A day off

Yesterday I got an early start to beat the heat and went by the post office to pick up our mail.  I am waiting on some correspondence but mail is not finished being sorted until 11:00 a.m. and I was not going to stick around till then.

Saturdays are usually very busy in Del Rio as people from Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila come to shop and contribute to our economy.  Gasoline has gone down to $2.319 per gallon for unleaded regular or $2.289 if you have a Stripes credit card.

Considered filling up but our Mexican friends beat me to it since our gasoline is much cheaper and better quality than theirs.  Not my statement but El Zocalo their award-winning Ciudad Acuña newspaper.  As you know this girl avoids lines at all cost, I already paid my dues when I lived in Houston, Texas.

This morning after my walk headed back to the post office but alas no mail so I was glad I did not wait yesterday for something that never came.

Today took a much needed day off.  Caught up with my e-mails so if you sent me one I finally answered yours today.  Talked to my friends and commiserated about this awful heat.

Our high today was 105 with a low of 78 and a heat index level of 107 degrees.

I forgot to mention this the other day when they celebrated the birthday of the creator of Nachos.  Do you know he was born in Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila?  I had no idea and that he invented them when he worked at a restaurant in Piedras Negras, Coahuila across the border from Eagle Pass, Texas.  It is seldom that this area has any sort of claim to fame so glad to highlight it.

So many varieties

Nachos Supreme...

A short biography of Ignacio (Nacho) Anaya the creator of this snack.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nachos

Hope you had a great day and that you too got to take a day off.

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.

The trip that almost wasn't

I keep two calendars of appointments one for mother and one for myself.  Hers is obviously more important.  With the administration threating to shut down the border since last October 2018 and actually doing so in California for several hours last year I canceled my remaining appointments for 2018 so I could resume them in 2019.

This year did not start any better with the long lines at the border.  Have only managed a trip to the dentist thus far.  Scheduled a follow-up appointment but could not find my calendar so left the card in my purse and of course, forgot about it.

I was reading Barney's blog (OFM Adventures) when he mentioned his own trip to the dentist and something just kept nagging at me. Yesterday morning I found the appointment card only to realize it was today at noon and had less than two hours to get ready!  Thank you, Barney.

My dentist is a stickler for punctuality as one should be so was surprised that I had to wait for 30 minutes.  Listening to her son talking on his cell I understood why.  He had driven with his mother from San Angelo, Texas (a 3 hours drive) for her to have an emergency root canal.

Today I had the old filling removed from my two molars and replaced with a more natural color substance.  Fillings are $58.00 dollars each so today I spent $116.00 USD.

Tuesday's are Martes de Cosecha...Harvest Tuesday at Gutierrez.  They have really good specials on fruits and vegetables so much so that the other stores do not try to match their prices anymore and now offer their own version but on different days.

The shade canopies at Gutierrez give
it a leg up on the competition.

Drove by Gutierrez which has a much larger parking lot than this picture depicts, there is more on the side and the back...it was packed!  You know my rule...NO LINES...unless they are unavoidable like the lines to cross back to the USA.

Drove to the smaller Bodegas Aurrera (owned by Walmart) mostly so I could use their Wi-Fi as my cell phone does not work in Mexico and I wanted to check the Border Wait Times App.  It said there was a 35-minute wait which seemed incredible to believe.

Their limited shade canopies are no match
to those at Gutierrez.

Before I list the prices...here are the Exchange Rates...top number is the BUY rate for $1.00 US dollar you can buy $17.40 Mexican Pesos. The second number is the SELL rate, they will sell you one US dollar for $18.70 Mexican Pesos.

Exchange rates for 5-07-19

I wanted to buy some onions and tomatoes but I did not like the prices so I will buy those in Del Rio.

The last time I was in Bodegas Aurrera was at their larger store on the northwest part of town.  I remember mentioning then that there were stockers everywhere and empty shelves. The same took place today at this smaller location.

I was going to buy a bottle of Kahlua and save $3.75 (Texas liquor tax per bottle) by crossing at the Amistad Dam Port of Entry but the liquor shelves were barren.  Ended buying 3 bottles of hot sauce that were on sale for $20.00 pesos (20.00 divided by 17.40 equals $1.15 USD).

With the re-routing of traffic to the new Mexican Customs building
you have to pay attention to the signs or end up lost like what
happened to me the first couple of times.

With no reason to drive to the Amistad Dam Port of Entry headed back home the regular way still doubting the 35-minute wait quoted on the App. Tolls to cross to the USA are 28.00 Mexican Pesos the equivalent of $1.61 USD.

