The Minnesotans Who Went Up a Hill and Came Down a Mountain

Josh now owns a cowboy hat, which officially makes him a Texan.

Our week in El Paso wasn't particularly busy, but it was a very nice respite after our Port Aransas/San Antonio adventure.  El Paso is a strange, sprawling, hot and dusty city that is home to Fort Bliss, the United States' second largest military installation and Josh's home for the next two years.

On one evening we left to grab some dinner, only to find ourselves in a dust storm!  There were tumbleweeds, it was very exciting.

Once we arrived at the restaurant, all the power was out, stretching for blocks and blocks.  It took a while, but they still made us dinner, so we ate and drank by the light of solar lamps that the waitress had brought in from their patio.

On Saturday the three of us went up the Wyler Aerial Tramway, a gondola that brings you 5,632 feet above sea level in the Franklin Mountains.  At the top you can see about 7,000 square feet.

Instead of taking the tram back down, we decided to hike!  It was beautiful.

On Sunday we left El Paso and made the 12.5 hour drive (!) to San Clemente, where our friends Heather and Eben live.  Throughout the journey we passed through New Mexico and Arizona, as well as through 113 degree weather.  Also, Eric took a lot of train and cactus pictures because he is a seven year old.

Yes, it is 113 degrees and yes, we are listening to the Broadway station.

Sand dunes!

More on California soon!

Deep in the Heart of Texas

After our near death tent collapsing experience, we went off on our way to San Antonio!  First we had a ocean-side lunch, complete with a coconut bought (along with a lot of other produce) at this amazing discount produce place.  Then, we stopped to see the USS Lexington in Corpus Christi.

Our first night in San Antonio we ate at the first and only vegan restaurant, called Vegeria.  Yeah, they need a different name.  Great food though!  Following dinner we walked passed the San Fernando Cathedral and along the Riverwalk.

Sunday morning we made the requisite visit to the Alamo, followed by Market Square and more Riverwalk.

Sadly we could not take pictures inside the Alamo chapel, but believe me when I tell you that there was a vest that Davey Crockett wore, and it was SASSY.  Dude was a snappy dresser.

More Riverwalk!

We saw duckies!  I got very excited.

For dinner we ate at Green's Vegetarian Restaurant, which was also very delicious.

On Monday we drove the Mission Trail, which links four different missions, dating back hundreds of years during the Spanish rule of Mexico and Texas.

Mission Concepcion:

Some of the old frescoes are still around.

Mission San Jose:

Mission San Juan:

Mission Espanada:

After the Mission Trail we ate at Green's (again) for lunch, then made our way to El Paso to stay with our friend Josh.  Driving through the desert was warm, to say the least.  108 degrees!

Driving off into the sunset.