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Monday, January 3 - Amidst the wave of Omicron infections and thousands of flight cancellations, we valiantly (foolishly?) ventured into 2022 travel. A short trip to New Mexico. If the flights were canceled surely it would be a sign? The bus to Boston was not full, mostly students getting off downtown. Even the airport was not crowded although our flights to Austin and then to El Paso were full. Everyone masked, behaving themselves. The flight attendant's pre-flight instructions however gave extensive attention to masks, federal requirements, personal responsibilities, and that there would be mask checks.
El Paso's airport has painted ceilings and Mexican decor. Outside holiday lights brightened the warmer night air.
Tuesday, January 4 - We met up with our group of 12 (plus two guides) at 3:00 for a few afternoon stops around El Paso. The city's elevation is 3700 feet as it sits at the foot of the Franklin Mountains (7100 ft). It borders the Rio Grande; one highway we are on runs right along the river. Juarez, Mexico is on the other side. We pass UT El Paso, whose campus architecture mimics that of Bhutan!
Although there was a cold wind, it's been a milder winter this year so some uncommon birds are to be found. We head to a golf course and get a good view of Lewis's Woodpecker, a beautiful purpley gray bird with a bright red face and rose breast shining bright in the afternoon sun. Hundreds of Yellow-headed Blackbirds streamed into a marsh to roost for the night.
We've traveled with our guide, Barry Zimmer, before; he lives in El Paso. He took us downtown for a wonderful dinner in a nearly deserted restaurant. The city plaza was still aglow in yellow holiday lights.
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