 

 When something sounds too good to be true it's because it is.  This was NOT a 35-minute line.

It was hot and humid around 88 degrees and it took 1 hour 20 minutes to cross the border because only two lanes were open to traffic.

When I got home I decided to make an early post because I had my NBA Semifinal games this evening only to find the cable, internet and home phone were not working.  The cable came back in time to watch my games but both the internet and telephone were out until 7:32 a.m. this morning.

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.

Second September trip to Ciudad Acuna, Coahuila, Mexico

Post for Tuesday September 9, 2014

Another out-of-date sequence post as I experienced computer problems last week. As you know I went to Ciudad Acuna on September 2nd. http://terlinguadreams.blogspot.com/2014/09/september-2014-trip-to-ciudad-acuna.html  I had a lot of errands to run but the most important one was to go see the doctor.

My Mexican doctor is very popular and the majority of his clients are from the US.  Being that it had been Labor Day weekend, many of his out-of-town patients had taken that opportunity and come to consult him. He had worked that weekend and unbeknownst to me decided to take a few days off, as was relayed to me by his receptionist.

I wasn't exactly happy about it since I had fasted and been super good at watching what I ate...but what could I do?  A return trip was in order but for the following week or September 9th to be exact.  Again I fasted and watched my diet so my labs would be half way decent.

Decorations for the upcoming 204th Independence
Day celebration were up all over the city.

When I got there, I noticed there were available parking spaces but did not give it much thought. You guess it...he wasn't there!!! He had decided to take some days off and would not be consulting till Friday and Saturday.  I do not go to Mexico on weekends let alone on national holidays. Mexico celebrates the anniversary of its 204th Independence on September 16th (sorry to disappoint those who thought it was Cinco de Mayo) but since it falls on a Tuesday this year...all the festivities were going to be held on the weekend.

Note to self:  invest in an International long distance card :(

My medication ran out at the end of August and I wanted to see how much it had helped. The good thing is that in Mexico you can go to a laboratory and order all the tests you want without a doctors order.  I had fasted twice and was not about to fast for a third time.  I even ate oatmeal...I HATE oatmeal...it looks like vomit, it has the consistency of vomit and though I have never tasted vomit...I am sure that is what it would taste like!

It takes four hours to get the results as I was not planning on a return trip specially not in these high temperatures.  So what can I do to kill four hours? Decided to go to Plaza Bella Mall...its main client is Bodegas Aurrera (owned by Walmart).

Saw this rather uncommon washer dryer combination.  I have never seen one like this before. It sells for $3190.00 Mexican pesos or $255.20 USD.

This is a Hisense washer/dryer combo
Not much information on the internet other
than it is Chinese...great price though.

Thought this pink washing machine was cute. It sold for $2429.00 Mexican pesos or $194.32 American dollars.

These small stoves would be perfect for a little cabin in Terlingua :)

$2.990.00 divided by $12.50 exchange rate equals $239.20 USD.

The big stores Gutierrez, Soriana, Bodegas Aurrera, Merco are located in the newer North part of the city where the maquiladoras and the new sub-divisions for the maquiladora workers are located.

The entrance to Ciudad Acuna is where the tourist district is and where businesses that cater to tourists are located, including my doctor's office and the laboratories. I somehow took a wrong turn and got lost for a while.  Not a big deal really got to see another part of the city I was not familiar with.

I liked the way they used this suspended canopy to shelter their car in the alley.

Picked up my labs and again in Mexico you can discuss your results with the laboratory personnel unlike in the US where they tell you to discuss it with your personal physician.

I was not too happy with the numbers, as a matter of fact I did better before I began taking all these medications. Will have to give it some real good thought as to what I plan to do but one thing for sure...no more statins for me!

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.

Reluctant trip to the doctor

Tuesday, March 11th, I finally caved in and went to see the doctor in Ciudad Acuna, Coahuila, Mexico.  He came highly recommended by a friend of my mother's.  I had completely forgotten that even though many businesses remain open as well as medical and dental clinics their personnel go to eat their main meal between 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.  Must admit the thought of leaving did cross my mind several times.

Got to see the doctor at 3:40 p.m.  A few minutes into my appointment I was glad I had chosen to stay as he truly listened and had a great bedside manner.  He told me he would have to order a complete lab analysis (blood work).  Since it was already late in the day they would not have the results to him until the following day, so set up an appointment for Thursday.

