SOUTH OF THE BORDER - MEXICO

Well, we've been here since November and have only one month left and hadn't been to Mexico yet, so we decide to venture down South of the Border.  We hear from many Winter Texans that Nuevo Progresso is still safe.

We travel down with our Canadian neighbors, Shirley and Marie -

they're not chicken!

We park on the U.S. side and walk over the International Bridge -

there is a 25 cent toll.

You can see the "Wall" that was built - complete with gaps - what were they thinking?

The Rio Grande 

Can you find the soldier in this picture? Hint . . . he is camouflaged

The main drag, full of shops, drugstores and dentists

and wall to wall sidewalk vendors.

Prescription drugs are 1/3 to 1/4 the cost of U.S. and you don't need a prescription to buy them.  You can get a porcelain crown done for $90-$140.  In one drugstore a lady was loading prescription drugs into a suitcase and most of the Dental Clinics had full waiting rooms.

It is a warm day and all the walking makes us thirsty and hungry!

A popular spot off the main drag.  Unfortunately, the quaint open air marketplace where it is located has fallen by the wayside because most people are afraid to venture outside the main area.

We enjoy a nice lunch, margaritas and music.

Time to go back to the States but we will return (I could use a crown or two and it is only $13 a bottle for Tanqueray, Capt. Morgan and Absolute Peach. 

Hasta la Vista!

Meanwhile we keep on Trek'n Melissa & Gary

IWO JIMA MONUMENT

First we meet friends for an early dinner at Longhorns Cattle Company

Dave & Sherry - Barb - Harold & Pam - Gloria & Rich

Afterwards we continue on to the Iwo Jima Monument

The Monument is the original plaster model from which the bronze casting was made for Arlington National Cemetery. 

The figures are 32' tall erecting a 78' Steel Flagpole.  The rifle and carbine are 16' and 12' and the canteen would hold 32 quarts of water.

It is quite a sight to see. 

Meanwhile we keep on Trek'n!

Melissa & Gary

SANTA ANA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

Winter weather finally found its way down to the Rio Grand Valley.  3 Days of below freezing weather with overnight lows in the 20's - woke up to a coating of ice.

Fortunately, freezing weather doesn't last in South Texas. With temps back in the 70's today we headed to Santa Ana Wildlife Refuge. Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge is a 2,088 acre refuge established in 1943 for the protection of migratory birds. We had gone there back in early December but found it was closed due to flooding. The Refuge flooded in the summer of 2010 for the first time in over 50 years. The water was up to 10 feet deep.  The Refuge is bordered by the Rio Grande.

Resacas are former channels of the Rio Grande

Bird Blind

Boardwalk

Saw a few birds.  It was a windy day.  Will return in March when migration should be picking up.

Observation Tower

Rope Bridge

White watermarks from flooding.  Will have to see if the trees come back in the Spring.

Most of the 12 miles of paths are still flooded

Meanwhile we keep on Trek'n!

Melissa & Gary