Grocery run to Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila - México

While I have gone to Ciudad Acuña recently, the last real grocery run trip I made was back in March http://terlinguadreams.blogspot.com/2017/03/march-2017-trip-to-ciudad-acuna.html

I like to go on Tuesdays but Monday was the only day available as we have other appointments and commitments this week.On this trip, I headed to the north part of town where they have the larger or newer versions of the stores that are located in what is considered the central or downtown area.

I hit the four main stores...Bodegas Aurrera, Gutierrez, Merco, and Soriana. Took two ice chests and came away with enough groceries for a month. Not being Harvest Tuesday, I did not find any super bargains but the prices were reasonable and half of what it would cost in the USA.  Have to watch the budget after the unexpected cost to replace the A/C.

I have had a bottle of Kahlua for about 10 years and I finally finished it. Trying to keep cool, I have been having ice cream with a shot of Kahlua for dessert, it sure makes for a nice treat. Decided to splurge and purchased another bottle.

$147.00 pesos divided by an exchange rate of  $16.70 equals
$8.80 USD. then add $3.75 for Texas Liquor Tax
and a bottle ends up costing $12.55 USD

Dollar to Peso exchange rates continue to be stable.  Here are today's rates down Exchange Rate Alley:

You will have to click on this photo to enlarge it, as this was the most I could zoom in with my cheap camera...sorry!

I have often been asked if I fill up my car in Mexico, the answer is no. While they are an oil producing country they have to refine their product in American Refineries and is sold as Magnum with the price tag to match. The gasoline that is refined in Mexico is not very good. Mexicans with visas fill up in Del Rio, it's cheaper and they get a better product. Besides, it is sold in liters and the math would be horrible to process in my CRS mind!

I did not head into México until close to one o'clock and there were long lines going to the USA. I was afraid I would have to endure the same fate but by five o'clock those lines had diminished and I only had a two car wait.

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.

Martes de Cosecha - Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila, Mexico

Last Thursday we made a trip to Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila in order to go to the beauty shop. While I did manage to get a couple of groceries at Aurrera (owned by Walmart) they did not have a good selection of produce and the little that they had was expensive by Mexican standards.

A cold front and rain are on the way. Decided to take advantage of sunny skies and temperatures in the 80's and made our way back across the border.

The new toll booths are almost finished.  They relocated them for security reasons so they can be closer to new ICE and Homeland Security building.

If you have been reading me for a while, you know that I prefer to go to Mexico on Tuesday as grocery stores like Gutierrez, Merco and Soriana have lower prices on that day.  It used to be called "Martes de Frutas y Verduras" (Tuesday of Fruit and Vegetables" but it is now called "Martes de Cosecha" (Harvest Tuesday).

Was surprised at how many vehicles there were...many with Texas license plates sprinkled with some other states...Snowbirds looking for a good bargain?

I found excellent deals including the bargain of the day, tomatoes at $3.90 Mexican pesos for one kilo (one kilo equals 2.2 lbs).  To simplify this, let's use an example of $20.00 pesos to one US dollar.  3.90 Mexican pesos divided by 20.00 exchange rate equals .195 US cents.

.195 cents divided by 2.2 lbs ( the equivalent of a kilo) equals .0886 cents or .09 American cents per pound.  Now tell me that is not a GREAT deal!

I bought tomatoes, cilantro, onions, bananas, chayote, carrots, serranos, squash, papaya, and melon. Other food items such as Oaxacan cheese, turkey hot dogs, sweet bread, bolillos.  Non-food items at excellent prices...toilet paper and bleach.

$11.90 divided by $20.00 = .595 cents per kilo
.595 kilos divided by 2.2 = .27 American cents a pound

You will find better liquor prices at grocery stores versus liquor stores.

The same goes for beer...

A six pack of Bud Light goes for the US equivalent
of $2.98 

If you prefer to have a mixed drink at a local bar, they let you know up front how much they take your dollar for...

So how much is that in US currency?  The first number is the Compra number, which is how many Mexican pesos you can buy with your dollar. The second number is the Venta number which is how many Mexican pesos it takes to buy one US dollar.  For our purpose focus on the Compra figure. I used 20 to 1 ratio, had I had used the higher rate my bargains were even cheaper.

Here are some exchange rates down Exchange Rate Alley:

The line to return to the USA was just about the same as last week's but this time without cars being searched...12 minutes.

I have been asked in the past if there are some safe taxi companies to take you to Mexico. Yes, there are. To be fair all the taxi companies in Del Rio are safe at least to my knowledge I have never heard of someone having a problem with them.

Before they built the new ICE and Homeland Security building, the city offered free parking lots in case you wanted to walk across. Those are no longer available but you can park your vehicle in the taxi company's lot provided of course that you use them to transport you across the border. These establishments are open 24 hours a day.

There are two companies that have their installation close to the International Bridge...Border Taxi and Amigos Taxi.  However, most taxi companies will take you to Mexico.

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.

Visiting a sick friend

One of mother's long time friends has not been in good health lately.  Got a call from her son letting us know she was back in the hospital.  Today we made an unscheduled trip to Ciudad Acuña to go visit her.

Lucky for us the sun finally came out unlike yesterday which was a cold and cloudy day. Not too much traffic either way on the International bridge at this particular time.

When we got to Mexican Customs, no traffic whatsoever.  The automated light turned green and we were waved through.

Hospital General Acuña...

Stopped at the Gutierrez in town and bought a couple of items namely bananas, papaya and sweet bread.

Last time we were here this Exchange house was abuzz with activity and in the afternoon they even took down the price that they were selling dollars for...no price today either which again means heavy speculation.

A look at rates down Exchange Rate Alley today...

This exchange house in the middle is also a furniture store.
The owner always rounds my purchases to the next dollar so I
am a loyal customer...provided the exchange rate is right :D

This poor man has both legs amputated.  He got around in a makeshift
cart but he has some new wheels now.

Glad I was not in the line going to Mexico this afternoon.

By contrast the line coming back to the U.S. was short.

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.