The lab place was next to the clinic so I did not have to go far...which was good because my legs were hurting like hell...so much so that I had to take a cane with me for support.  I am a coward when it comes to needles but I must admit that I barely felt the prick.  Was told my results could be viewed online as soon as they became available and they gave me a control number and code in order to access them.  

How much do you think it cost me for a full blood work and urinalysis?   I paid $605.00 Mexican pesos. 

                      605.00 Mexican pesos divided by an exchange rate of 12.50 = USD $48.40

I was so surprised at the amount as I used to pay $185.00 American  Dollars when I had lab work done at my Del Rio doctor's office...that was only to check my cholesterol level and liver function while I was taking Crestor (drug used to lower cholesterol).

Went back Thursday and was given my results...already knew my cholesterol would be through the roof... and it was.  My blood sugar did not look good either but for now would not require medication.

The lab results indicated I had a severe infection...would you believe from the cold or flu that I had back in December and January that I never went to the doctor for.  Regarding the pain in my legs...it should be gone in 10 days...sure hope he is right.  I have only taken the medication for one day and already I feel better.  He charged me $300.00 Mexican pesos for the office visit, that translates to $24.00 American Dollars.

Even though I buy my medication for high blood pressure at a grocery store, I decided to go to one of the better pharmacies in Ciudad Acuna...Farmacias Guadalajara...as they tend to move a lot more merchandise as far as patented medicine is concerned.  I did not like them and as exclusive as they are was surprised they gave me a receipt I could not even read because the ink was almost invisible.  Complained to the clerk but she just shrug her shoulders.  You can bet your bottom dollar, I will never be back!

My drug stash

They did not carry one of the medications I required so I went to another popular pharmacy Benavides. Not only could I read their receipt, they offer a discount card to people 45 and over and special prices at different times of the month.  I will definitively come back here if I require more medication.

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.

Darn...I hate crowds!

I feel so bad I actually tried to get an appointment with my Del Rio doctor...unfortunately he can not see me until mid February!   Many of my long time readers may ask...why don't you just go to Mexico to see a doctor like you have in the past?

Well, that is easily answered...remember I hate crowds?  For those new to my blog or that are not familiar with Mexican holidays...this is the weekend the majority of Mexicans that went to spend their Christmas vacations in Mexico are making their way back to the USA.

In case you forgot...I have no patience and I hate crowds (except for the Chili Cook-off) or standing in line, whether on foot or within the confines of my vehicle.  In Mexico, January 6th officially marks the end of the Christmas holidays when the Three Wise Men bring gifts to the children (kind of like Santa does in the USA).

The lines to cross into the USA are very LONG....as the Three Wise Men are busy making their much discounted toy purchases at the Del Rio Walmart to take back to the children in Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila, Mexico.

We have long lines going into Mexico and long lines going back to the USA...that means...I am staying home!

The year begins with the following gasoline prices in Del Rio, Texas as of Friday, January 3rd, 2014....click on the picture to enlarge it.

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.

Would you believe a second trip to Mexico?

Yesterday we got a late start on our trip to Mexico, so we were not able to run all the errands that we had anticipated.  I certainly dislike this new time change as it gets dark early and I can not see well at night. I therefore always try to get back before dark as the lines to cross the border are unpredictable.

I think I have mentioned on at least the two prior posts of our monthly shopping trips to Mexico...how disappointed I have been with the limited selection of fruits and vegetables at Aurrera (owned by Wal-Mart).  Yesterday's trip was no exception.  The few things they had in the produce department were of poor quality and exceptionally high prices.  Something one would not expect with Wal-Mart's buying power.

One grocery chain in Mexico started an event loosely translated as "Tuesday of fruits and vegetables" and upon seeing their success, other groceries stores followed suit.  We did not even bother with Aurrera today and went right to Gutierrez.

While I can not say I found great bargains to brag about at least the fruits and vegetables I found were of good quality and reasonable prices.

Today I bought.....

1. serranos
2. tomatoes
3. white onions
4. nopalitos (cactus)
5. carrots
6. habas
7. yogurt
8. Sidral Mundet (a soft drink Mom likes)
9. the generic store brand of Nutri Leche (Mexican milk that lasts up to 4 months without refrigeration)
10. jello
11. bananas (the bargain of the day at $3.90 pesos a kilo)
12. tortillas made of cactus flour
13. pork rinds
14. chayote

I probably left a couple of things out as I am working from memory...and we all know how bad mine is :-(

I also longingly looked at some Betty Boop purses and wallets but decided I really did not need them...this is me shedding a tear... :-(

Encounter a little longer wait time to cross back to the U.S. but got a cute young agent with a great sense of humor.  After declaring what I brought back, he jokingly asked...are you bringing back any medication, marihuana, liquor or cocaine?   jajajajajajaja...I thought it was hillarious, finally an agent that is not bitter!  Mother was not so impressed, lol!

