Record Heat / New Covid Cases

I had planned to run errands in town today but as usual, the time got away from me, and by noon it was much too hot to even consider that option.

We broke a record dating back to 1986 when we reached 102 degrees this afternoon.

The cats are lethargic and I am missing a cat...I will write more about that in Walter's World if I get a chance.

We have nine new Covid cases bringing the total of active cases in Val Verde County to 58 persons.  They range in age from two years to 90 years. The majority of the cases are of people between the age of 50 and 59 years old. They also report two new deaths. I can not help but think that after this Easter holiday we will once again have a new surge.

If anyone is considering going to Mexico for the weekend I would urge them to reconsider especially when it comes time to once again cross back to the USA. Seems our governor is on full re-election campaign and has ordered 18 wheelers to be thoroughly searched upon entering Texas...the delay is costing millions of dollars to truckers, businesses, and consumers...making our supply chain issues even worse not to mention the delays at the bridge to normal traffic.

One reason for this new strategy might be Beto's polling numbers but Abbott is not only hurting Texans but other states who need car parts, chips, produce, and so many things that cross into the USA daily.

If you insist on going to Mexico, I do have some good news...the Amistad Dam Port of Entry...is once again open to the public and you do not have to pay a toll though it is a long drive back to Del Rio but it beats the expected long lines at the main International Bridge.

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.

Aunty Acid

Beer Humor

September 2019 trip to Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila - México

I needed to run some errands in Ciudad Acuña so decided to go today rather than later on in the week. Was glad to see that the former toll booths were finally being demolished.

 In the Mexican side, they are building inspection lanes at their new Immigration headquarters.

After seeing the long lines going to the USA, I decided I would cross the border at the Amistad Dam Port of Entry on the way back. Once I finished my errands stopped at Bodegas Aurrera to tap into their WIFI and to pick up a bottle of Kahlua.

Here are the exchange rates for today so you can have an idea of the prices.

I have been eyeing this washing machine for years (I like pink) but they do not deliver and I do not have a pick-up truck. This is the first time I see what I thought was a smaller washing machine that would fit in my trunk only to learn it was a dryer.

$3,342.00 divided by 17.70 = $188.82 USD
$1,629.00 divided by 17.70 = $92.03 USD

Avocados have been high for a while but they had a good price on them.  Five avocados in a mesh bag $29.90 divided by 17.70= $1.69 divided by five = .34 cents each a real bargain but you are not allowed to bring them back to the USA so had to pass.

They had this HUGE display of Bud Light 6-packs for $80.00 Pesos that would be $4.52 USD

I do not drink coffee but a reader had asked me to take a picture of the coffee section for price comparison purposes. Unfortunately, I am using my cell phone and it does not take good pictures or perhaps it is the user that takes lousy ones :D

Once again the liquor section was not well stocked and there was not a single bottle of Kahlua to be had. That is a shame as you do not have to pay liquor tax when you cross at the Amistad Dam Port of Entry.

Bodegas Aurrera is located in the only Mall in Ciudad Acuña so stopped by a shoe store to price hiking boots. I liked the ones with the pink shoelaces but I did not buy them.  I would mess them up in a day in the rugged Terlingua terrain.

$359.00 divided by 17.70 = $20.28 USD

Considered driving to Soriana another grocery store that I am sure had Kahlua in stock but I was tired and it was so hot I decided to head home instead.

I am sure many of you are familiar with the former XERF radio station.  It was owned by the infamous Dr. John R. Brinkley but at that time its call letters were XER-AM and was once the most powerful radio station in the world.

It launched the career of Wolfman Jack whom many stayed up late at night to listen to, myself included.

It does not look like much and has been shut down for years. The gate has a sign saying "Federal Property".  Again I apologize for the poor quality as the sun was blinding me.

 Approaching Amistad Dam.

Lake levels are miserably low.

More land is being exposed daily.

Saved myself more than an hour's wait in line by making this trip.  Only two cars in front of me and I was back in the good old United States of America.  I had no idea the immigration officers had a uniform that included shorts. The lady agent was sporting one with this heat I do not blame her.

The following picture is exclusively for Jeelbare :)

We welcomed Fall with a high of 100  and a low of 77 degrees today.

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.

Trip to the Dentist

I can not believe it took me all weekend to get over my trip to México. I was exhausted and did not get to do my other chores.

I had mentioned that I was on a waiting list if there was a cancellation at my dentist's. I just had this feeling they would be calling me Monday and sure enough they did.  It was the only time I was glad I had my cell phone turned ON.

Incredibly, I got up very early Monday morning and was able to get to the things I had neglected over the weekend. Gassed up for $2.45 per gallon. Went by the post office, the bank and stopped to buy two breakfast tacos at Stripes where they KNOW how to make tacos!

My appointment was at noon so left at 11:17 a.m. Made sure to write down the mileage, it was 5 miles from mother's house to the dental office and took me 20 minutes.

I got a tooth filled for $58.00 dollars and had my teeth cleaned for $45.00 for a total of $103.00 USD. I usually pay in Mexican Pesos but chose to pay in dollars today.

Went to run a couple more errands before heading to the Amistad Dam Port of Entry.  Since I was not in a hurry I stopped at the dividing line where the Eagles are located and took some pictures. I also added some to the prior post.

From here you can get a great view of Lake Amistad.

 As well as of the Rio Grande River. México to the right and USA to the left.

Joined the line to cross the border at 3:30 p.m.  On a prior post I had said it was a 10-mile drive from downtown Ciudad Acuña to the Amistad Dam Port of Entry but I was wrong it is a 17-mile drive.

