When I first started visiting El Paso my husband (Boyfriend at the time) and I would go across the border and hang out in the Mercado or just walk the streets. It was a Blast. Now the City is the most dangerous city in the world.
We drove along the Border Highway so I could get a picture of the land for my book that I'm working on. I was in awe. As we drove along there was a huge twenty foot fence part of the way and then in other places there was nothing, but a dilapidated chained link fence with rusted barb wire on top. They had planned on continuing the huge fence, but the construction workers were getting shot at from the Mexico side of the river.
The thing that amazed me the most was here I was maybe three hundred feet from the most dangerous city in the world and the people who live there acted as if life was normal. They didn't seemed phased by the truck driving by, filled with men holding machine guns. Or by the smell of burning that permeated the air. (Someone was burning something that really stunk.) Life went on. It made me wonder would I be able to do that? I take so much for granted. It was definantly an eye opening experience.
I was going to post the picture of the gang member flashing his sign at me, but I don't have his permission so you get to imagine it.
4 comments:
It's so sad to hear the dangers in Mexico and the way it is changing the way people live or visit there. But I guess, as far as fiction goes, unfortunately it sounds like a good setting for conflict.
Wow. My hubby and I are writing a book together set in that area. But the stuff's just in our imagination. It blows my mind that what we imagine really isn't that different from what IS.
It's great being able to mix research with family or other things you need to do. It's the killing two birds thing. They say you should write what you know. I guess that goes for settings too. Good luck on your editing.
Wow. I wonder how many died for that fence? I'm glad you got out of there safe. HUGS!
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