Pulling into the parking lot in front of the bridge, I compliment the money-taker girl in the toll booth on her time-piece. It looked like a Nuevo Progreso special. Lots of bling, lots of silver, very impressive. No she got it at Dillards or somewhere. She enjoyed letting me know where she got it. But the fact is you can get some good stuff in Nuevo Progreso. I believe a visit there in a way is more fun than ever. You kind of feel like your sneaking in, putting one over on the man, or the Hombres Grandes Criminales, or whoever the big boys are….Whoever is making the (no pun intended) a killing on the drug war that is killing tens of thousands of Mexicans. That was the number over a few years, now that’s the number in one year. For an estimated 50 billion dollars a year in profits, many people will engage in underhanded and despicable actions. A strange synchronicity is evident here. That number is almost the same as the United States Foreign Aid expenditure for a year! What a co-incidence…Or not…..
Vatos are peacefully fishing with a throw line and a hook on the exposed sandbar on the river. Like I did when I was a kid! The Christ figure below the bridge is looking a bit worse for the weathering that the years have put on him. And he seems more sorrowful as well. Perhaps he is thinking of the long-suffering people of Mexico. I’m sure he feels compassion as well for the clueless Americans who insist on prosecuting the long ago lost war on cannabis and coca leaf.
The Winter Tourists are out, as they should be, in the delightful high 70’s or low 80 degree Rio Grande Valley February weather. But the merchants tell me that it is not as it should be. There should be more. And yes I’ve seen it before during this time of year when it was all asses and elbows and you could barely make progress down the sidewalk. A secret then was to go one block to the west where there was almost no traffic at all. Then you could get to where you were going and get there in a reasonable amount of time.
Oh, the good old days….
Seriously, while we would not recommend a trip to Reynosa or Matamoros if it is not extremely urgent, Nuevo Progreso has been safe for Americans with daytime excursions in mind. There have been, for example, recent grenade attacks in Matamoros. These should be avoided. But in previous reports we have pointed out some of the reasons why NP is relatively safe for visitors. Those reasons still stand. Why exactly certain things happen in Mexico and others don’t isn’t always clear. In fact, a large part of the time explanations are murky. This being said Bienvenidos and y’all come on down!
But stay in the tourist areas
Please
Why Nuevo Progreso May Be One of the Safest Towns on the Mexico-Texas Border
Is it currently (March 2, 2011) safe to enter Nuevo Progreso during the day for dental work or should one pay three or four times to have it done in the U.S.?
Your question is a subjective one, that can only be answered by yourself. There have been no daytime attacks, or nighttime attacks on Tourists for the past couple of years.Lots of Winter Texans still go, but they are all home by dark. Stay close to the tourist areas, and leave early.
I myself go to Nuevo Progreso during the day.
For more insight click the link at the end of this article, and also on the border news button you’ll find a link to a forum with advice from Americans on how to stay safe in Mexico.
To mix Spanish and French; Buena Suerte and Bon Voyage!