Stopped just west of Del Rio at Seminole Canyon Desert and camped for the night $16. Went through the Museum but did not hike to the picture graphs...saw the replicas instead. Border Patrol everywhere. Here they are dragging tires to smooth out the rocks a little. The dirt road next to the high ways is for the border patrol to cruise. We went through many sets of cameras along the way and check points with the K-9's at work. | Arrived at Big Bend Rio Grande Village Campground staying two nights. Beautiful weather but one of the days it was 97 degrees....yikes.... Went to the Ranger talk about the night sky and light pollution. The rock cliffs were phenomenal and pictures do not come close. The colored cliffs below in the background were Mexico. |
Mexico, Boquillas Del Carmen-Border Crossing
Various parts of their very simple city. A yellow church to the right. The woman in the kitchen making our lunch while we drank Fresca... The Mexicans to the right have crossed the border illegally to sell their souvenirs at one of the look out points just down from the city. Border patrol knows they do it but at times they give them space and leave them alone. | At the border we received the details on how to do this little walking trip into Mexico. First you walk through the woods to the river, Rio Grande. Across the river you will see a welcoming group of Mexicans waiting for your arrival. A man in a row boat will come get you for $5.( up and back) Darn I forgot to take a picture of this. Next, one foot out of the boat 6 kids try sell you bracelets....no surprises here. Did I mention they sing to you as you cross? Very charming....but of coarse a tip jar is waiting...For $5. each you get a donkey and a guide for the day to take you around the city, to lunch, customs and anywhere else you want to go. Our guide Marti was very pleasant and took us everywhere we wanted to go for about 4 hours. We even went to his house. Marti explained the new electric solar system they just got last year. He knew very little English. With this they were able to get refrigerators, running water and television. Below Marti took us to his home property where his adobe home is, his daughters home and his new house his son was making. The son is 24 the video shows him conditioning mud for the adobe bricks he was making. It was 93 degrees that day and it was about 1pm...he was sweating profusely. Excuse the plumbers butt.... Marti is 48, has 5 children and 2 grand children. After the mud bricks are in place, making the walls they are covered with cement to seal them. Hard work has gotten this family a nice start... |