So close, yet so far.
Trip Start
Jul 22, 2009
1
95
163
Trip End
Ongoing
Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
What do you want me to say? I never crossed the border. I could tell you what I saw as I followed the fence trying to keeping the Mexicans out of the USA as I drove the Mission Trail to the mission churches of Ysleta, Socorro and San Elizario.
Technically, I was in Mexico, that is, if I was where I drove 150 years ago. You see, the border between the USA and Mexico was determined to be the Rio Grande. Then the river moved during the great flood of 1829. The missions, which originally stood on the south bank were now on the north bank. You just can't trust Mother Nature to keep the status quo.
My day of touring started with a drive into the Golden Horseshoe of El Paso. The shopping district where the border crossing is located is called the Golden Horseshoe. Though, these days, the area seems a little tarnished and should probably be called the pewter horseshoe.
I initially drove through the neighborhood, was disappointed, went for breakfast out in the suburbs, then drove out of town on the Mission Trail, then came back and took a few pictures. I did walk to the border crossing, did have my passport, but decided it wasn't worth the hassle of crossing the border for only an hour or two.
I figured I'd take a drive north to Alamogordo and see the White Sands National Monument.
