2 April, 2004. If you ever find yourself in the middle of nowhere Texas, go see the Marfa Lights. They're focused, star-like lights that brighten and dim and sometimes even move past each other. Some of them are always in the same place. Apparently, researchers have gone to great lengths to associate the lights with traffic from highway 67 or the mica in the rocks but it just doesn't add up. Besides, the lights were first seen in rthe 1880's so traffic can be ruled out. We camped out at the Marfa Mystery Lights Viewing Area 9 miles east of town for free. One of the plaques informed us that it was local high school students who made the Viewing Area possible. it was well constructed with large bathrooms (no running water). The toilets were "recycling toilets" that composted the waste in the machinery below the building. There are also 3 mounted viewing binoculars set up for free. We're going to email someone there and recommend that they install a donation box. We would have donated a few bucks and I'm sure lots of other people would too.
Two beat-up buses packed with Mexican High School Students arrived. One bus was all boys and the other was all girls. We exchanged several "Buenos Noches" with some of the adult chaperones. I don't think any of them spoke any English. The kids were hootin' and hollerin' up a storm. It eventually drove all the other visitors away. They were having a riot, chanting what sounded like "Meeko, Meeko, Meeko" and then erupting into cheer. Flash cameras were going off like crazy whenever one of the lights would appear or brighten. They didn't stay very long. We saw lots of bikers (motorcyclists) pass through. It was very windy and cold. This is also where the movie "Giant" (starring James Dean, Elizabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson) was filmed. I think james Dean's fatal car accident happened here on highway 90 during the shooting of Giant. We also saw some Antelope. The area is surrounded by Antelope Valley. We had a blast there.
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