Last 2012 Trip to Ciudad Acuna, Coahuila, Mexico

You would not know it from looking at my skinny cousin, but he can and does eat like a horse :-)  In a week he ate us out of groceries that last mother and I for a month. Had been wanting to go back to Mexico to re-stock for a couple of days now but I had been feeling a little under the weather until today. Been fighting a cough and sniffles with aspirin and NyQuil and hopefully I wont come down with a cold.

I get an e-mail at least once a week asking me if Ciudad Acuna is safe to visit.  I guess it all depends on what your perception of safe is.  My parents, friends and relatives were horrified when I announced 30 plus years ago that I was moving to Houston, Texas.  They considered it to be a very dangerous city and thought I had lost my mind.  Many people still wonder why I continue to live there.  Is Houston safe?  It is all a matter of perception...the same applies to Ciudad Acuna.

All I can tell you is that it is the safest border in Texas and that is not just me saying it, but many other sources, do a google search.  One thing for certain if it was not safe I would never take my mother with me or put myself in harms way.

I figured with Christmas over and done with, there would not be that many shopper out and about...but I was wrong.  There were tons of people and happy to say many American tourists in the bunch :)  Even ran into the guy that runs the computer system at the Val Verde County Library in Del Rio.  He was surprised to see me in Aurrera and asked if I shopped there often, told him I did and he said his family and him did as well.

Aurrera is located inside of Plaza Bella mall

With so many people shopping at Aurrera they were out of a lot of fruits and vegetables which are my mother's favorites so we also paid a visit to Merco.

Both Aurrera and Merco are located along Libramiento Emilio Mendoza Cisneros which is a fast growing section in Ciudad Acuna close to the Maquiladoras and to the new housing sub-divisions called Colonias for the maquiladora employees.  Even El Palacio Municipal (the equivalent of our City Hall) built state of the art installations and moved out of the central downtown area to this new location.

El Palacio Municipal de Ciudad Acuna, Coahuila, Mexico.
They have free internet within their perimeters.

Guess I am so busy driving I had never noticed El Palacio Municipal had so many palm trees

If anyone is looking for a pinata for their New Year's party there are plenty to be had here.

The exchange rates have fallen some from last week.  The going rate today was 12.40 pesos to buy dollars, 12.95 pesos to sell them.

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.

After Christmas Sales

I think my cousin and my uncle have a conspiracy against me...whomever is here at the time, always force me to drive them to the stores either to Christmas shop or do the after Christmas sales.  Have I mentioned how much I dislike to go shopping in December, unless of course it is for something I really really want?

I swear my cousin is worst than a woman when it comes to shopping...he can go for hours looking at crap...oh excuse me...meant "stuff" and not buying a thing.  I have many virtues but patience does not happen to be one of them!

It has been cold and the wind makes it feel even more so.  Yesterday I looked everywhere but could not find any evidence that Santa ever made it down to my mother's house.  Even looked outside and nope...no presents :-(   I think the wind most of blown them away ((sad face with a tear)) or he got confused and delivered them to my house in Houston...yeah that must be it :D

As I stood around waiting on my cousin, I recognized this gentlemen and greeted  him.  He smiled back but there was no recognition.  I said "you don't remember me do you? I am the person that snapped the picture of you holding the bass your mother-in-law caught at the 277 Campground."  He told me I had a good memory!  Told him that was not the case, I suffered from CRS...he laughed and actually knew what that meant!

I asked him about his mother-in-law and a lady behind me said "here I am". I inquired if they had gone fishing since then and they said no.  His wife then joined them and she greeted me as well.  A really nice family and what I liked most is that they included her mother in their outings...not too many men would do that and it speaks well of them both.

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.  

Do I have a Betty Boop fetish?

In preparation of my cousin's arrival we decided to go grocery shopping in Ciudad Acuna, Coahuila, Mexico. For those new to my blog it is across the border from Del Rio, Texas where my mother lives.

Wanted to buy some pesos as it is preferable to pay in their currency versus US dollars as each store has a different exchange rate. Cruised down Avenida Madero where a vast majority of the exchange houses are located and where you will find more favorable rates than at the banks.

There are several grocery stores we frequent but today we only went to Aurrera (owned by Wal-Mart) as it was rather chilly.  The store was jammed packed but it was to be expected. Once again my mother bought out their fruit and vegetable section while also making a dent in the cookies and sweet bread department :D

Aurrera is located inside a mall. There is this little kiosk that sells the cutest Betty Boop purses. Maybe Santa will bring me one this year?

There is a beauty shop that I have always wanted to take a picture of but for some reason or another never had a chance to do so until today.

Crossing the international bridge into Mexico was not bad but the line going back to the USA was long, so we decided to cross back at the Amistad Port of Entry.  While it is about a 20 mile round trip, it is well worth it plus they do not charge a toll like they do at the main bridge.

The new crossing facility was not opened until recently due to construction delays and this was our first time crossing it. Wanted to take a picture but since it was only the car in front and us, decided not to as depending on the agent they sometimes tend to get upset if you photograph them or the facilities.

My cousin arrived last night (Friday) and today (Saturday) asked me to drive him to Wal-Mart as he forgot some things.  Asked him if he thought I was crazy?  There was no way in heaven or earth that I was going to go during the day or afternoon for that matter.  We went at 10:00 p.m. and it was tolerable except for the long lines to check out.  I really felt sorry for the poor cashiers...my respects to them for having such a thankless job!

Good night. May you all have Terlingua Dreams.