I had my purse in the back seat so was not able to snap any pictures of the exchange rates down Exchange Alley...but they did go up.  The rate to buy dollars went to $13.25...five cents more than yesterday.

Been a while since I have been to a Bar/Disco but a bucket of 8 beers for $100.00 pesos does not seem like a bad deal.  100.00 pesos divided by 12.90 exchange rate = $7.75 US dollars.

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.

September 2013 trip to Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila, Mexico

Mother asked me to take her to the beauty shop in Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila, Mexico.  I always tell my readers that it is best to go to Mexico on a Monday or Tuesday but it seems like I do not follow my own advice!  Actually we are going to be busy next week so it had to be Friday or wait two weeks. If you have to go on a Friday try to go early.  Early in my book means before noon :D

Lucky me...I arrived when they were having another surprise ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) sting at the International bridge. Note that the officers this time are behind the toll booths unlike in my last trip.  This is their usual M.O. We were just waived through.

I tried to snap a picture after we crossed the toll booth so you could see all their vehicles and personnel but I was driving and could not focus on them, sorry...but I did get to take a lovely picture of my 2003 Spurs Championship banner :)

It pays to be the early bird.  No traffic going into Mexico.

This is Mexican customs and they are automated.  If you get a green light you just proceed such as we did.  If you get a red light a buzzer will sound and your vehicle will be searched.  Usually it is just a superficial search unless they send you to a second revision...that has never happened to me thus far.

As you exit customs you get a view of a plaza they built a couple of years ago.  Have no idea why they tore down so many buildings to get it built...it mainly sits empty during the day, have no knowledge how it is during the evening time.

Mexico celebrates its 203rd Independence on Sunday so there are going to be parties all weekend. They had a lot of flags flying all over the city.

Remember last time we came to the beauty shop we spent nearly three hours there?  Not this time...we were her first customers.  Her clients did not start arriving until she was almost done with me. Mom will probably kill me for posting her picture but here she is with Claudia her hairdresser and owner of the shop.

If you are ever in Ciudad Acuña I highly recommend her beauty salon.  She styles both men and women's hair and has excellent prices.

Last time I came to Ciudad Acuña was because I was running low on my medications.  I do not buy my medicine in regular pharmacies (there are hundreds here) but at Gutierrez (a grocery store chain) that has more affordable prices.  Unfortunately because of that they tend to sell out and I was only able to buy a 30 day supply.  Note:  American citizens can cross back a 3-months supply.

I like to shop in the Gutierrez that is located in the old part of town not the newer one that is north of the city were City Hall moved to and where the newer stores such as Bodegas Aurrera (owned by Wal-Mart) and Merco are located.  There does not seem to be as many people at this one and I always find a parking space in the handicap section.

If you ever grocery shop in Mexico you will note that the sackers in the morning and early afternoon are senior citizens and after two o'clock when school lets out it is young kids.  That is because it helps both the stores that do not have to hire extra employees and the seniors and kids that benefit from part time employment. In the States we would never consider tipping a sacker unless they helped us to our car.  However in Mexico they work solely for tips, so please do not forget to give them a little something. If they do a good job I give them $10.00 Mexican pesos...if they do a crappy job like the man today did, I give them $5.00 Mexican pesos.

This lady is a great sacker.  She is dressed in her Independence Day attire.
In the background is a cutout of Miguel Hidalgo known as the father
of Mexican Independence.

Two senior sackers also dressed for the occasion.

In case you forgot this is the store that sells the yummy cakes.  Again I was strong and resisted!

Mexican Independence cakes

Could not help but photograph the other yummy chocolate cakes....

The large cakes that I use to buy :(

Regular size cakes

 A sampling of dollar prices down Exchange Rate Alley:

Today I was in the market to buy pesos and got them at the rate of $12.55 Mexican pesos to $1.00 US Dollar.

Crossing back to the U.S. was a breeze with only two vehicles in front of me at Customs. ALL the traffic was headed south.  The lines to cross into Mexico were backed up to the toll booths. Wanted to take a picture but my camera was in my purse in the back seat...sorry! :(


Good night.  May you all have Terlngua Dreams.