Yep.....it was really, really warm when I pulled my aging hulk out of the king bed upstairs in TheHowserHouse.....and went downstairs to get the Fr. Roast coffee dripping. The temp was 67 degrees and soon the daily winds began to pick up and blow in that warm weather from Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico. We had fresh grapefruit......like yesterday.....picked right off of our tree beside TheHowserHouse......ahhhh, but it is soooooo juicy, soooo tasty, and almost sweet!!!! WOW.....these are wonderful!!!
After the 1st Lady and I readied ourselves for the day trip across the border, we almost "ran to the border".....as it is only a few short miles from here. We parked the truck on the home soil/parking lot, paid the $1.50 for the day, and began the walk across the "Bridge Over the River Rio Grande"(Rio=river.....a double word, but.....). Very soon we were in the land of friendly people, wonderful food, and colorful arts/crafts......and cheaper liquor! Oh yes.....it costs one quarter to walk across the Rio Grande!
As soon as we stepped off the bridge the culture of Mexico hits you smack in the face with the poverty stricken people AND, most of all, children who very obviously have not nearly enough to live any existance except one of begging/scratching for anything to help them be able to buy the necessities of Life. How it really does hurt to not be able to give them a few coins, but if you do that.......then you will be surrounded by large groups of this "class" of Mexican citizens and they will not leave you alone! Still.......it bothers me to not be able to do something........???
Soooo, we walked on into Nuevo Progresso....and down the "main drag". The sidewalks are completely filled on the street side with stalls, booths, tables, etc., etc. of trinkets, jewelry, handbags, clothing,.....you name it and it is for sale. Oh yeah.....it is fun to look, but the custom is to entice you to purchase some of their wares/goods.....and they can become very persistent....so we would look and then keep moving.
The stores are varied in size and quality, but they all have the same items......just different quantities. AND.....AND....there are more dentista offices and more pharmacias than I ever thought there could be in one town!!!!!!! Almost every other shop along the sidewalk is one or both of these types of places!!!! SOOOOOO many Americanos cross the RioGrande to take advantage of both of these types of professional businesses: dentists and pharmacies. And.....from all info gathered by myself after talking with many other NorteAmericanos....the dentists are quite competent and mucho less expensivo than those on the north side of the rio.
The entire late morning and early afternoon were spent walking, shaking off the little children, working at getting down the very, very crowded streets, and going into the shops and stores to look around and gather up ideas on prices of various items. And sooooon, the deep rumblings of our underfed hulks were being heard/felt.
So, as we had walked down several blocks of the "main drag", we began to ask a few other Americanos for suggestions on reasonable, but good, places to eat. All suggestions in that area of town were to turn left, walk one block past the elementary school and go into a building that said: Progresso Market. And....so we did!
Ahhhhh, the aromas of hot food and the sounds of musica Mexicano led us around a corner in the plaza and there was a corner restaurant with sidewalk tables sat under the trees and the overhanging canopy of the establishment.....JUST the place for our weary and food-driven bodies. Soon, we were seated and downing a very cool Corona w/lime.....and selecting from an English menu.
Looking around, there were very few Mexicanos dining there........believe it is a very popular spot for the pale skin folks from north of the border......US!!! We ordered two different items so we could share........and the meal was quite good, but not certain I would order enchiladas there again. Just a bit weak on flavor, but not bad. The beef tacos were great!!!! And.....those Coronas just kept going down easier and easier!!!!!!!
The service was slightly slow.....but what the hell......we have no schedule and it was fun just listening to the live music and enjoying the ambiance of this little corner of Mexico. We began talking to the couple seated next to us......and OMG....where were they from???? Valles Mines....just a few miles up the road from F'town!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sooooo, you drive 1200 miles plus....and wind up seated beside people from the same area of the country! HA!
After this late lunch.....we went back to the "main drag" and headed back north.....ambling and rambling along the sidewalk amidst the children and stalls and other Americanos......and again, stopping in at some of the shops to look and admire some of the silver jewelry and colorful clothing. All GREAT FUN!!!!!
We arrived back at the bridge......and decided to call it a day as it was after 4pm.... This wasn't an evening that we had planned to stay and party.....just an initial "learn the ropes" day in Nuevo Progresso. Soooo, we deposited the quarter AND a nickel this time to cross the bridge. Arriving on the other side, we stood in line for at least 20 minutes awaiting our time with the border agents who had to see our ID's, question if we were citizens(they had just looked at our ID!!!), and then asked if we purchased anything while in Mexico. During that time the computer "cleared" us to return to Los Estados Unidos(correct gender???) and so we were again on our way....and very quickly at the parking lot. Within 15 minutes we were back at TheHowserHouse.......kicking off our shoes and relaxing on the wind-swept patio outside.
A bit later, our new-found friends, Don and Mary Beth Kennedy, came over from their home-on-wheels to visit for awhile. They are from Oklahoma.....and we had a pleasant hour showing them TheHowserHouse and digging deeper into each other's "stories" and lives. They are great people and we will be getting together more often......
And soooooo, Day 10 ends after a trip out of the country and back......and some very interesting times while away. What can I say after this other than.......
Life is GREAT......and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!!
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