Saving money in Nuevo Progreso 12/7

12/7 Friday and D-Day Many years ago I was visiting Pearl Harbor on this day. I hope it is as emotional today as it was about 30+ years ago. I am afraid that so many of the members of the Navy that were there back then have gone on to their final reward. I am afraid our nation, the one that seems to forget the history of this country, likely still celebrates the day but less the fervor it had when I was there.

With plans to head to Florida for Christmas, we made a run to Nuevo Progreso to get a little Kahula to carry with us. When we were there last week we found the bottle sold in the US for about $36.99 sells there for 7.80. With out of state licenses, we were able to get 4 bottles each. We did have to pay federal and state taxes of $19, but even with all expenses like tolls, parking, gasoline, we still saved over $220 vs. the same thing here in Texas. Likely we will need to make another run or so to stockpile some of the expensive stuff. Progreso is not a bad place to visit and the second time across is far less worrisome than the first time.

The trip was almost uneventful had it not been for a tanker driver who decided he owned the road and wanted to go faster than the rest of the traffic. To do this, he just pulled into the opposing lane and began to pass everyone and everything. Fortunately the road had a very wide shoulder so opposing traffic could jump onto the shoulder while the traffic he was passing was also heading for their shoulder. Unfortunately there were no police anywhere around. We did see a local slick top on the way home at a fire. He looked like a normal tan car until he turned on his lights. It has been a long time since I saw a police car that had more lights than this one. The side of his car was marked, but by the time you saw the markings, you had already seen his lights and you were so busted.

12-4 It is cold in Mission, Texas and other stuff

12/4 Tuesday We arose to some cold temperatures after having pulled the covers up to our noses in the early hours. At 7 the temp was 49, then 2 hours later it was down to 47 with NOAA showing the official temp at 44. Checking around I felt warmer as Houston and northern Florida are 39. Looking at the New York City area, there high through the weekend will not even get close to our current low temperature.

Thinking back a few days ago when we went to Nuevo Progresso, Mexico, I forgot to mention our experience coming through the border checkpoint into Texas. There was only guard for the walking traffic, thus there was a line. They had widows so you could watch the cars going through. They had a dog that was checking every vehicle. He suddenly acted a bit different on one car. The guards were opening the trunk and the dog walked away a few feet, then turned and jumped into the trunk – busted. The car was moved to another area for a more intense inspection. Meantime the Border Patrol stopped a car that had over $1M in marijuana so there are individuals that are attempting to smuggle drugs into the US. In the case of this driver, he took off and dove into the Rio Grande and swam back to Mexico. Meantime the drugs belonged to the Border Patrol.