something to declare

Traffic trouble spots

Six of the worst US traffic bottlenecks, from the American AA

Los Angeles: Intersection of Interstate 5, Interstate 10, Route 60 and Highway 101 - 566,000 vehicles daily.

Houston: Interstate Loop 610 and Highway 59 - 330,000 vehicles, causing five to six hours of congestion.

Dallas: Interstates 30 and 35 - 200,000 vehicles.

Boston: Interstate 93 - built for 90,000 vehicles, carries over twice as many

New Orleans: Interstate 10 and Interstate 610 - 174,000 vehicles.

Minneapolis: Interstate 35 West at Minnehaha Creek - 100,000 vehicles into three lanes.

A likely story

"Enjoy our city, its historic mission trail, beautiful mountain vistas and desert sunsets, quaint Mexican restaurants and colorful history" - El Paso Tourism Department, Texas.

The citizens of the city at the far west of Texas are less sure about El Paso's attractions. A letter to the El Paso Times last week asks:

"Why would anyone want to visit El Paso when El Pasoans ask themselves why they want to live here?

Graffiti adorn the walls and road signs of our city as a welcome to tourists arriving by rail and car. Those arriving by train see trash strewn along the rail yard as they enter our historic and beautiful train station.

On clear days, one can barely see the buildings because of air pollution.

Apart from the friendly, smiling faces in El Paso, El Paso will never be able to capitalize on tourism until it seriously begins to eliminate some of its glaring deficiencies.

Steven A Soares, East El Paso"

Visitors' book

Border Patrol Museum, Trans-Mountain Drive, El Paso, Texas.

We didn't realise just what the border patrol did; what a fine job - Edward Pexman, Grimsby.

Will bring out-of-state visitors here - Julie S Burnes, Texas.

I like the helicopter - Maureen Ryan, El Paso.

I like the boat - Gaby Fuentes, El Paso.

I like it all - Loreal Rochel, El Paso.