January 21, 2017. Homeowners again!

CAMPGROUND:  Another free night at Retama Village

LOCATION:  Mission, Texas in the Rio Grande Valley

WEATHER:  Unseasonally hot.  Highs 100s!  

First thing this morning, we met with Bill, the sales agent here.  We decided to go for it!  We selected our lot, signed the contract and made appointments to see the interior designer.  Wow!  What a whirwind!  We hope we made the right decision.

 

To celebrate, we drove to Progreso, Mexico for lunch.  There are several other border towns closer, but apparently Progreso is the safest.  We parked the car and walked across the border.  We walked on a bridge over the Rio  Grande

  There were lots of gringos crossing over to shop.

As we continued on the bridge walkway and after crossing the river, the hands started coming out of the gate begging for money.

It was sad and creepy.  

As soon as we walked through Mexico immigration, the noise of vendors assaulted us.  There are hundreds of dentist offices, pharmacies and beauty shops with hawkers outside encouraging you to come inside for "cheap root canals" or viagra or pedicures.  We stopped for a margarita in one bar.  Unlike Naco, Mexico where we had walked across last week, this is totally geared to American tourists.  Everyone speaks English and every transaction is made in USD.  

It is very chaotic, but fun, too.  

We found a quiet place for lunch.  We shared a plate of grilled mahi mahi served with mashed potatoes and rice.  Tons of food!  Then, back through the shopping area to the border.  This guy tried to get George in to the pharmacy.

When we got back to the car, the thermometer read 112 degrees!  After we started the car, it went down a bit!  

 

Back at the "village", we went to the swimming pool to cool off.  

 

George always complains that I nag him about making sure he has the keys before locking the Airstream door.  He says he will put on my tombstone...."George, do you have the keys?"  Well, this afternoon, I went to the pool first.  I was not at the camper  to "nag" him and sure enough, he locked the keys in the camper.  He tried for about an hour to break in.  Then, a kind neighbor came over with some tools and worked on the lock for another hour.  By this time, it was getting dark.  We finally called a locksmith who opened it up for us.  We definitely need a better system, to hide a second set of keys.  

 

DINNER:  I made a hamburger/rice mix using one of the leftover hamburgers that George grilled the other night.  I stuffed bell peppers with the mix and melted some cheese on top.  Pretty tasty, and easy after a late evening waiting to get into the camper!