December 2017 trip to Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila - Mexico

My uncle had sent us a package after we got back from Houston but it did not arrive in Ciudad Acuña until after my mother's fall. We finally had a chance to go pick it up yesterday.

There was very little traffic going to Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila but OMG the traffic heading back to Del Rio was backed up past the toll booths in Mexico!  Maybe December 26th was not the best day to head there but it is only going to get worst in the following days as more people who headed to Mexico for the holidays make their way back home.

I was hoping the line would go down but there is a cable channel on Mexican television that lets you look at the cameras at the international bridge and gauge the traffic flow.  It was evident the line was only getting worst.

I did make a stop at Aurrera but at the small one in the central part of Ciudad Acuña. The price of tomatoes remains high so the only vegetables I bought were papaya and a hand full of serranos. The high peso to dollar ratio is really affecting the pockets of the regular Mexican citizen. One has to take into account that the minimum wage in Mexico depending on the exchange rate fluctuates between $4.00 and $4.25 US dollars.  In Mexico, the minimum wage is not per hour but per day.

As expected when we arrived at the Mexican toll booths they were backed up. Some people were turning around but we had no other choice but to proceed.  It took us 2 hours 11 minutes to cross to the USA. You know how I feel about waiting in lines.

It pisses me off that we have two international bridges in Del Rio but the one at Amistad Dam closes at 5:00 p.m.  I think during high congestion holidays like Christmas, New Year's and Easter they should be open at least till 10:00 p.m.  However, I do not think the Department of Homeland Security is interested in my opinion.

I need to mention that there is one special lane called Express Lane (or something to that effect) this is for people who do not have anything to declare. They usually only have one lane open but today they had two. By the time I realized it, they was no way anybody was going to let me cut into the other lanes. I apologized to the officer whom I have to say was very understanding and kind.

We got back just in time because it started drizzling as soon as we cleared US Customs. Today was a cloudy, cold and wintery day. I am glad we went to Mexico yesterday as I do not think I would have wanted to go today.

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.