Very late on commenting on this but I just saw your post on walking in Phoenix and went poking around your archive. Pre-covid I used to go to El Paso 4-5 times for work and always had a great time. As you noted, the people of El Paso are great. everyone I encountered was always friendly and welcoming. I was at bar once for lunch and the bartender had lived in my part of Dallas before he came back to El Paso. We chatted for a bit. A couple months later I was back for work, walked in for lunch and the same dude was behind the bar. He looked and me and said "aren't you the guy from Dallas?"
My wife, C and I, we move around based upon "gut feel". We move to places, knowing no one. No Friends, no Family. We find places we love - and we dive in, in to deep end. We recently chose El Paso. We left Florida and moved to El Paso, to pursue a new dream. New life, new culture, fresh vibe. We've only been here a few months now, but everything you say - YES - all true. You nailed it. We feel it too. Special People. Special Place. Love reading your work. So well done. Thank you. Viva El Paso!!!
Love this! I was born in El Paso in a military family but I haven't been back since I was an early teen. Very much looking forward to visiting again and seeing everything you've talked about.
This is maybe frowned upon in the Substack community but I recently launched mine own, called Second Rate Cities, where I visit places most people would never consider as a destination and get a sense of them through running and bar hopping. Anyway, El Paso is on the short list and I'm so excited to see what kind of overlap my experience has with yours. Grateful I found this blog and someone with a similar passion for the often grittier and more down to earth places here in the US and abroad. Woot woot!
Just like Natasha, I ended up unexpectedly spending a week in El Paso on a LA-Austin road trip due to car battery failure. Hands down the most underrated city in the country. A unique mix of Chihuahuan (Mexican), Texan, and New Mexican cultures. Incredible natural surroundings. And some of the warmest, most down-to-earth strangers I've encountered on this planet.
Thank you, Chris, for giving El Paso the love and attention it deserves.
I really enjoyed this and was amazed the clean streets. Not so in my corner of San Antonio. Since coming here years ago I have really learned about the use of color in homes. I once visited the lavender house in down town and loved it.
Your impressions echo those of my sister's father-in-law from Illinois who spent months there on a construction project. He was taken by the friendliness of the people and their lack of materialism. Locals working on the project frequently invited them to their homes for meals.
Very late on commenting on this but I just saw your post on walking in Phoenix and went poking around your archive. Pre-covid I used to go to El Paso 4-5 times for work and always had a great time. As you noted, the people of El Paso are great. everyone I encountered was always friendly and welcoming. I was at bar once for lunch and the bartender had lived in my part of Dallas before he came back to El Paso. We chatted for a bit. A couple months later I was back for work, walked in for lunch and the same dude was behind the bar. He looked and me and said "aren't you the guy from Dallas?"
My wife, C and I, we move around based upon "gut feel". We move to places, knowing no one. No Friends, no Family. We find places we love - and we dive in, in to deep end. We recently chose El Paso. We left Florida and moved to El Paso, to pursue a new dream. New life, new culture, fresh vibe. We've only been here a few months now, but everything you say - YES - all true. You nailed it. We feel it too. Special People. Special Place. Love reading your work. So well done. Thank you. Viva El Paso!!!
Love this! I was born in El Paso in a military family but I haven't been back since I was an early teen. Very much looking forward to visiting again and seeing everything you've talked about.
This is maybe frowned upon in the Substack community but I recently launched mine own, called Second Rate Cities, where I visit places most people would never consider as a destination and get a sense of them through running and bar hopping. Anyway, El Paso is on the short list and I'm so excited to see what kind of overlap my experience has with yours. Grateful I found this blog and someone with a similar passion for the often grittier and more down to earth places here in the US and abroad. Woot woot!
Great work
Just like Natasha, I ended up unexpectedly spending a week in El Paso on a LA-Austin road trip due to car battery failure. Hands down the most underrated city in the country. A unique mix of Chihuahuan (Mexican), Texan, and New Mexican cultures. Incredible natural surroundings. And some of the warmest, most down-to-earth strangers I've encountered on this planet.
Thank you, Chris, for giving El Paso the love and attention it deserves.
Thank you for sharing. Great photos and a wonderful read!
Thanks Chris - pound for pound one of your best posts.
Nice work, Chris. Nothing beats on the ground recounting of the real life experiences of people. Keep it rolling.
I grew up spending a lot of time in El Paso, and really enjoyed reading this. Thanks!
I really enjoyed this and was amazed the clean streets. Not so in my corner of San Antonio. Since coming here years ago I have really learned about the use of color in homes. I once visited the lavender house in down town and loved it.
Thank you, Chris, from a relatively new subscriber. Some wonderful work here. Can't wait to see what comes next.
Love this one, Chris. Really enjoyed the piece and the people you met. I feel that way about El Paso, too.
Beautiful beautiful beautiful. Thank you, Chris.
Your impressions echo those of my sister's father-in-law from Illinois who spent months there on a construction project. He was taken by the friendliness of the people and their lack of materialism. Locals working on the project frequently invited them to their homes for meals.
Loved this story and the pictures are beautiful. Hello from Belgium
As ever Chris your work is a read for sore souls. Thank you thank you.