Time to start posting about Mexico trip

80 degrees here in La Feria, TX with overcast sky and high humidity

We had thought of our Mexico trip as the "Butterfly Trip", but it turned out to be so much more.  The butterfly part didn't work out for us--the photo at left is from the internet; it was a cool 50 degrees with heavy overcast and the butterflies stayed up in the trees trying to keep warm.

We were at an elevation of 10,782 feet

and it was cool!  We were told that the butterflies come down from the trees (They clump high in the 70' pine trees) when the sun shines and it is warm in the middle of the day.

 There were, seemingly, thousands of these "clumps" of butterflies.

You can see the clumps off in the distance, above.

It was a little over a mile and a quarter from the area where we got tickets to get in to this Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve

CICK HERE

and it was very steep, rocky, then sandy, then deep ditches (at 11,000+ feet elevation) and we could each rent a horse for 100 pesos (about $5.80) each, each way so we did that.  The other 6 in our group walked, then complained the next couple days about their leg cramps, etc.

Phyllis is on her horse here.

I spent a lot of time on a horse as a kid, growing up on the eastern edge of the Sandhills in Nebraska, though had been many years since I was on a horse.

Hadn't realized it, but Patty had never sat on a horse before.  Other than being terrified and hanging on for dear life, she made it fine.  They led the girl's horses while they let me take the reins, though the guy followed right behind (letting the horse pull him up the hill with his tail) most of the time.

Thomas, from Viva Tours, picked us up at our house.  This is Patty & Phyllis with
suitcases ready to go.

Phyllis and I, ready to go at 1:30 pm -- which Thomas (pronounced Toe-mass) arrived right on time.

He drove to San Juan, TX where he picked up another couple who live there and then we drove across the border at the Pharr bridge and directly to the Reynosa Airport in Mexico.

We each had to buy a Visa, for 390 Pesos ( about $23) since we were entering country by land and traveling farther than 20 kilometers into Mexico and staying longer than 72 hours this was necessary.  We carried it all the time, but were never asked for it again after we showed it with our boarding pass.

This is Juan giving us instructions at the Reynosa Airport.  The plane coming in from Monteray was late by over an hour so we spent some time at the airport.  To the right of Juan is Robert and Diane Demeyer from Hartwick, IA and Manuel and Lydia Martenez from San Juan, TX.

This is the Visa

Heading out to board the plane in Reynosa
at 5:58 pm - we had been scheduled to fly out at 4:40 pm.

Waiting for our luggage

in Mexico City at 7:51 pm - we had been 

on the ground for a while.  This is one

big airport.  It serves the metropolitan area

of 22.2 million people--reportedly the

largest metropolitan area in

the western hemisphere.

 These pictures were taken about 10:00 pm as we were ordering our supper a block or so from the hotel after we had put our luggage away.

First group picture, at the El Rincón Tapatío

Taqueria Y Jugueria (Tacos & Juice)

Robert and Diane Demeyer from Hartwick, IA;  Joan Becker from Waterloo, IA; Phyllis & Lynn Miles from Clarinda, IA; Patty Steckelberg from Shenandoah, IA; Lydia and Manuel Martenez from San Juan, TX behind Juan Angel Garcia Gonzolez from Juárez, Mexico

We had buffet breakfast

on Saturday morning at 

the Hotel Metropol

where we were staying.

Lots of fruit and

juices available.

On Saturday morning we headed out

on a tour of the square, or "Zócala in

Mexico City.

Juan explained more

than we could absorb

about all the buildings

and history of the area.

This is  Palacio De Bellas Artes on the square.  We attended the Ballet Folklorico here on the next Wednesday evening when we returned to Mexico City.

This photo was taken by a professional photographer on the Zócola.  Left to right, Lydia and Manuel Martenez, Patty Steckelberg, Phyllis & Lynn Miles, Joan Becker, Diane and Robert Demeyer, with Juan Angel in front holding the flag.

 We took Patty to the Harlingen Airport early Tuesday for her flight back to Kansas City and then drive on north to Shenandoah, IA.  She got home okay, driving in some rain.  They had 1.5 inches of rain here the day before we got back from Mexico.  Have had some bouts with the GI problems you can get in Mexico, but about back up to snuff.

