Pete Tong tour diary: Margaritas in El Paso

El Paso is tucked in the furthest west corner of Texas on the boarder of Mexico and the New Mexico state. It’s a dramatic setting on the edge of the desert next to the Franklin mountains and it is home to the major US army base Fort Bliss.

The other side of the steel border is a pretty lively part of Mexico known for if drug wars, and I’m happy to report that the wall seems to be doing a pretty good job as life is fairly peaceful here.

You can’t come to town without visiting Los Bandidos De Carlos & Mickey’s, a classic Mexican restaurant that serves delicious food and a fearsome seven shot margarita in a glass that looks like the trophy they hand out at the World Cup final! Apparently they are only allowed to serve you one per night, and I’m not surprised.

It was my first visit to El Paso and I had a fantastic reception from a crazy crowd, many of whom have been avid listeners of my radio shows for years.

It never ceases to amaze me how far reaching BBC Radio 1 is and how much it means to people who don’t have anything like it at home. Sometimes we take that for granted in the UK.

With Ian my right hand man at border control

My next stop is Houston with Deadmau5.

My 3 big tunes of El Paso

1. Simian Mobile Disco ‘Synthesise’ (listen to it in the player below)

2. U2 ‘Magnificent’ (Tong & Rogers Wonderland Mix)

3. Ben Watt ‘Guinea Pig’ (Mandy and Smallboy remix)

See you next time!
Pete