BIG BEND COUNTRY: EL PASO

EL PASO TEXAS

El Pasa In the picture that is the view of El Paso as seen from the top of Ranger Peak, via the Wyler Aerial Tramway.

El Paso grew from settlements dating all the way back to 1598 during the period when the Spanish roamed this area of what is now America, creating missions and wreaking havoc with the native population.

El Paso is the largest American city on the Mexican border. Across the Rio Grande, Juarez is Mexico's largest city on the border. The 2 towns have a combined population of over 2 million. El Paso is located in a pass through a very old mountain range, hence the name, El Paso, surrounded by peaks a mile high.

Modern El Paso is home to a symphony orchestra, museums, theater, sports, including polo, horse racing, tennis, basketball and football. El Paso's professional sports include the AA Texas League baseball team, El Paso Diablos, an A-League soccer team, the El Paso Patriots, a Western Hockey League team, the El Paso Buzzards and the El Paso Scorpions Rugby team. The Sun Bowl takes place in El Paso, the second oldest bowl game, with the Rose Bowl being the oldest.

A bright new star hovers over El Paso, shining nightly on the western horizon. The 459 foot star has 459 lights. The star can be seen for 100 miles from the air, 30 miles on the ground. The star is turned on daily on the south side of the Franklin Mountains from 6 pm til midnight.

The first time I drove through El Paso, on I-10, heading east, as I entered El Paso I looked across the river, thinking that looks interesting. It was a full 5 minutes before I realized I was looking across the Rio Grande at Mexico and the town of Juarez. Juarez is Mexico's 4th largest city with a population of 1.5 million. El Paso and Juarez are linked by 4 bridges.

Crossing the border you find a lot of shopping opportunities, like the Pueblito Mexicano Shopping Mall. This is an indoor mall that re-creates a classic Mexican village's traditional markets. In Juarez you will also find very nice lodging, night clubs and the Musco de Arte e Historia with an impressive pre-Columbian art collection, along with contemporary and historic art.

In El Paso you'll also find the El Paso Museum of Art, El Paso Speedway Park, El Paso Union Depot, the El Paso Zoo, Franklin Mountain State Park, the Fray Garcia Monument, the International Museum of Art, Insights El Paso Science Museum, Magoffin Home State Historic Site, McKelligon Canyon & Amphitheatre, the Railroad and Transportation Museum of El Paso, San Jacinto Plaze, Sierra de Christo Rey and Viva El Paso, which is an outdoor drama that captures the spirit of El Paso and the Southwest.

Fort Bliss, established in 1848, today is a U.S. Army Air Defense Center. At Fort Bliss you'll find the Buffalo Soldier Monument, the Fort Bliss Museum and Study Center and the Museum of the Noncommissioned Officer.

Hueco Tanks State Historic Site is 26 miles east of El Paso. For centuries this was a travel stop in this dry region due to water from the infrequent rains being stored in the Hueco Tanks natural rock basins.

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