there this weekend and wondered if you could suggest things to do/see. Maybe you've been gone too long - but thought I'd ask.
Man-friend was working there the past 2 weeks.. and kindly bought me a pair of boots. Sadly, they don't fit... so we are going to return them and make a weekend of it.
Hi, 2P - Yes, I'm from the West Texas Town of El Paso (begins to hum)
El Paso is divided by the Franklin Mountains into two parts, east and west El Paso. I grew up on the west side and so know that part of town better. So where you are going to stay will have a lot to do with what you would want to see and do.
WARNING!!!!!!!! Do not...repeat....DO NOT.... go across the border into Juarez. Juarez is currently the most dangerous city in Mexico. There are shootings and kidnappings there everyday courtesy of the drug cartels.
I'm guessing that your BF got the boots like at the Tony Lama factory or one of the other factories, on the east side right off of I-10. Don't worry - you can definitely find boots that fit somewhere in El Paso! At really good prices, too.
There are lots of concerts and events there now, but I don't know the schedules, so I'm including some links here. El Paso has lots of wonderful restaurants and good shopping. If you are going to stay on the east side, I would highly recommend Julio's as a great place for Mexican food. It is right off of I-10. They have the BEST chili con queso! Also, the Great American Land and Cattle Company is excellent.
I would suggest driving across TransMountain from the east to west side (or west to east!) because the views are so pretty. A great place to visit is Old Mesilla, which is not far up the road near Las Cruces, NM. It's sort of like a mini-Santa Fe.
It's kind of interesting to drive around UTEP (my alma mater!) because it's such a pretty campus.
I think that there are trolley tours now in El Paso, and that would be a great way to see some of the city and hear some of the history.
Let me keep thinking. And if you can, let me know what side of town you'll be staying in.
http://www.elpasotexas.gov/cityevents/
http://eventful.com/elpaso/events
http://gotexas.about.com/od/elpaso/El_Paso_Border_Town_Surprising_City.htm
Posted 2 years ago by WillowandWindismom #
So when I lived there WWM..was I from the west side or east side? I lived at 3109 Van Buren..I went to Bassett Elementary school. I am sure I asked you already but I forgot :)
Wonder if you were one of those cool high school girls when I was there..
Posted 2 years ago by cricketsmama #
He picked up a pair of Lucchese boots... FABULOUS price. I simply have too high of an arch and my foot would not go in the boot. *sobs*
He is most familiar with the area around Fort Bliss as that is where he was working. Don't know if that's east or west... but that's the area we'll be staying.
Thanks for the links ! I'll check them out as time allows (this working for a living just really takes a cut out of my social life!).
He did mention driving up toward Las Cruces to find a good place for dancing... it's all about the dancing, you know. LOL
Oh... and there is NO WAY I'm going in to Mexico... no worries there !
My best friend from college is from El Paso, and so we visited there a couple of times (even drove there on a whim to say hi to her sister at her bridal shower and then drove right back :) ).
We drove up TransMountain and it was beautiful!! The thing I remember most, though, was wondering how the female in the next car over could get both her feet in the position that they looked to be in (and doing this without staring!;)
I don't know how long ago it was that you lived there, WWM, but my friend's father was the manager of their NBC (or maybe ABC) channel and his last name was Pearson. Her mother owned a cute flower shop that had the name Maggie in it and my friend went to Coronado High School. I remember looking out their kitchen window, seeing the snowcapped mountains and being awestruck!
Posted 2 years ago by FondaHonda #
CM, you lived on the east side. *gets out the whack bonk stick because of the high school remark*
2P, you'll be on the east side, too.
FH, I went to Coronado HS, too. But I'm going to wager a little guess that it was way before your friend was there! It seems that I can remember a flower shop with a name like that in Kern Place, which is near UTEP.
SM, I adore the Land of Enchantment! I loved living in Farmington and I am crazy about both Santa Fe and Albuquerque.
