January 2023 trip to Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila - México

This past Thursday, January 5th I made a trip to México, for the same reason as I did back in September 2022...to take another batch of cats to the veterinarian to be fixed. If you would like to read about it, you can do so on my other blog Walter's World by clicking on my header picture or this link https://mylittlewalter.blogspot.com/

After dropping them off  I went about running my errands. Before I go any further these were the exchange rates on this day so you can compare prices.

                                                              Compra (buy) Pesos

                                                           Venta (sell) US Dollars

                                     

It had been six months since I last got a haircut so headed to Gutierrez (a grocery store) to one of their no-frill salons. Understandably the price had gone up, I paid $100.00 pesos with a tip of 20.00 pesos for a total of $120.00 Mexican pesos or $6.06 USD.

Much like on prior occasions, I went to Citibanamex to get change for the Mexican Currency I had. By that, I mean that when you exchange dollars for pesos in larger amounts they give you larger currency bills, and sometimes you need smaller denominations as well as coins to tip the sackers, people who clean your windows at the stop light, and for the toll booths. I tend to buy pesos when the exchange ratio is higher since I use it up at the vet, the doctor, grocery shopping, the beauty shop, international toll booths, etc., etc. since I live along the border. If you are a tourist on a one-day shopping trip you are better off paying in US dollars.

On a prior trip, I kidded if there was a run at this bank because the lines are always long. I figured since it was a new year most people did not have any money left after the holiday season. However, when I was in line I heard that this is the month when young people go cash their scholarship money to pay for school. Likewise, senior citizens who are in a state (Coahuila) program that gives them a monthly subsidy were also in line to withdraw that help as they do not trust credit cards. After being in line for 35 minutes and not moving more than a couple of inches I gave up...this gal does not do lines!

I decided to go check out the fabric store next door called Parisina. It has been there for a couple of years but I had never gone inside. They had a large selection of fabrics, plastics, pillows, and household items.

I did not purchase anything but went next door to Bodegas Aurrera (owned by Walmart) where once again they had a shortage of shopping cars. I bought a couple of items because my car was parked far away and I did not want to hurt my back carrying a lot of groceries. A tip if you go shopping in México you need to take your own reusable bags as of two years ago plastic bags are no longer provided at any store.

I purchased one onion...

A couple of bottles of hot sauce...

Two cans of Chipotles at $9.50 each /.48 US cents.

There was no shortage of pasta. Some were on sale for $5.00 pesos /.25 US cents.

The following day was going to be Día de Los Reyes or the Three Wisemen. Tradition in México is to have a Rosca de Reyes that has several baby Jesus baked into it and whoever gets it has to buy tamales on February 2nd...also known as El Día de la Candelaria.

This was the smallest Rosca I saw. It sold for $160.00 pesos or $8.08 USD and this included a 2 Liter container of milk that I was not aware of until I enlarged the picture.

Remember when there was a shortage of Valentino hot sauce? Not today so bought some to go with my buttered popcorn at $11.00 pesos the equivalent of .56 USD cents.

While you can not bring back eggs, I was curious what they were selling for...a carton of 30 eggs at $84.00 pesos...or $4.24 USD. A carton of 18 eggs $2.70 USD, and a dozen eggs $1.84 USD.

Another item I purchased was a jar of Decaffeinated Coffee for $64.50 or $3.26 USD.

I have a lot of pictures but have run out of space in my Google Photos account. I have been emailing them to myself and that takes a while. If I have time I will do a Part II and show my purchases at Gutierrez or not...

Good night. May you all have Terlingua Dreams.

Aunty Acid

May 2021 trip to Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila - México

On Tuesday, May 25th I made my first trip back to México since 2019 when I came to stock up for my annual trip to the Chili Cook-off in Terlingua, Texas. The reason for my trip was to take Bonnie Mae to be spayed. You can read more about that by clicking on my header picture or going to my other blog Walter's World.

With my car issues, I had intended to spend the day in Ciudad Acuña until she was ready to be brought home and thus only make one trip. With that in mind, I headed to Plaza Bella which I believe has had a change of name since I was last here. This is the only mall in Acuña and houses Bodegas Aurrera (owned by Walmart), several banks, a movie theatre, as well as large and small stores.

I do not know if it is due to the pandemic but they have cut down on their supply of grocery carts here. It did not matter to me as I was just making time and had not planned on buying anything. Upon entering the store it was noticeable that the lights had been dimmed and it was dark.  It was also warm inside.

They had little to no pastries, bread, and just a few tortillas. Their shelves were being stocked and there were boxes everywhere.

$88.00 divided by 18 pesos = $4.89 USD
for a bottle of Kahlua

The last time I was here like I mentioned above was prior to my 2019 trip to Terlingua and I had unsuccessfully for the third time tried to purchase a bottle of Kahlua. Today I found one lonely bottle in the liquor aisle but since I am not drinking because of all the medication I am taking...it will have to wait for another customer...😢

I had already gone around the store once when I finally found a cart. Set off on my second round and this time decided to buy a jar of decaffeinated coffee, a box of hair dye (Nutrisse is made in México), and a bar of Zote soap.

$56.00 pesos = $3.11 USD

$41.80 = $2.32 USD

$6.60 = $.37 USD

I think I did well keeping my purchases
to a minimum

These were the exchange rates for today at most Exchange Houses. They will buy your American dollar at $18.00 pesos and they will sell you dollars for $19.50.  For our purpose, it is $18.00 pesos to one American dollar.

Monday night I only slept two hours and that morning I left the house without eating breakfast so I headed to the food court only to find them all closed except for one selling Chinese food. I don't like Chinese food so sat at a table. I kept on trying to doze off and again the mall was rather warm and I still had a long way to go until I could pick up Bonnie Mae so decided to come back home instead.

There was a long line at the Mexican tollbooths since they only had one open.

Hardly any traffic as I headed back to the USA

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.

Aunty Acid Saying of the Day

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.