Up at 7am......blustery very chilly wind out of the north.....and cloudy. Hmmmm.....I wasn't sure it was the correct day to be going across to Mexico. After the morning rituals by the 1st Lady and myself, after breakfast with hot tea for her and my Fr. Roast coffee.....we decided to contact Doug/Diane to make certain they were going to meet us in Progreso, MX. And......yep.....a text came back saying they would meet us over ther around 1pm.....they were going to a sq. dance and we had decided not to go this morning.
Sooooo, about 11am......we drove to the border and parked in the $2 parking lot. But.....an hour earlier I had called my insurance agent to get some info from him about driving my truck into Mexico. Others that we have talked with can do it with their ins. covering their vehicle for the first x-number of miles.....so, I thought I would see about mine. An hour later I received a call back from him.....only to find out that I cannot be covered with my auto ins. anyplace in Mexico. OK......not too much of a problem, but it would be nice just to be able to drive over the Rio Grande and park where we like to eat and/or shop! Not to be....not to be!
Sooooo, we left the truck....and then walked to the entrance to the bridge where it costs one large quarter to walk across one way. We hurried across as the winds were really chilly.....and reaching the other side, we entered the "Duty Free Shop" for liquor and smokes and perfumes/colognes. Even though items in here on cheaper than in the states......the liquor is not as cheap as in the various stores/shops in Progreso......sooo, we wandered around for a few minutes, checking prices and sniffing the various perfumes/colognes that are available there.
Not buying anything, we left and began the push-shove-apologize technique that is needed in order to walk(?) down the sidewalks in Progreso, especially today!!! There must have been several thousand Americans/senior citizens in Progreso today.....business was booming!!!!! We stopped in one of our favorite stores......a huge store with many, many various items from western clothes to expensive jewelry to T-shirts from Mexico to all sorts of pottery to medicines/drugs to a full fledged bar serving very inexpensive drinks to groceries and liquors. ANYTHING you might want can be found there. We picked up a couple of t-shirts and a bottle of clear vanilla which had been requested by the sister of the 1st Lady.
From there, we looked in several other shops checking prices of various bottles of tequila, amaretto, etc., etc......as well as some drugs which the mother and brother of the 1st Lady requested. We purchased the meds in another store.....and then by this time it was a bit after 1pm......the appointed meeting time with Doug/Diane.....in Elsa's Restaurant back down the street.
Sooooo, we entered the restaurant and walked straight to the back room bar and dance floor......where a really good keyboard player was entertaining a packed room.....all tables being filled. We stood for a moment and then a couple emptied and the 1st Lady and I sat down at a table for four.......ordered a couple of margaritas. They are strong and dirt cheap.....$1 for on the rocks...and $1.50 for frozen.....and we sat there listening to the music and enjoying these great drinks. And then.......
The 1st Lady looked up, watching for Doug/Diane to enter....and then she saw Jeanne/Dave, Pat/Tom, Charlie/Katherine all walk in......the members of "Our Gang"!!!!! And, a few minutes later Doug and Diane arrived! OK......we managed to get some tables together to seat the ten of us.....and more margaritas.....and more margaritas!!!! The music began to infect us....and soon we were on our feet dancing to the beat(s), having a fabulous time.....and as always occurs when we are together......laughing our heads off!!!!! The other people in this back room, while eatingand drinking also found themselves enjoying our antics and not-to-good-toooo-many-margaritas dancing styles!!!! Ahhhhh........such fun, such fun!!!!!!
We ordered our late lunches......consumed them as the chattering and double entendres continued.....and then following the lunches, we were back on the dance floor again. This time, we five guys all danced with the girls........and had the rest of the room laughing and applauding our styles. After being there for over two hours.......we all stumbled out onto the street......but, we paid our bills first! WOW....$15.50 for six margaritas and two full plate dinners.....you sure can't beat that anywhere!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Not to mention the music and dancing)!!!
Staggering along the crowded sidewalk, some of the girls walked(?) ahead of the rest of us.....trying to locate the torilla "factory"....and they were successful in finding it and purchasing some....again a very cheap purchase: $1.00 for a kilo which is always still very warm from the ovens!!! Soooo, we met up again....and made our way to the last "Duty Free" shop which is run by the Mexican side....and the 1st Lady and I purchased a large bottle of Disaronno Amaretto.....$15.00!!!!!!! This is a GREAT buy....unless you are in Italy. The last time I was over there I bought the same size bottle for only $8.00!!!!!!!!, of course, that is where it is made.
And then......another quarter($.25) to walk across the bridge......and the next stop was at the Passport Control/Immigration....where the officers checked our packages(verbally), our passports, questioned us about our purchases, length of time in Mexico, etc., etc......and then we were headed to our vehicles. Tom/Pat and Charlie/Katherine all stayed in Mexico as Tom needed a haircut......and the cost of that is usually $4.00........making a very cheap afternoon!
Returning to the resort and TheHowserHouse, we just kicked back, had some coffee/hot tea.....and sat in quiet... reading and recovering from the incredible afternoon with "Our Gang" in Mexico!!!!!! This was the BEST time we have had in Progreso, Mexico.....in the four years that we have been going across the border to this very, very friendly little town.....that I am certain becomes very sleepy when all of the Winter Texans leave when it gets warm back up north!
WOW.....WHAT an afternoon it was.......WHAT a great time....WHAT great friends!!!!!!! And, as always....................
LIFE IS JUST REALLY, REALLY, INCREDIBLY GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!......And, I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!!!!
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