Border travel....Mexico.

[Xfuzz]

Near 25 years ago, couple times a year we would
head down to the Progreso International bridge park
on the Texas side cross over on foot and hit the
little border town of Progreso, Mexico.

I would shop for 1911 grips, leather etc..

Walk down a few blocks to a great restaurant (Arturos's) and
have lunch or dinner.
Then walk up the other side to the street back to the bridge.
Fun times.

Don't think I would do that today.

Americans traveling between Mexico, US see vacations turn into nightmares at the border | Fox News

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

In the 70's and 80's we went to Brownville, in the winter. The cross over into H. Matimores (sp) a do shopping. The Holiday Inn were cheaper and cleaner on the Mexican side of the river!

In the center of town was a market, that was probably 4 blocks square, we never went in deeper than 100- 150 feet, so we could always see the exit to the street! I bought holsters, wood and stone carvings, booze, silver belt buckles and jewelry. The Peso were 8 to 12 to the dollar. On the street East of the market was Maria's Tortilla Factory. and next to that was a bakery. We would buy 2 or 3 shopping bags of bread and pastries for $1.25, That was one and one quarter Pesos. We always paid One and one quarter Dollars, we were always welcome when we walked in the door! The food was delicious, but really stretched the waistline!

Then there was further into town, Garcia G. Garcia's Emporium. That was the place to buy all manner of legal and illegal trade goods. We bought Mexican Gold coins. Illegal as all get out for non-Mexicans to own! But we paid fair dollars and were treated fair (and not reported to the Federales!), US customs didn't seem to care as long as stuff was legal in the US! I never thought to try for some vintage handguns!

When I was a senior in High School, there was a red headed kid in my second year Spanish Class. In the 80's He tried his hand at buying things in the same area and bringing them home. US customs took offense and gave him several years of government housing! My Spanish speaking days are well behind me, but I do miss the markets!

Ivan

 

[Rudi]

A very dangerous part of the world now.

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

Was just in Los Alcondones in Baja a few weeks ago. Very commercialized and they annoy the **** out of you for dental work or eye doctors...interesting to go every now and then.

Lots of Americans go there for dental or eye care as it's much cheaper than here...plus meds are generally far cheaper as well. You can get great deals on "Rolex" watches too!

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Way back was stationed in Harlingen.
Crossed every place down there possible.
We would go to that Nuevo Progreso restaurant where you ordered your main courses and the sides came family style in big bowls.
Only time that I ever had Frog Legs in a cafe.
Those Bony Mexican Bovines had Such small Fillets that an order was two - Twin Tornadoes.
Ah the Good Old Days!
I haven’t crossed the last 2-3 times I’ve been right on the border.

 

[Rustyt1953]

One of the perks of not having disposable income is not worrying about travel to questionable places.

 

[PALADIN85020]

We lived in El Paso for a number of years and used to enjoy going over the border to eat in the nice restaurants in Ciudad Juarez and do some shopping. You could also get inexpensive prescription drugs there. No more. The Mexican drug lords are in total control, and you would take your life in your hands going to that formerly nice country.

John

 

[Tom S.]

I have as much desire to travel to Mexico as I do to have a root canal done without Novocain.

 

[DWalt]

Anyone crossing the southern border at present should have a very compelling reason.

 

[LVSteve]

Border always looks fine to me from 35k feet.

 

[LVSteve]

Near 25 years ago, couple times a year we would
head down to the Progreso International bridge park
on the Texas side cross over on foot and hit the
little border town of Progreso, Mexico.

I would shop for 1911 grips, leather etc..

Walk down a few blocks to a great restaurant (Arturos's) and
have lunch or dinner.
Then walk up the other side to the street back to the bridge.
Fun times.

Don't think I would do that today.

Americans traveling between Mexico, US see vacations turn into nightmares at the border | Fox News

That article is so poorly written that it's not clear to me which side of the border these "wrong lane" arrests are taking place. As for the gun thing, I have limited sympathy. You can argue all you want "I have a gun for my protection" etc, it's not a thing down there and in many other places in the world.

It's not just Mexico, either. Coworker loaned his truck to his daughter for a trip into Canada. At the border, the Canadian Border Patrol found a spent case. They came close to dismantling the truck suspecting gun smuggling. I think they were also PO'd by the fact that US LE at the border appeared to be no help on supplying information on the truck owner. That was likely fallout from his job. Close enquiries are unwelcome.

 

[DWalt]

Near 25 years ago, couple times a year we would
head down to the Progreso International bridge park
on the Texas side cross over on foot and hit the
little border town of Progreso, Mexico

Don't think I would do that today.

Nuevo Progreso (Mexico) was at one time a major destination for Gringos needing dental work. There were dozens of cheap dental clinics there. A big attraction for snowbirds having bad teeth wintering in the lower Rio Grande valley. No idea if that is still the situation. From what I have heard, Mexican dentists do good work at about one-third of US prices.

 

[eb07]

I go right into the heart of cartel country in Badiraguato municipality Sinaloa and I feel safer than I have in border towns on the Arizona and California border. I've also been treated better and had way better experiences with way better people than the border towns. The only time I deal with a border town is when I cross over the bridge into the Tijuana airport to fly. I don't bother with them anymore.

 

[Rustyt1953]

That article is so poorly written that it's not clear to me which side of the border these "wrong lane" arrests are taking place.

I don't frequent FNC as often as I used to but it appears that they still get their editors from yard sales.

 

[Farmer17]

In college every spring break we drove in convoys from Stillwater, OK 15 hours to Padre Island Texas, cramming 6 or 7 people in each car and then we would hang out on the beach with 20,000 co-eds in bikinis. It was a blast and never seeing the ocean before, I thought it was like Hawaii. We would group up with the girls and walk over into Matomors and buy ponchos, sombreros, switchblades, and some Tequila with the worm in the bottom. We had some wild times and never a bad experience but we were young and lucky.

 

[twodog max]

In the early 2000's we did several cruises with stops in Mexico, Honduras and Belize. Even then tourists were strongly warned about straying away from recommended areas. My son former FIL was mugged for his not listening. The military presence in popular tourist areas like Cozumel and Cancun was very noticeable. We did an excursion at one stop and the local guides told us we had nothing to worry about as they were Mexican mafia. We thought it was funny. By days end everyone was fully convinced they were not joking.
We will not be going back.

 

[biku324]

It's easy to get in the wrong lane at the Paisano Bridge along I-10 in El Paso. However, even drifting across the white line at the top of the bridge means the Mexican Customs folks at the end of the bridge will simply arrest you if you have 1 stinking round of any ammunition. Period. Been that way for at least 30 years.

 

[DWalt]

In the early 2000's we did several cruises with stops in Mexico, Honduras and Belize. Even then tourists were strongly warned about straying away from recommended areas. My son former FIL was mugged for his not listening. The military presence in popular tourist areas like Cozumel and Cancun was very noticeable. We did an excursion at one stop and the local guides told us we had nothing to worry about as they were Mexican mafia. We thought it was funny. By days end everyone was fully convinced they were not joking.
We will not be going back.

My wife just returned from such a cruise on Sunday. She went with some of her lady friends. At Cozumel they were cautioned to not wander off outside the tourist area which was close to where the cruise ship was docked.

 

[ladder13]

I just returned from having some dental work.