Why I Miss El Paso

I moved out of the Far West Texas city five months ago. The withdrawal is kicking in and I'm tired of answering this question.

Like many young people, I grew up being told that to make it in the real world I had to get out of El Paso.

After graduating college I looked for a job nearby. No luck. So I left, just like the thousands that do every year. I always knew a move was likely, but I didn't think I would miss the borderland so much. Or that people would be so surprised that I do.

I miss El Paso because I miss all of these...

The sunsets

Instagram: @instaeptx

It's true. A West Texas sunset will take your breath away. The Franklin Mountains will glow pink, Mexico's rooftops will shimmer in the horizon and you'll be left speechless. Tom Lea knew.

The people

Instagram: @igers_elpaso

There's the military presence in Ft. Bliss, the constant coming and going of Mexicans crossing the border, and people of all different cultural backgrounds. They all bring a unique flavor to the mix, and while they interact they also thrive.

The murals

Instagram: @dwntwnelpaso

The murals are vibrant, rebellious, religious and downright beautiful. They tell a unique part of the region's storied past.

The mountains

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The Franklin Mountains are wedged right in the middle the city, Mt. Cristo Rey rises west in neighboring New Mexico, and Ciudad Juárez's mountains make for an incredible backdrop. Nothing beats the view from the top either.

The music scene

Instagram: @artattack5

El Paso's music scene is eclectic and, simply, underrated. One can catch a top-tier Latin American act one weekend and an indie rocker on his way to SXSW the next. Nothing compares to a night at the Lowbrow Palace filled with fast-paced electro tropical, or an intimate folk show at Bowie Feathers. Sure, our music festivals are young, but they are a growing force to be reckoned with.

The desert

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The Chihuahuan desert is dry, rough and unpredictable. However, it's also incredibly refreshing to look out into the distance and see vast open spaces, in which to bike, run, hike and make your mark.

The food

Instagram: @elpaso.eats

No, it's not Tex-Mex. It's not Mexican either. It is the sweetest, most delectable fusion of traditional foods from northern Mexico with a Texas spin. Thinking of the enchiladas makes my mouth water, and the hot dogs estilo Juárez make me cry of joy sometimes.

The border

NASA / Via eoimages.gsfc.nasa.gov

The geographical space that El Paso and Ciudad Juárez occupy is not only important to their economy but also to the culture of both. While the border is often politicized and portrayed as divisive, there is no denying the beauty in the language people from the border speak, or their welcoming attitude. This is where two cultures continue to intersect in ways I find strange and mesmerizing.

In conclusion

Instagram: @instaeptx

Te <3 frontera