South West High School in Concert
I bet the auditorium is 500 seats big. I had not seen such a place at a HIGH SCHOOL. It might be quite a distance between cities before one can enjoy such an arena anywhere else, but here at the South West High School in El Centro. 


We seated ourselves somewhere towards the middle, a wee bit up from the podium. 
The first orchestra  for this "Winter Concert" (politically correct instead of Christmas Concert) was a group of junior high students. It was their first public performance and you'd have to be astonished how good they actually were.
When the next group entered, the performance was even better. More exercise makes a master, you know.
That way the concert proceeded until we could hear and enjoy the "Creme-de-la-creme", the upper grades with a professional touch that made the listeners jump up from their seats, giving standing ovations. All orchestras were string orchestras. 


Good music always elevates my spirits, and even though I felt pretty tired before we went to town - it was all gone after the concert.


Today I had another 2-hour session with Dottore. Luckily it went over without any pain so I could go and do some shopping in Yuma. Found a place on 4thAve selling German delicatessen. Boy - what a place. Yummy...


Thanks for stopping by!

Ten o'clock and ready...
Just to be sure I checked the time for the big parade to begin and it appeared to be at 10am. Ho-Ho-Ho... So at 9:20 we were ready to leave camp. Took us just 30 minutes to get to downtown El Centro and we could hear the big drums approaching while still in the car.

The 66th annual Christmas Parade was well underway, but hadn't reached the intersection Main/8St yet. We found ourselves a place along the curb and put our chairs down. That parade has a habit of lasting almost 2hrs and we are not 25yrs. anymore, so we sit down, right?

And then they came: Marching bands w. adults, adolescents and kids. A few of these bands are seriously huge, probably close to 200 people. There were historic cars, clubs, associations, fire departments, police, U.S. border partrol, Sheriff's department, Highway patrol, Search and Rescue units, scouts and what not. 

In former years we have had temps in the 85'sF. during the parade, but today was a rather cool day, even though we had bright sunshine, the temps are barely reaching 65F. Coming from a much colder climate it takes a bit getting-used-to seeing a fullblown Christmas Parade in warm weather adorned by palm trees and such. And all these girls with short skirts would freeze to death up in Canada this time of the year.

You think you get something from Santa this year? Be nice! And thanks for stopping by!

Oh yes, at least over here in the City of El Centro. Today we went to town to see the lighting of the Christmas Tree and the Street Fair. 

Hundreds of El Centro citizens had found it worth to be here in the center of town at the police station to listen to the Christmas music performed by one of the area's marching brass bands. It all started around 6pm and the booths offering all kind of food and perephernalia mostly for the kids, will be open until 9pm.

And tomorrow, folks, the Christmas Parade which is organized by the cities of Calexico, El Centro, Imperial and Brawley will be held downtown. And as always, we will be there and you will have the pleasure of seeing our pics over here at the blog.


Until then: Don't eat too many Christmas Cookies!


...and thanks for dropping by!!

The Imperial Valley

The first time we came into the Imperial Vally we were mighty astonished to find such a vast agricultural area being so close to a dry desert landscape. The valley is located in southeastern Southern California, centered around the city of El Centro. Locally, the terms "Imperial Valley" and "Imperial County" are used synonymously. The Valley is bordered between the Colorado River to the east and, in part, the Salton Sea to the west. Farther west lies the San Diego and Imperial County border. 

The reason for the far-stretched agricultural landscape is the All-American Canal which conveys the rich water supply, from the Colorado River into the Imperial Valley.

Neatly prepared agricultural fields 

Irrigation Pipes along the Highway

It is the Imperial Valley's only water source, and replaced the Alamo Canal, which was located mostly in Mexico. The Imperial Dam, about 30 miles (48 km) northeast of Yuma, Arizona on the Colorado River, diverts water into the All-American Canal, which runs to just west of Calexico, California before its last branch heads mostly north into the Imperial Valley. Six smaller canals branching off the All American Canal move water into the Imperial Valley. These canal systems irrigates up to 630,000 acres (250,000 ha) of good crop land and has made possible a greatly increased crop yield in this originally semi-desert area. It is the largest irrigation canal in the world, carrying a maximum of 26,155 cubic feet per second (740.6 m3/s)

The All-American Canal as it runs by the Hot Springs LTVA

The Imperial Valley is rich in natural beauty, local history, and culture. The unique culture of the area blends the two different countries of the United States with Mexico, due to its regional history and geographic location along the international border. This creates a small town atmosphere, and an economy based on agriculture, and a strong work ethic for the people of the valley. From early in January through the winter holiday season, the Imperial Valley hosts many festivals and activities that keep things moving. From the North to the South. Imperial Valley offers visitors and residents a taste of many cultures such as those from Mexico with all its sights, sounds and tastes waiting to be savored. 

Strong hispanic traditions in the Imperial Valley

El Centro is the promising new major commercial and industrial center of Southern California for the imperial valley, being the center of shipping exports as well as being home to retail, transportation, wholesale, and agricultural industries. There are also two international border crossings nearby for commercial and noncommercial vehicles. The city's population was 37,835 at the 2000 census. The 2006 population is 40,563. The city is 50 feet (20 m) below sea level and the largest city in the United States below sea level. Fifty percent of the jobs in El Centro come from the service and retail sector. However, the economic recession hit El Centro and surroundings hard, and the city has a current unemployment rate of more than 25%.

Anza Borrego in Spring - blooming Desert

Two new followers have joined the American-Traveler. Be welcome, Sue and Doug from Big Dawg and Freeway an Ruth from Five-Just Rolling Down the Road

Thanks again for stopping by.