Starting in my hometown of El Paso, Texas, I gave the Burlington Brothers a mini-tour of "Smelter Town," a small border community at the edge of Texas creeping right up to New Mexico and Mexico. Hidden behind a business park and the I-10, sits the old Smelter Town Graveyard - said to house the graves of many of the now defunct and controversial Asarco Coal Production Factory. Once many of the graves did not even carry a white cross as they do now, but merely a pile of rocks, unknown to their family and the rest of the world.
Then after our sweaty hike through graves, sand and huge fire ants we needed a drink and some of the best Chile con Queso that I've ever had at the infamous Rosa's Cantina, known for it's mention in the Marty Robbins song "El Paso," where he fell in love with a Mexican girl. Here I fell in love with Rosa. Now under new ownership, the feel is the same, but now not as scary.
Sipping on Micheladas, a beer and lime drink perfect for the hot weather. On the walls are all the famous people that have visited Rosa's, including the Selena and her team, including her killer.....
Then to the road, to head North to the Chama, NM. What was expected, we had no idea. As we traveled the sand and dirt and red rocks became green grass and pine trees.
To be continued......in Chama!!
