The Faces of West Texas

Traveler(s): Karen & Bob
Trip Type: Domestic, Longer than a Weekend
Transportation: Plane, Train, Rental Car
Lodging: Hotels
Interests: Hiking, Local Culture, Cafes/Bakeries, Hole-in-the-Wall Restaurants, Relaxation, Wine, Wandering

We opened our Pale Blue Mystery Trip destination card and learned we were headed on a road trip in West Texas – driving from El Paso through sparsely populated ranch land and small towns, each with a story to tell, taking us to  Big Bend National Park.  The National Park was a bucket list destination, but one thing I wasn’t quite ready for was how beautiful the journey to get there would be. 

Because to me, the best part about travel – aside from going somewhere you have never been and seeing things you have never seen  – is meeting people you otherwise would never have met.    Here are some of my favorite characters from our Pale Blue Mystery Trip, bringing joy and life and depth to our experience:

Diego – Our concierge at Hotel Indigo in El Paso.  He was so excited to hear about our Mystery Trip that he asked if he could peek ahead.  He looked at our itinerary without sharing any details and assured us that we were going to have a glorious time and a grand adventure.  The morning we departed from El Paso he made a point of sending us off with a warm, “Enjoy your adventure and have a blessed day!” 

Mr. Habbard – the proprietor of H and H Car Wash.  A car wash and detailing shop which also happens to have a diner inside. We enjoyed breakfast at one of the three tables while Mr. H stood at a small counter, greeting everyone who entered.  The walls were covered with photos of Mr. H with family, friends, local high school sport figures, little league teams, celebrities like Bobby Knight, and former First Lady Laura Bush.   After a delicious breakfast of huevos rancheros and a nice chat with Mr. H, he sent us on our way with gratitude – “Thank you for being here today!” 

Sarah – a transplant to Marfa from Brooklyn who had visited the area and loved it so much she decided to stay.  She generously shared her knowledge of local Texas wines which we later used to sip on some Sauvignon Blanc at Jett’s Grill at the Hotel Paisano while people-watching. People-watching in Marfa is exceptional, because there are all kinds of people to behold.  Transplants like Sarah, bohemian souls, and gritty locals.  We especially enjoyed noting the difference between the true Texas cowboys who came to dinner in their well-worn but clean Wranglers, work gloves in their back pockets, placing their hats on the longhorns above the table, compared to the visitors whose jeans were creased, and who didn’t remove their hat or sometimes even the price tag from the store down the street.

Danielle and Bryan – a couple from New York who started a podcast dedicated to all things National Parks. They travel with their kids all over the country, exploring National Parks and deep diving into what makes each one unique… talk about a dream job! We met them in Big Bend while sharing a view and a picnic spot. 

Marcos – our pilot and tour guide with Rio Aviation.  Marcos had been a Park Ranger for thirty years and is also native to Terlingua, so the tour with him was incredible.  We dipped in and out of the air above the Park’s canyons, soaking up Marcos’ knowledge of history and geology, and walking away from our flight fully believing what Marcos says: “If you haven’t seen the Big Bend from up in the air, you haven’t really seen Big Bend.”  

Ceil and Bob – transplants from North Carolina who commute 85 miles to Terlingua (home to our adorable casita at Nuevo Terlingua) to run Desert Lotus Healing Arts.  They started the business to help folks relax after a long day of hiking with a soothing massage.  We sure enjoyed ours, coordinated by Pale Blue.

April – a soon-to-be-college graduate from Alpine, TX who plans to launch a career in broadcasting.  She served us the most delicious lemon pudding on the hacienda courtyard of the historic Holland Hotel and shared tales of her town and other nearby areas.

Throughout our Pale Blue Mystery Trip we saw some incredible sights, hiked some beautiful trails, ate some delicious food, but best of all – we met some truly wonderful people.