SUPRISE - A Month in the Valley

Here we are again - Snow to Sun RV Park in Weslaco, TX. This was our winter home for three months in 2008-2009. Although, when we set out on our return to California, we had no plan for a stop-over here, we're  excited at the prospect of visiting our many friends who make this area their annual residence during the cold weather months.

On our drive from south Texas (Houston) to really south Texas (the Valley, a 400-mile trip) we stopped over in Goliad. This small town was the site of a critically important event in Texas' fight for independence from Mexico in the 1830's. A massacre of over 300 prisoners by Mexican troops after their surrender to overwhelming odds in a battle a few days earlier fueled the determination of the "rebels" under the leadership of Sam Houston. A month later, after defeats at the Alamo and this one near Goliad, Houston led a force at San Jacinto (near present-day Houston) which routed the Mexicans under General (and President) Santa Anna, which resulted in Texas independence. This beautiful mission (built in the mid 1700's) is the site of Goliad State Park where we overnighted. The site of the massacre (the La Bahia presidio) is about a half-mile south.



Things are setting up nicely for putting this sinus surgery in the rearview mirror. (See previous post.) Got a great deal on a monthly rate at our old park (from Nov 10 to Dec 10,) and found an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) doctor who could see me on day 2 of our stay. He agreed with the Houston-area doc about the need for roto-rootering my sinuses (was there ever any doubt??) and correcting a deviated septum I have been living with for years. Got the surgery set up for the day before Thanksgiving, and with that task done, it's time to party!!

Friends Bill and Josie are already here, and on Day 3, we head down with them to Progreso, Mexico, the border town seven miles south of the park. Much has been written lately about the safety of travel to these towns and cities along our border with Mexico, and there are some like Ciudad Juarez and Reynosa and Nogales and Tijuana that we avoid, but others like here in Progreso and in Algodones (near Yuma) that we still look forward to visiting. We use common sense in our behavior and feel as safe as we do on any American street. (We are careful not to find fault with those who stay clear - even of the Rio Grande Valley at all. It's a matter of personal comfort with the potential for dangerous situations.) We can see the effect that the drug wars are having on the local merchants, especially on the south side of the river. But even in the Texas towns, the winter population has been effected by continuing violence.

But for us, (this pic is from a second trip with more friends Bob and Georgine,) it's still fun to shop and restaurant/bar-hop in Progreso. The people are warm and friendly and welcoming. The streets and buildings are clean, and everyone is happy to see us. And the prices for booze and meds and dental and optical work are the real bargains. We target-shop some clothing and glassware items, but normally refrain from the goo-gaws and pirated DVDs. As you can see, we eat, drink, and are merry.