Yep.....the furnace kicked on last night....several times. Well, when that occurs it is mounting evidence of a mucho cooler night....and it was just that! We stayed warm upstairs, as always, but the noise of the furnace does seem to to disturb us enough that we are cognizant of it being on.
Noise or not, we slept well....and by 9:30, our morning rituals were completed, Fr. Roast coffee(me) and hot tea(1st Lady) had been consumed. She decided.....a habit, I think....that a few little bills needed to be authorized online for payment, and so I found her sitting at the desk with HER lappie a bit longer than I had anticipated. I jumped into the truck, went over to the Llano Grande Hacienda(office) and paid our electric bill....and then quickly returned.
By the time I arrived back at TheHowserHouse she was outside and waiting on me to pick her up.......(just another "pick up").....and we were soon on our way, a short drive.....to Progreso, Mexico to spend most of the day. When we arrived at the car parks(parking lots), it was immediately evident that there were MANY, MANY people who had already walked across the bridge over the Rio Grande ahead of us. I always park on the left side as we approach the bridge.....as it makes it mucho easier to get out of the lot when we return.....not having to fight the cross traffic from the the bridge crossings.
We gathered a few quarters for the bridge toll($.25 going to MX, $.30 going to the USA)....and before long we had walked across the bridge, paid the toll, and were submerged in the very large crowds of Winter Texans(senior citizens) strolling down the sidewalks! "Strolling" may be a stretch.......it is more like take 2-4 steps and then wait for someone ahead of you to move so you can take a few more steps!!! The shops, the sidewalk stalls, the street corners,....everywhere there were people....Americans and Mexicans!!
We shopped......it might be better if I said.....looked in a lot of shops. The 1st Lady purchased some OTC meds.....at a cheaper price than at WalMart......I purchased a container of Kahlua filled chocolate candies, each individually wrapped....and I had purchase some last year and they are soooooooooooo damn good!!! YUMMMMMMMY!!!!
We then went inside at Restaurant Renes.......a Panadaria with Coffee Shop....and a cafe. Not having eaten here before, we decided upon some Mexican pastries and coffee. AND....it was an excellent choice!! They were very good, the coffee wasn't too terrible, and the place was packed with....guess who??? Winter Texans!!! While we there, a couple of Mexican musicians arrived and began performing for everyone(especially the table that hired them to play...haha). When we finished our drinks and pastries, we emerged.....perhaps the word merged is more fitting.....onto the sidewalks teeming with people trying to shop, small children with tiny boxes of candy or gum, and others sitting on the sidewalk with their empty cups outstretched for donations to their plight. Yep.....these are the sidewalks of Progreso, Mexico!!!
We walked through one of the arcades and came out on the back street......and then walked on up that almost empty street to the Progreso Market. Going inside we enjoyed the music and the laughter and clinking of glasses at Arriba's.....a popular watering hole and sidewalk cafe for....guess who? Winter Texans!!! Not quite ready to eat again, we ambled back to the main street, looked at more shops....and then about an hour later we decided to return to the Red Snapper......our favorite restaurant in Progreso. Walking up the steps to the second floor, the live music welcomed us as well as really great waiter....who quickly ushered us to a vacant table.
I ordered a margarita(two for the price of one)...and the 1st Lady ordered a Coke.....and they arrived quickly with some wonderful chips and hot(temperature) salsa....OHHHH SOOO GOOD!!! I ordered a Mexican plate of a bit of everything.....and the 1st Lady decided on the Fried Shrimp......a meal we had each had at other times. EVERYTHING was really great.....and our conversations with those at the next table brought about the discovery that they were also from Missouri/Misery.......and had their homes at the Lake of the Ozarks!!!! Yep.......more couples that live there......my former home!! WHAT a small world.....and we find this to be true almost every day when talking with others who are wintering down here.
After the late lunch, we slowly walked back to the bridge, paid our $.30 to cross,and then went through Passport Control. Going through individually, each of us were asked a few brief questions as to citizenship(he had our passports in his hand), and what items we purchased in Mexico (meds, candy, and cookies). Passing through, we continued on to the parking lot......hopped in the truck and within less than 15 minutes we were at TheHowserHouse.......sooooo damn close to the culture, the food, the music, the shopping, the people of our wonderful neighbors south of the border!!!!!
With a fabulous day that we had: weather, food, music, culture, people shopping........of course,.......
LIFE IS INCREDIBLY GREAT!!!!!!!.......And, I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment