This is our third year to head down there for our cleaning and checkup.  There is a dentist, right on the border, that is US trained and has all the latest equipment.  The office help speaks English, and the facilities are clean.  Water is purified.

So we had our teeth cleaned and checked.  In my case, cleaning, full set of X-Rays, and a dentist checkup cost $90.  Hey, it’s one way to make that small SS pension work!

On the bridge into Mexico

There are still many poor people in Mexico, looking for a handout

Looking down the main street of Nuevo Progresso

Our dentist office. Yes, you cn get Margaritas in the courtyard and sit under the gazebo to calm those pains

The view from my dentist chair. We're RIGHT on the border, that is the Mexican border crossing you see

Yesterday, we went for a walk in the Birding center.  We were surprised that there were no birds — none at all — in our favorite viewing spot. It soon became obvious why… a Coopers Hawk was sitting high in a tree, looking for a snack.  I got some good pictures of the hawk, before he dove into some brush, and with a lot of squawking and screaming, apparently got himself a meal.  Too bad I couldn’t get any pictures of that!

And today we made a visit to the Butterfly Center.  We didn’t go inside, just took a look around the outside.  Even though this is not the season for butterflies, I got a few pictures.

Sitting pretty and looking for dinner.

Looking pretty fierce!

There is a huge house, which used to be owned by the drug cartel.  I guess this fancy building gave pretty direct access to the USA for those so inclined.  This is now taken over by the Mexican Government, which now patrols this area heavily.

River view of the Cartel house.

Some heavy Mexican guard duty

And this is our side of the border, keeping a watchful eye

This very fancy building is the home of the Mexican water ski team.  This is where they train for international competitions.

Three years ago, a major hurricane caused serious flooding along the Rio Grande.  Evidence of the damage is still very obvious.

Clear evidence of how high the water got

This fancy resort was started but never finished after the flood

This used to be the very Pepe's restaurant and night club

And finally, some of the birds we saw

Until now.  The top step was wet and slick, and my shoe slipped.  So my left leg and entire left side slid down until it was wedged between the ladder and the back of the RV.  Meanwhile, my right leg was sticking out straight in front of me, on top of the motor home.  I had absolutely no leverage to remove myself from this awkward and painful position.

Fortunately, I was able to attract Romola’s attention, and although she tried she did not have the strength to push me up.  Fortunately, a few passersby saw my predicament and together they managed to push me up so I could get out of the ladder space and back on solid ground.

This could have been much worse.  Had I lost my grip, I may have fallen over backwards, essentially leaving me hanging, upside down, from a possibly broken femur or a displaced hip.  I shudder to think of that!  I feel fortunate this ended the way I did; only some serious bruising and pulled muscles.  It could have been much worse!

Next time I will be more careful.  I’ll also added some traction material to the top step!

Didn’t find anything I couldn’t live without, but it is fun to browse, check out the stalls….. and the people.

Lots of "good" stuff

Lots of people camp and work here

Romola did find some good gold chain at decent prices

More "good stuff"

Nothing but high class stuff!

One of the most impressive things we learned is the massive efforts it takes to do space flights.  Even with todays technologies, it takes huge manpower and $$$$ to conduct a space program.  We enjoyed our visit and recommend it to others.  Below are some highlight images.

Some older space vehicles

Many astronauts walked over this platform to enter the module

The mighty engines of the Saturn rocket

A walk in space

A walk on the moon

Moon car

Inside the space station

First handhake between the Russian and American astronauts

A part of the mockup room, where current and future space vehicles are planned and configured

In commemoration of this battle, a monument was built, now open to the public.  It is in the Guinness World Records as the world’s tallest memorial monument.  The monument weighs 70,300,000 pounds. It is 125 feet square at the base, tapering to 30 feet square at the top. It is faced with blocks of cordova shell stone weighing 500 pounds apiece. This shell stone is over 100 million years old and was quarried from Burnet County north of Austin. The shaft walls are 4 feet thick at the base of the monument and 2 feet thick at the top.

The monument contains an inscription, part of which reads:

The Monument is only a few miles from where we are parked, and accessible via a free ferry.  We took the free tour, which has some very interesting historical artifacts.  We plan to go back to view the rest of the Museum, and ride the elevator to the top.

That's our ferry. Small, but efficient!

Part of the Houston Ship Canal, there is lots of boat traffic here

The Reflecting Pool. The battleship "Texas" can be seen in the background

That is one tall monument!

All shots were handheld, most at ISO800.  No captions are included, I figure you can see for yourself.  I also included a picture of a motorcycle parked outside of Wilhoite’s, which made its own light show.

The ringtailed cat is nocturnal and shy, we’re lucky to have seen one.  Actually a member of the raccoon family, this is the State Mammal of Arizona.  Lots of lizards, but also the more rare collared lizard.  Rabbits and squirrels.

Lots of birds.  Cardinals, buzzards (that make the arboretum their home), gila woodpeckers, curved bill thrushes, and many more.  Many varieties of hummingbirds.

Finally the Tarantula Hawk, a feared wasp whose sting is considered the most painful in the world.  And we caught 3 of them eating a large beetle.