John E.

What better can one ask for than a great eatery which serves not only delicious traditional Mexican food, but is fast, friendly, and is open to all. The namesake ("Cafeteria Saul" is now "Saul Jr. Cafeteria") is actually one of my students in the Ysleta Independent School district, and he specifically invited me. I was especially attracted to the possibility of an endless cup of coffee--the force behind my (am) pedaling. On this occasion, my bicycle journey was tri-fold: 1) strengthen my weakened knees/legs from a Summer (07JUN-29JUL2014) of disuse due to escorting my 84-year old mother overseas; 2) returning to the historic Casa de Adobe (run by Curator Alfredo), Anapra, North Cd. Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico; 3) Interestingly, I had been fantasizing steak & eggs, as well as the coffee, while cycling Edgemere from the Eastside to downtown, crossing beneath I-10 and over the tracks on the Piedras Street viaduct/flyover to Alameda. Parking my Doublevision outside the large plate glass window, I entered and seated myself inside the small dining area, noting the accessible sign at the entrance for the clean loo. I also saw a large flatscreen occupying part of the wall opposite the kitchen/cashier/condiments table; it was very homey & friendly. After looking at the menu and asking Saul for recommendations, the "Commandante" was the meal which fulfilled my fantasy, as well as a spicy chile, refried beans, maiz tortillas, ensalada, good hot coffee, and an horchata chaser. HERE is where I spent a little more time and less money, enjoying a hearty brunchie which kept me powered up for the ensuing pedal over Southbound Stanton Street toll ($0.50, but I gave CPB a USA dollar bill, telling them to keep it because I owed half of it from a previous crossing in which they allowed me free passage) bridge (the other bridge, Santa Fe, is only two blocks away but it is NORTHbound) into downtown Cd. Juarez. It felt so good to return to this decidedly friendly and safe community--as opposed to a few years ago, when I avoided it due to the violence, but now it is reversed. Anyway, because of the satisfyingly nutritious meal I had eaten at Saul Jr Cafeteria, I was able to keep on pedaling through the mid-day, when I crossed back into the USA (passport required!) and, strangely enough, felt a bit more endangered because of the less safe (motor) vehicle operators on this side of the border.