After spending a couple of days in Del Rio we drove down to Zapata, we checked into a park here for two days just to break up the drive to the Rio Grand Valley. We figured that we would be able to find something
to do here, WRONG, other then watching the birds and and doing the laundry, that's about it. The Rio Grand is damned up near here and forms Lake Falcon, it wasn't until I Googled Zapata that I realized that this is where the couple were attacked by Pirates (drug cartel) when they crossed the lake to photograph an old Mexican Mission, the husband was killed and I don't think that they have recovered his body yet. So that pretty much ruled out renting a jet ski to explore the lake area.
We finally got down to the RGV and got set up in our new home for the next month, this morning we took a two mile walk and probably only covered about 15% of the paved roads in the park.
FAST FORWARD A WEEK.
We had a little bit of a cool front come through for a few days but that's gone now and it's back in the 70's and 80's.
We headed over to Progesso Mexico the other day, you park on the US side and walk across the bridge after paying your 25 cent toll and your in Mexico, no customs or anything on the way over. It was pretty much just as we remembered it wall to wall people trying to sell you stuff. There weren't a ton of tourist when we got there but by the time we left the place was packed.
I got my $4 haircut and some new sunglasses, Cathy hit the dentist for a $10 cleaning then the jewelery guy for some silver earrings for the grand daughter, right before we came back we stopped at the Rx and I got my over OTC meds (purple pill) and Cathy got a couple liter bottles of Vanilla. It's hard to believe how cheap the stuff is there and they still make a profit. We plan on going back once a week to try the different restaurants while we're down here.
FAST FORWARD A FEW MORE DAYS
We drove over to South Padre Island for the day, it's a little over an hour drive, we've heard so much about it that we figured we better get over there to see what all the fuss in about, after being there for a few hours we're still trying to figure it out.
The island reminded us of a lot of Myrtle beach,Tybee Island, Fort Myers Beach and any other place where they're trying to get all your money.
We did stop at Port Isabel right before crossing the causeway to the island and that we enjoyed. We got the combo seniors ticket which let us climb to the top of the lighthouse, visit the Historical Museum and the Treasures of the Gulf Museum, the senior tickets are $5 a head for all three places.
First the lighthouse, it's not to bad of a climb, only 47 circular steps but then there is a stepladder type steps for about 14 steps then a very narrow 8 steep climb which gets you to where the light used to be and a fantastic view of the area. You are not allowed out on the walkway.
Views from the top.
Click to enlarge.
Causeway to South Padre Island
Pelicans from the lighthouse
About a block walk got us to the Historical Museum, it gives a very interesting history of the city and area explaining how it was settled and the part it played in all the border wars.
I always thought that Mermaids were pretty.
An old style Mickey
A short walk around the corner and you're at the Treasures of the Gulf Museum, a small museum but it had very unique items on display. It told about the three Spanish ships that sunk during a storm in the mid 1500's right off the coast with about 90,000 lbs of gold and silver aboard. About 30 % of the gold and silver has been recovered and the rest will probably remain buried forever since Texas has an antiquity law that sez if you find it in Texas it belongs to Texas, no finders fee, no 50 50 split, nothing but a big thank you so nobody goes looking for it.
Sometimes you can just get what our daughter calls TMI (To much Information) so here it is.
Read to find out.
The last room of the museum displays works of art from the local artist and is changed through out the year.
Now I don't know much about art, but I do know what I like and this guy is a Genius.
Back at Camp, the weather has been in the high 70's and hitting 80 but the wind has been blowing none stop for the last couple of days, I don't care how big your rig is the wind will rock you to sleep. We noticed as we walk around the park that nobody has an awning out.
That's about it Mexico and the WIND.
2 comments:
Wow! Interesting (sort of) about the "potty" - gross.
Yep, I've always wondered how things can be so cheap in Mexico and they still make a profit. Something is really wrong with those prices vs. US prices.
I was surprised to read that there are still so many tourists going into Mexico. I'd be scared to death.
I wish I had known you were in Zapata, I have a dude buried there I want a photo of his headstone (if there is one), that would have given you something to do! LOL
Enjoy the Rio Grande Valley.
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