 After a few minutes, more had joined the line behind me.

I reached the ICE agent at 5:17 p.m. It took me 1 hour 47 minutes to cross the border.  Then had to drive another 17 miles to get home but at least I can tick off another thing off my To Do List.

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.


NBA Corner

Last night I was going to watch the game between the Clippers and the Golden State Warriors, but it was so boring and obviously the GSW were ahead by a lot so changed channels. This morning I woke up to find the Clippers made an unbelievable comeback and  I missed it...grrrrrrrrrrrr!!!

April 12, 2019 trip to Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila - Part III

Left Bodegas Aurrera and headed back to town to pick-up Paquito. On my other blog, I list the Veterinary Clinic and other pertinent information as well as costs. You can read my blog by clicking on the header picture on this blog or here http://mylittlewalter.blogspot.com/

I headed for the Amistad Dam Port of Entry. I had not been out this way in a while. On the way there you pass many Maquiladoras and they were just letting out. The Maquiladoras hire private bus services for their employees. The buses consist of former School District buses from the United States and the drivers drive like crazy.

Would have loved to have taken pictures but it was just too dangerous to try. Though I was going 60 mph I was passed by many Texas State plate bearing cars going very fast. From downtown Acuña to the Dam it is about 10 miles  17 miles.

This was the line when I arrived, it sure beats the line at the Main International Bridge where the wait was 90 minutes according to my now favorite Border Wait Times webpage https://bwt.cbp.gov/index.html?com=0&pas=1&ped=0&plist=2302

The dividing international line at the Amistad Dam bridge is where the monument with both the American and Mexican Eagles stands,

A close-up, sorry I did not do a good job as I used my cell phone...

Plaque that commemorates the year it was built and the US and Mexican Presidents at the time.

This is looking West from the American side.

The wind was very strong. It felt like the bridge was moving or that I was on a ship at sea.

Though the line was long it was moving at a steady pace.

It took about 25 minutes to cross the border.

This sign shows the hours of operation being from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

As I mentioned previously you do not have to pay a toll either way.  As an added bonus if you buy liquor you do not have to pay taxes on it at this International Crossing as the State of Texas does not have a booth to collect State Liquor Tax.  Just make sure you declare it when you cross.

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.

April 12, 2019 trip to Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila - México - Part I

This past Tuesday (April 8th) when I went to take Nico for his post-surgery check-up I was able to land an appointment for Paquito to have the same operation (neutering).  Though I frown on Friday trips to Ciudad Acuña because so many people head out that way, it usually isn't until the afternoon that they start arriving in masses.

Checked my now favorite link  Border Wait Times and there was a 60-minute delay to cross into Del Rio but since I was headed to México it did not matter.  I have tried to find a link to Mexican Border Crossing Wait Times along the Texas-Mexico border but only found some for Baja California and they only list a telephone number.

Had every intention of just dropping Paquito off and returning to Del Rio but when I crossed into México the lines to cross to the USA spilled back to beyond the Mexican toll booths.  It is a good thing that they built this new Mexican Customs facility because it can absorb the long lines that previously would bring traffic to a halt extending up to five streets deep.

Del Rio has another International Bridge located on the road to Amistad Dam.  Its hours of operation are from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and you do not have to pay a toll either way to cross it.

It was a little after 9:00 a.m. and the wait time had risen to 80 minutes on the main International Bridge.  If you have been reading me for a while you know that I dislike waiting in line for ANYTHING.  Decided to run some errands to kill time until they opened up the Amistad Dam Port of Entry. 

Headed to Soriana a large Mexican department store that I would liken to a Target.  It is large, well stocked, clean, has ample parking space and most importantly no crowds.

Before I post pictures of items I want to first post the Exchange Rates for today that have been holding steady for a few weeks.

Compra = Buy -------> they will buy your American Dollar for $17.30
Venta = Sell ----------> they will sell you an American Dollar for $18.70

I had to smile when I saw this new Coca-Cola with no sugar.  If there is something that Americans like is Mexican Coca-Cola that is made with cane sugar and not high fructose corn syrup like in the USA.  The Mexican government has been making strides to lower childhood obesity rate which depending on the study rates them first or second in the world.

29.15 Mexican Pesos divided by 17.30 exchange rate
 equals $1.69 USD for a 2.5-liter bottle

For the ladies or why not also gentlemen, México has very affordable prices on hair dyes because although they are American brands they are manufactured in México.

$39.00 Mexican Pesos divided by 17.30 exchange rate
equals $2.25 USD

These two single burner cooktops are Mexican made and I do not know about you but I rather buy Mexican than low-quality Chinese products.  I do not mean that in a disrespectful way, just facts.

$20.18 and $14.45 USD

For those who happen to be beer lovers like myself, there are always beer bargains but you have to take into account that you have to pay Texas Liquor Taxes when you bring them back to the states. Except at the Amistad Dam Port of Entry because they do NOT have a liquor tax collection booth...but you MUST declare it or you will be subjected to a steep fine.  I personally buy my beer at Stripes in Del Rio much cheaper than at HEB or Walmart.

 

Tecate Light 12 pack $8.67 USD

Soriana also has a Pemex gasoline station on its premises.  I do not know how much it goes for as I never buy gasoline in México.

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.




Spurs Corner

This evening at 9:30 p.m. Central Time our Spurs will play the Denver Nuggets in the first game in the First Round of the 2019 NBA Playoffs. 

I am a little concerned since we do not play well on the road and Denver is a tough city to play at not necessarily because of the opponents but due to its high altitude.

Go Spurs Go!!!