Winter Texans Report #2

On Monday February 9, some neighbours took us to Nuevo Progreso, Mexico which is only about a half hour drive from our RV park. We parked on the Texas side of the border and walked across the bridge that spans the Rio Grande River to Mexico. The main street of this small town is filled with sidewalk vendors selling jewelry, knock-off purses, belts and other assorted items – much like a giant flea market. The biggest surprise was the number of pharmacies and dentist offices that line both sides of the street. People had told us that the Americans and Canadians go to Mexico to buy their prescription drugs but we were amazed to see the number of people doing so. We also talked to people here in the park who have had their dental work done there at a substantially cheaper price than at home. While Linda and I walked down the street, we were offered prescriptions, dental work, laser eye surgery and even cosmetic surgery. The funniest thing was the store selling jewelry and liquor which advertised that if you spent $25.00 you got your teeth cleaned for free.

The liquor was quite inexpensive in the shops – many of the pharmacies also sell liquor so you can be medicated one way or another. Once you leave Mexico and walk back across the bridge, the Texas state liquor board collects a small tax of $1.00 or $1.50 depending on the size bottle you have purchased. .

People had mentioned to us that this area of Texas is quite windy but we were not quite prepared for what they meant. The winds blow here constantly and we have had a few days of above average wind. Hurricane Dolly went through this park last summer and we met a couple who stayed here through the hurricane in the park model rv.

The park presents entertainment two or three evenings a week – last night we heard Jennifer Wilson from Branson, Missouri. She is just one of a group of entertainers touring the whole Rio Grande Valley performing for the Winter Texans. This is quite a poor part of the state so the Winter Texans do a lot to subsidize the local economy.

Well it is time to head off to my aqua fitness class. We will report back again after our visit with Jennifer who arrives tomorrow on Saturday the 14th.