Los Ebanos Ferry

About a 1/2 hour from Reynosa is a small little town called Diaz Ordaz.  It was a few years ago the first time I went there and I was impressed.  It's small but close enough to Reynosa if you want to do some real shopping.  It is a quiet little town that seems to escape most of the heat from the border wars.  I love the seafood restaurant just off the main drag. Another little hidden treasure nearby is the hand-drawn ferry across the Rio Grande.  Up to three cars fit on the floating pontoon and, as you can see by the photos, it is pulled across by hand.  You can even help pull it if you feel the need for exercise.  The bad... it closes at 3:00 PM whether or not you are still waiting in line to cross.  Too bad, so sad.

Across on the Texas side is an old general store that appears as if it hasn't been open in a while.  The sign on the window says "Pot Drinks."  I wonder what they were serving there? 

The Seedier Side of Life in Mexico

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You're never too old too learn something new.  I went to Monterrey last weekend to meet a couple friends and have some fun.  They were in Monterrey because their stepfather went there for heart surgery.  They are not familiar with Monterrey just like me.  So we were searching around the bus station to find a fun bar, kick back and have a few beers.  After poking our head in a few doors, we settled on one that had a live cumbia band.  Cool.  I dressed up for the occasion.  I was wearing black dress pants, blue dressy shirt and my high heels... all of 2.5 inches.  I am somewhat tall for an American at 5'7" but that's giganormous for a Mexican.  Well, let me tell you I was severely underdressed compared to the rest of the women in the bar.  Or should I say I was overdressed?  I mean these girls barely had anything on at all.  Their dresses were so short they kept yanking and pulling them back down to cover their underpanties. It was amusing to watch the routine.  Dance, twirl, yank.  

And there were a lot of them dressed just like this.  Most were thin or at least reasonable.  A couple were just plain fat.  Then I noticed the men.  Some were young, but there were quite a few older men slobbering over these women.  I kept thinking, "Why on earth would a young woman wearing a slutty dress with 5-inch spiked heels want an old man with a huge panza hanging on them?"  

And then Carlos enlightened me.  They were working girls.  The club hires them and addition to their salary, the men pay 10 pesos a dance and buy the drinks for the girls.  So let me get this straight????  These girls get all dudded up, get paid to dance, drink free, and they don't even have to serve the drinks?  You mean to tell me all the time I went club hopping in the USA during my youth and danced with the men for free?  Geez!  I should have been charging a dollar a dance.  I could be rich now. 

P.S. Jumping for joy, jumping for joy! I got a new boiler yesterday. It's been 24 hours and it is still lit and the water is still warm

That Was FUN!

My sons and one significant other finally came to visit their ol' mom in Reynosa.  On the second night here we had a barbecue party complete with a live band.  Judging by the mess I cleaned up the morning after, a good time was had by all.   Even the 'gun' incident didn't spoil the good time.  The drummer ran an errand and when he parked in front of the house, another car pulled up with a group of gangsters and they put a gun to his head. Apparently they were satisfied he was just an inebriated party boy and nothing happened and the party went on. I'm going to paraphrase a favorite line of my friend Lindy... I couldn't make this shit up if I tried.

Since Reynosa isn't exactly a party town without guns, we decided to get out of this shithole.  Sorry for the bad language which I don't normally use, but I just can't come up with a more appropriate word for this town right now. We hopped an Omnibus and headed for Mexico City.  As soon as we landed at the north bus station, we hopped another bus and went to the pyramids in Teotihuacan.  Here's the evidence that we made it to the top of the sun pyramid.  Yes, I made it to the top too. Someone had to take the photo.

Back in Mexico City, I met a fellow blogger Jessica and her beautiful family.  We ate at a local tianguis and the food was awesome.  Then we rented a car and took off for Acapulco.  Acapulco is expensive.  Acapulco is FUN.  We found an expensive but very nice hotel called Costa Azul.  It is about 6 blocks off the beach.  I'd hate to see what the hotels on the beach cost.   After an afternoon of sun, beach, waves, and beer, we went back to the hotel to clean up and find the night life.  We met the best taxi driver in Acapulco named Alex and he took us to Carlos & Charlie's, an excellent choice.  Not cheap, but it sure was FUN.  The waiters like to mess with the customers and they like to dance for your entertainment.  They like to make YOU dance for their entertainment.  And the clown who will make body parts and appendages for you was hilarious.  I can't wait to save up and go to Acapulco again.  Alex, will you be my driver again?  You are the best!

We drove (or should I say snailed) our way back to Mexico City again.  Apparently all the Chilangos went to Acapulco for the weekend and the traffic was bumper-to-bumper on the way back.  We got back late, had dinner with Jessica and Guillermo and then took off via the Metro to the bus station.  And here we are back in nasty Reynosa where the gun battles continue daily.  Apparently the police are afraid of any buses coming to Reynosa because we were stopped and checked our bus several times.  The last federal policeman that entered our bus was very grumpy.  I guess I wouldn't be too pleasant if I walked in his shoes.

The kids leave tomorrow.  They had a great time.  I had a great time.  I am going to miss them. I already miss Acapulco.