Big Bend Part 3.

  This picture didn’t make the cut last time.  This is inside of the Chisos mountains.  I’m trying to show pics of the trees better.  If it was spring or fall it would be more obvious where the aspens were.

   Today’s post is going to be about our little trip into Boquillas, Mexico.  Welcome!

To go to Mexico one must stop at the border patrol on the USA side and tell them your intent.  They will answer questions about what you can buy and bring back legally.  They remind you to bring your passport.  I said we were going over to have lunch, that’s what we heard people do.  The border patrol person said, “That’s a great thing to do!”

When you go out the back door this metal sign greets you.  Notice the two yucca plants on either side.  Plus a row boat, burros, and music notes.  The music notes must stand for the Singing Jesus.

There is a short walk down to the river where the International Rio Grande River Ferry is ready to take you across.  What that is, is a man in a row boat.  $5.ooa person to go across, get a ticket for the return journey back.  I don’t know why we got the ticket because there really isn’t any other way to go across but by the rowboat.  I doubt that on that day anyone would be illegally swimming across somewhere down the river and expect a free ride back.  Maybe in the spring when all the Texans on Spring Break are there.  That day there were maybe 10 tourists.  Pics later.

Here’s Richard walking towards the water.

Arriving at Boquillas is first a station with burros and men.  Richard hired one to take us on burros into the town.  To ride a burro was $10.00 a person.  The guide didn’t ride, but moved the animals along walking behind.  Richard’s always wanted to be in the lead.  Whenever mine wanted to go ahead his would block the way.  Pretty funny. The guide spoke little English, and I speak no Spanish.  Instant culture change.  The guide stayed with us all through the town and pointed out a few interesting buildings to us like the restaurant, school, and a church.

I didn’t take as many pictures as I wanted to because I didn’t know protocol or cultural expectations.  I didn’t want to embarrass myself by doing the wrong thing.  I did ask to take pictures of the inside of the church.

   He did point out the school to us, but we weren’t close enough for pictures.  Most buildings and cars were pretty run down.  Tourism is the only money maker in this small town.  Seemed to be under 100 population.  The restaurant was definitely for the tourists.  Our guide led us right up to his house where his wife had a table of souvenirs to purchase.  I bought this.

His daughter had brought it out to add to the collection.  I liked it because the cactus was different from the others.  I also purchased a small embroidered picture of a blue bird.  I can’t find it at the moment.  Things get stashed in boxes back inside cupboards and forgotten in this RV.  I’m going to hang it in my house in Fairbanks.  That’s their living.  Sodas and snacks were painted on the outside of their house.  They sell trinkets.  I paid $20.00 for both.  We paid the guide $20.00 in tips.  We don’t know if he owns the burros, but tourists are the source of income.  The nearest Mexican town is 4 hours away.  There were several houses selling the same items in town.  He pointed out his mom.  I looked at her wares and complimented her.  She didn’t speak English.  I didn’t have any more money.

Next stop, Jose Falcon’s, the restaurant.

These pictures were from the back of the restaurant.  It was kind of hole in the wall, but probably fancy for the village.

I’m standing on the deck you see above to get the picture of the river.

Food was so-so.  Soda was good.

I’m not sure what this is a license to.

Prey cool mosaic flooring outside.

Richard said this is the second selfie he’s ever done.

This is the shelter for the burros.

World class international ferry system.

We were returned we were greeted by border patrol.  To allow us back in the country we had to put our passports into a machine picture side down.  The look at a camera.  A phone rings.  One the other end is a random agent somewhere checking you out.  The live guy there wasn’t good enough?  We cleared.  

Big Bend boasts of a natural hot springs .  I decided to drive there, and Richard walked the 3 miles.

It was no Chena Hot Springs!

This was discovered in the early 1900’s.  The person who settled here was recovering from TB.  He found the springs quite healing.  So he made a resort.  The buildings left behind are pretty nice.  

The path to the springs leads along this awesome cliff.

It was a very cold, windy day.  I didn’t wear my suit like everyone else there, but I did put my feet in.

This is about the size of it.  It runs into the Rio Grande.

This ends part 3.  The next blog post will be about a walk I took looking for birds.