Category Archives: travel

Time once again to break from the cold with a continuation of photographs of the anti-winter.

So far we’ve had guesses ranging from Fiji to (facetiously) Lake Powell.  As such, I’ll let the guessing continue this round.  But next round will have clues that will definitely give away the location.

Meanwhile, pull up to your computer monitor, break out the sunglasses and tanning lotion, and bask in the glow of warmer climes during warmer times:

Yes, even here in the midst of the Chihuahuan desert we have trees.  Yes, even our trees change when fall arrives.  And, yes, the colors here are also spectacular.

While El Paso’s annual rainfall is less than nine inches a year (with most of that falling between mid July and mid September), there is extensive irrigation in the valley using water from the Rio Grande.  Along this stretch of irrigated land are pecan orchards, cotton fields, and row upon row of chili, corn, alfalfa, onion, and other crops.

But aside from the farmed lands, various homeowners also landscape with trees of all types, bringing forth this time of year an explosion of color.  Sure, it can’t compete with the Northeastern U.S., or even the beautiful aspens stretching from the mountains just a short drive north of El Paso and well into the Rockies, but it’ll do.

Winter is still over a month away, but it certainly doesn’t feel like it.  Time to get out pictures of a nicer time in a warmer clime.  These photographs were taken in September, 2007.  See if you can guess where: