FEB 4, 2015 "Boogey Woogie Shoeshine Boy"

It was time for a day trip.

Early (9 a.m.) after a breakfast taco Glen, Gary, Evelyn, and I went to The Valley.**

**The Valley--McAllen, Mission, Edinburg, Pharr, Alamo, Donna, Weslaco, Harlingen, and Brownsville. 

It's a two hour drive south of Zapata on Highway 83.

The first stop was at the Don/Wes (Donna/Weslaco) Flea Market; open Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.  It took about an hour to do all of the looking we needed.  Our big purchase:  18 pounds of oranges for $5.00, 10 pounds of Rio Red Grapefruit for $3.00.  

Then it was on to the parking lot at the International Bridge crossing the Rio Grande River into Nuevo Progreso Mexico.

This was taken after walking across the bridge into Nuevo (meaning "new) Progresso (Progress).  Nuevo Progreso is a "border town" where the Winter Texans keep the city in business.   

The main street is lined with multiple dentists' offices, souvenir businesses, liquor, boots.  Haircuts are $5. Manicures or pedicures are $10.  Blackmarket moves on DVD are available; faux name-brand purses, silver jewelry, etc, etc.  Lots/many (not us) get dental work done; or eye glasses purchased.  We have been told the dental offices are very modern and up to date.  We have never gone inside any.

Main Street is about 15 blocks long with two blocks on either side of Main.  We stay on Main Street, because anything we want to see or buy is available.

It costs 50-cents to walk across bridge into Mexico; 35-cents and passport to walk across bridge back into US.  

Boogie-woogie Shoeshine Boy

Glen wore his very old and scuffed "engineer" boots, just to have them polished.  "How much?"  $2.00".  plus Glen gave him a dollar tip,  

Glen also bought a pair of NEW engineer boots--$47.00

We ate lunch on the outdoor balcony of "Red Snapper".  We each ordered the same lunch special--fried shrimp, six butterflied, salad, flavored rice, and french fries, all for $9.99.  Rice and French Fries are often served on the same plate in south Texas.

Our drinks were bottled Cokes and "light Coke".  Mexican cokes are better than Coca Cola from the US.  I don't know if it is the sweetener or what, but it definitely has a better flavor.  

After crossing back into the US we started north to Zapata with one stop at a fruit/vegetable market.  I bought one each, huge orange and red bell peppers, and a peeled/sliced fresh pineapple, the sweetest one we have ever had.  It is so-o-o good.