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Izzy, when I was 21 I couldn't get out of Albq fast enough. I went to San Francisco and on to other big cities after that. They were great experiences. Now I am over 50, and what I most love is being outdoors, especially hiking, and being with a few close friends and my dogs. The enormous spaces, huge sky, clouds and incredible landscapes are what matter now. I don't care about clubs and nightlife and exotic restaurants. So, for you, you should try life somewhere else more exiting. For me, I would like to come back to Albq. where there is more than enough excitement to keep me satisfied.
I live in Colorado Springs (a rather conservative but quite sizeable military town) and I've travelled to both ABQ and EP, as well as studied them both quite extensively.
The differences are as follows:
El Paso.. is warmer (very mild winters and very hot summers) The surrounding countryside is a bleak steppe. The streets are wider (Texas) and the layout is devided by the mountains. The culture is strongly influenced by Northern Mexico and West Texas. JUAREZ border crossing is right there and cannot be ignored. Very MEXICAN! Plenty of Gay action especially around the Military Base, but not as Open nor as common as in ABQ.
Albuquerque is.. somewhat cooler that El Paso (cool winters, hot summers) the surrounding countryside is a mixture of steppe and pine clad mountains. The city is a neat grid and the architecture is mostly of the southwestern adobe style. ABQ is the biggest city in New Mexico but both cities are about the same size, ABQ has no border sister town like EP. Albuquerque's culture is very interesting because it.is Mostly Hispanic / Indian yet very American.at the same- time. It offers a true glimpse into America's NATIVE Hispanic culture that is often ignored or overlooked yet is very rich in local traditions. ABQ is New Mexican and EP is Texican! The Gay community is quite large in ABQ as well.
My recommendation for you, a Gay person with an interest in Hispanic culture, is ALBUQUERQUE by far! It looks better, feels better, the nearby mountains are beautiful, the gay scene is bigger, the people Speak ENGLISH and some proudly a rather archaic form of SPANISH. It has its share of crime as any large city but the people are VERY FRIENDLY and it feels quite safe too. ABQ all the way!!!
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