2P, I can't tell you the name of any dance places because it's been a while. But Las Cruces is a university town and I know that there are lots of places up there. I can't honestly think of any around UTEP but there are bound to be some. I'm sort of thinking that you'll find nicer clubs in up Las Cruces. There will be some around Ft. Bliss, but I don't know - could be sort of seedy.
Lucchese Boots has an outlet there. Maybe there will be a pair that will work. You can't get better boots than those.
Posted 2 years ago by WillowandWindismom #
2P and SM, y'all will be close to each other. Ft. Bliss is right by the airport.
Posted 2 years ago by WillowandWindismom #
I meant high school freshman :) okay...middle school?
Posted 2 years ago by cricketsmama #
SM - are you interested in meeting up for dinner on Friday night???
WWM - I should have known... Man-friend is familiar with many of the things/places you mentioned. Geez.. only there for 2 weeks and he has the place all figured out LOL Shoot - he knows Phoenix better than I do and I've been here 24 years. Him about 7.
Lucchese is what he bought for me. I had tried on a pair here... but these had to have been a different style. Fingers crossed I can find a different pair of Lucchese that fit because there were amazingly comfortable.
Oh... and man-friend has a friend that lives in or near Las Cruces... he'll be the contact for a place to dance. Apparently there is a Graham Central Station near by. *shines up her current boots*
Remember, I don't know about these places, but I did find this
http://desertdanceusa.com/PlacestoDance.html
Posted 2 years ago by WillowandWindismom #
2P, there is a GCS in Cruces. But it got horrible reviews!
Posted 2 years ago by WillowandWindismom #
It is the night before Daughter leaves. I know hubby made some plans, but no idea what. He will be home late tonight. I would love to get together. This is one of the hardest things ever. I know she is a smart and confident young woman, but I am having a hard time with her leaving for so long so very far away.
IF you prefer family time SM - I totally understand !!! You can email me at
yellowjeepin at yahoo dot com and we'll iron out the details ! It's very hard when our babies leave.... even when then aren't necessarily babies! My youngest went to Europe for 3 weeks when he was 12.... he went with another family, but it was terribly difficult to see him go... like you said; so far away.
Well, you'll just have to come here, 2P. Everyone says that our GCS is good. Of course, it's mostly country music!
Here's a restaurant that's very near the airport and Ft. Bliss. I haven't been in a few years but it's always been really good.
http://www.eskimo.com/~sockeye/ep/carlosmickeyep.html
And the Cattle Baron is right across from the Marriott and the Hilton at the airport
And Jaxon's Brewery is just down from the airport on Airway. You would head back towards I-10 and it's on the right. I've never had a bad meal there. It's sort of an El Paso institution.
Julio's isn't all that far, either. You would go to I-10 and turn left on the frontage road. (sorry, I'm not too good at N,S,E,W!!!) I can't remember the exit off of the interstate. Yarborough, maybe? Anyway, it's good.
Posted 2 years ago by WillowandWindismom #
I asked BF how far Midland was from El Paso... that was my first question LOL One of these days... I swear, I will get there !
I'm getting really hungry now... thanks for all the wonderful suggetions !! I hope Soxmom (and dad) can meet us for dinner on Friday! That would be such fun..... oh, and of course, I'll have the camera !
We are just about 4 hours from El Paso, 2P. Most people will say it's longer than that but Mr. WWM and I can usually make it in four!
Posted 2 years ago by WillowandWindismom #
But I won't be here this weekend, 2P :-( Mr. WWM has a meeting that he has to go to and has to drive about five hours. I didn't want him to go alone so I'm tagging along. We'll leave Saturday morning, and will get home around midday Sunday. I haven't told my girls yet but surely they will be okay alone for just one night!
Posted 2 years ago by WillowandWindismom #
Truthfully, it would have pushed you to come this far for just the weekend, 2P. That's a lot of driving!
Posted 2 years ago by WillowandWindismom #
Spent a week in El Paso in the summer of 1969. Then it was safe to go across the border, even went to a bull fight, which I hated. But it was fun to go thru the markets in Juarez.
Posted 2 years ago by paulajeanne #
You must log in to post.