A European Vibe in Texas?

I thought I knew everything there was to know about my home town of El Paso, Texas, having lived in this border city all my life.  I have visited every neighborhood, eaten in restaurants elegant and inelegant around town, and shopped everywhere from malls to mom and pop stores.

But it wasn't until recently that a serendipitous happening  made me feel transported to the European Continent, where the game of football (soccer to Americans) reigns supreme. Here is how it happened.

My husband Wayne and I are always on the lookout for the best restaurant to order a plate of nachos for a mid-afternoon snack. And we are nacho connoisseurs, turning up our noses at what we derisively call "baseball nachos," a pile of bought tortilla chips, smothered with liquid cheese and topped with fiery jalapeño slices.  Ándale, a local Mexican food restaurant that strives for authenticity, was our best bet to get a plate of real nachos.

The hostess asked if we wanted to be seated in the bar to watch the game.  What game?  we wondered.  But the bar seemed lively, so feeling a bit adventurous, we perched ourselves at a table with high stools and looked around at our surroundings.  I don't spend much time in bars these days, so the low lighting, TV screens, and bar patrons gave me something new to look at.

The young waitress didn't blink an eye when we ordered iced tea and a shared plate of nachos.  I asked about the game that was being played.  Mexico versus Venezuela in the Copa América she explained,  I asked her if she is a soccer fan.  Not really.  She prefers American football, except when Cristiano Ronaldo (the handsome Portuguese footballer) is playing.

As we settled in, enjoying food and drink and joining fans watching the soccer game, an unexpected feeling came over me.

It was a European vibe, where soccer championships, star players, and victories and defeats are part of the everyday culture. For an hour or so, it really did matter to me whether Mexico, our close neighbor, was scoring. I watched every play, cheered every attempt on goal, and chastised the officials if they made calls against Mexico.

This was a serious bar.  Everyone was focused on the the TV screens.

Some alone...

  

 And some with friends.

(Chicharito is the name of a famous Mexican footballer)

The spell was broken when we decided to leave at halftime.  We walked out into the bright El Paso sunshine. I was no long in a hotel bar in Portugal, or a cafe in Spain, or watching TV in a friend's house in London. I was back in the USA, where I wouldn't pay any attention to soccer scores until the next FIFA World Cup in 2018.   But, I must admit,  the nachos were really delicious.

Embracing 100° summer heat

As June daytime temperatures in my home town of El Paso, Texas, hover around the 100° F mark, I have no doubt that friends and relatives living in other, more temperate climates, are feeling really sorry for us.  One of my morning rituals is to check daily temperature highs in their cities and imagine what activities the day holds for them:  a longtime friend in London - 72°;  son and girlfriend in Los Angeles - 78°; Canadian friends in Quebec Province - 61°; friends and relatives in Dallas - 92°.

And having just returned from a train trip on The Canadian from Vancouver (65° high) to Toronto (69° high), I like to daydream about what I would be enjoying in those cities if I were still there today. I remember that the Canadian passengers I chatted with on the train could not imagine living in a city with scorching summer temperatures.

So, for anyone imagining what El Pasoans do during the summer, here are some photos to show that life still goes on, even if it is a bit warmish outside.

Bougainvillea Vine

I look forward every morning to ooing and ahing over the unusual fuchsia color of this bougainvillea vine in the barbecue patio, growing happily in a pot in full sun.  As a matter of fact, the blooms did not appear until the temperature started rising.

Grape vines

Grape vines in the back yard seem to flourish in the heat, producing numerous clusters of grapes, mostly for the birds to snack on.

Sitting under the pecan tree 

Pecan trees are grown all over our region as a cash crop.  We enjoy the cooling shade the trees provide.

Protected tomato plants

For many years, we have lamented the fact that our tomato plants start out growing vigorously in the spring, but when hot summer temperatures arrive, they shrivel and die.  This year my husband Wayne rigged up shade for the plants, hoping to outsmart Mother Nature.

Cool Nights in McKelligon Canyon

El Paso summertime evenings can be surprisingly pleasant. Sitting outdoors in the more than 20° 

cooler nighttime temperatures with low humidity helps us forget how hot it was several hours ago in mid-afternoon. "Cool Nights in McKelligon Canyon" is one of many free music venues staged during the summer months.  The amphitheater seats over 1500 people and is used for concerts and other special events.  As a slight breeze blew in during the performance, I noticed several concert goers reaching for shawls or light wraps.

Band on stage at McKelligon Canyon amphitheater

And if all else fails to keep El Pasoans cool, a quick dip in the swimming pool brings instant relief. No need to heat the pool - the 100° temperature takes care of that!

What's a little heat compared to the joys of summertime living, I ask?