Monday Was a Wash

It would have so sounded better if Wednesday was the wash, but no...it was today.    The plan was to go to the Visitor's center and do some local stuff.  That ended up being a hilarious idea.

For some reason, El Paso has decided to do EVERY road repair all at the same time.  And they are really shitty at posting detours, displaying only "take alternate route" signs.  I spent most of the day driving in circles.

When I found parking that was, ostensibly, nearby...I then got turned around trying to walk to my destination.  However, there was cool public art

I finally found the Visitor's Center (which was surrounded by construction) and loaded up on tourist info.  The center itself was fun as it's the home of #1, a very early steam engine.

The room itself was super warm as it's climate controlled for the engine.  Fun fact

The engine was made in New Jersey....small world.

After perusing my pamphlets, I thought that doing the self-guided walking tour of the Magoffin Historic District sounded like fun (there are a few different historic districts in El Paso, I found out later).  So I headed out to find the closest parking I could.  I went around in a circle twice before finding the garage I located on the GPS..

Oh yeah, to follow up on yesterday, it seems I did manage to update the GPS.  Unfortunately, it's brain is not big enough to process the new info and it keeps freezing.  Never a dull moment.

Back to the tour.  I walked about a mile to the beginning of the walking tour and found that there was free parking on the street right in front of the first stop on the tour.  Of course...but it was a cool location.

This is the Magoffin Home State Historic Site.  Unfortunately, it's closed on Mondays.  Really unfortunate, as there wasn't much that was as interesting on the walking tour. 

Across the street is a visitors center

That used to be the home of Dr. August Justice, a prominent El Paso citizen.  Later, it was the home of Enrique Llorente the Mexican Consul under President Francisco Madero during the Mexican Revolution.  

Unfortunately, many of the historic landmarks on the walking tour were either gone or in extreme disrepair.  

A notable exception

This is the Monastery of Perpetual Adoration although the website says it's the Christ the King Monastery, home of the Sisters of Perpetual Adoration.  

I think the silver dome is pretty cool.  One other thing

This is a pump station for Hueco Well #17A. Kinda cool Art Deco style building. 

I continued on for awhile, but the remaining buildings were depressing and I just didn't care anymore.  So I quit around stop #16 (ironically, halfway through) and headed back to my rental for lunch. 

Grilled cheese..YUM!

I briefly considered the Wyler Aerial Tramway, but found out it only runs Friday - Sunday.

I thought I'd head to an El Paso themed gift shop to buy some souvenirs.  Stymied by the crazy construction again.  Switched the GPS to the nearest Mall and CONSTRUCTION AGAIN.

I gave up and headed back. I'm readying to head out to White Sands tomorrow.  Might take a side trip to see some ancient cave dwellings.  Cross your fingers I find my way there somehow.