Let's go, Chihuahuas!

Tuesday morning found my husband Wayne and I headed to downtown El Paso, Texas to attend our first game at the newly completed  Southwest University Park.  It is the home of the El Paso Chihuahuas, a Triple A baseball team affiliated with the San Diego Padres in the Pacific Coast League.  As we gathered up sunglasses, sun hats, cell phones and jackets (it was an unexpectedly cool morning), we felt much excitement to be going to our first C-dogs game.  We also had  a small concern about parking facilities, which had been much discussed in the local news of late.

What a great excuse to have breakfast downtown as well.  We could arrive early, have a leisurely meal, and then stroll over to the ballpark, which is located right in the middle of all the action in central El Paso.

Our restaurant of choice was La Malinche, located on the east side of Pioneer Plaza.  

It was not as busy as usual on a Tuesday morning.  We had plenty of time to observe the vintage architectural touches of the building, which was formerly the elegant Hotel Cortez.  I have great memories of attending ballroom dances there in formal attire during my high school years. The decor is now lively and colorful, and the food is authentically border style Mexican.

Then it was on to the ballpark.  Wayne gave a gasp as we got our first view of the new facility and said how proud he was of El Paso for building it.  Everyone appeared to be in high spirits, from the ticket takers, the backpack checkers, the aisle ushers, to the food vendors.  And the highest spirits of all had to come from the many school groups that were in attendance that day. (It was a special "Education Day").

First we oohed and ahhed over the setting.  In the background you could see several important landmarks, including  the Camino Real Hotel, the Double Tree Hotel, and  the El Paso Museum of History

It looked as if any seat in the house would provide a great view of the action on the field.

And I always love the mascots.  Here is Chico, the Chihuahua, entertaining the crowd.

We were seated by a group of sixth graders from a local elementary school.  They kept me well entertained with their bilingual conversations and constant activity.  If only I would have been quick enough to take a video of the kids as they piled on each other trying to retrieve a stray ball that had landed in the stands.. It was a fierce fight. 

I remember the last baseball game I attended many years ago in Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California, home of the San Diego Padres.  Who could have predicted that many years later I would be attending a game of one of their Triple A affiliates in my home town of El Paso?  

It was historic!  Go, Chihuahuas!