West Texas, today, Shakespeare/Robbins

El Paso Texas

A river runs through it, El Paso that is. The Rio Grande starts out in the Rocky Mountains, in Colorado and makes its way to the Gulf of Mexico. In these pictures the River divides El Paso and Juarez Mexico, or more offically, "Ciudad Juarez". I think there are 3 ++ million folks on the South side of the river. Many come across the border to shop in El Paso which has close to a million. Today I flew in and landed about 7:30am and left for home about 1:30PM. I do this a lot it seems. Work takes me to the area. I spend the day really aware of all the Spanish being spoken. No surprise. Today it was cold. Not the normal. At night when I am there it always interesting to see all the lights accross the river. Added to the Lights of El Paso Juarez makes it look like a very very big city.

For two years in a row I have been there to see the local newspaper headline about El Paso being one of the most safe cities in the US. I guess 5 police forces helps. Texas Rangers. EP Police. Military Police tied to Fort Bliss. Border Police. A Juarez police. (Bet the FBI is there too, probably the others) Fort Bliss will be the place that the Military in Middle East come home through so in preparing it is becoming very big.

Ciudad Juarez

Looking accross the river from this view focuses on a lot of poverty. There are some nice areas and some business centers. Still a lot changes with crossing a river.

A Mountain in El Paso

Lots of Rock. Rugged. This is part of a range of mountains and canyons. One day last summer I ran up one of the canyons with a friend. We went early one morning. It gets hot in the summer and it was hot at 5 AM.

Remembered in Movies, books, and songs to:

Marty Robbins

Out in the West Texas town of El Paso

I fell in love with a Mexican girl.

Night-time would find me in Rosa's cantina;

Music would play and Felina would whirl.

Shakespeare was considered the "People's Poet"

Marty Robbins canon seemed central for the day.