Enough for today.  I will pick this up some time in the near future.
Later, Lynn

Returned from Mexico Trip

71 degrees, overcast in La Feria, TX

We were up at 4:00 am on Thursday to get on a 6:05 am flight from Mexico City to Reynosa, MX.
Had a very good trip and saw a lot of things.  We are a little down today with all three of us having some stomach problems, Montezuma's Revenge, but gaining strength.

Have something between 3,000 and 4,000 photos from the 3 cameras; will be a bit before I can go through them, deleting, editing, labeling, etc., but will get them on this blog and on a website soon.

Later, Lynn

Heading Mexico way!

72 degrees in La Feria, TX  Yesterday was warm - 93 here and McAllen set a record of 97 degrees.  To get to 83 here today.
We will be picked up here at our house at 1:30 pm today by Tour Guide Juan Angel to take us to Reynosa, Mexico where we will fly out at 4:50 pm to Mexico City.  Will return to the airport at Reynosa next Thursday mid-day.  We will be in Reynosa, MX, Mexico City,Teotihuacan, Zitácuaro, Ocampo, Querétaro,, Mexico City and fly back to Reynosa.  Near Ocampo is where the Monarch Butterflies spend the winter and we will get to walk up close to them.

I do not know if will be able to get on computer at any of the hotels, so may not post while we are gone.  We have three cameras and I am taking 5 SD cards so hope to have a lot of photos to post

Made it to March 2016

71 degrees with 17 mph wind blowing and bright and sunny in La Feria, TX.  Forecast to get to 89 today.

Well, took 780 pictures in February that survived the editing and deleting process.

Here is from last night when we were at neighbors Harold and LaRhoda Neher to play Pegs and Jokers with them and Kathy and Bill Connelly.

Kathy Connelly from Tescott, KS (west of Salina) and Harold Neher from Hiawatha, KS (West of St. Joe, MO)

LaRhoda Neher from Hiawatha, KS

and Patty Steckelberg from Shenandoah, IA

Phyllis, Bill Connelly and LaRhoda Neher

Sunday evening, after Ice cream and Announcements, we watch and listened to Southern Anthem

Their web site is CLICK HERE

This is the mother, Wendy.

She had her two boys

and one daughter on stage

with her.  They had two smaller

girls, who were with grandma

and grandpa at the back of the

hall, except when one came

up on stage and sang a song.

Derek, who plays lead guitar, enhances and creates a unique sound for the band. While his voice gives the group their signature three-part harmony, his jokes offer some added comic relief.

Mikaela is the voice that warms the hearts of the audience. Her inspiration and God-given talent leads the band on many of their arrangements. As author on some of their original songs, she displays a natural ability as a songwriter.

Logan, the youngest musician in the band, is full of energy. He loves playing "fiddle", along with mandolin. He's excited about life and you can see it all over his face. Logan’s dynamic personality is innocent and refreshing!

Wendy, heart of the group, plays rhythm guitar and saxophone and sings melody and harmony. She penned most of the originals on their debut album. Her goal is to engage the audience and have them "feel the love".

Don't recall her name, but this
is one of the younger girls who
wasn't a part of the show, but
she came up right after
intermission..
She belted out one song standing
on a chair.

Sunday we ate at the new Golden Corral in Harlingen.  Some of our group didn't make it before 11 am so paid $5 more apiece for their meal!

This is Theresa and Bill Van Oenen from Lowbanks, Ontario, Canada

Patty Steckelberg, from Shenandoah, IA

and Phyllis Miles from Clarinda, IA

Upper right of photo -- Butch Geisking from Titonka, IA and Orville Crane from
Greenville, WI(Southwest of Green Bay, WI)

Linda Crane from Greenville, WI;

LaRhoda and Harold Neher from Hiawatha, KS

Saturday we went over

to Nuevo Progreso, in Tamaulipas, Mexico This 

photo is when we were coming back - this is the end of the line waiting to go through customs on the US side.  We are at the center of the bridge!  In the 7 plus years we have gone over, have never seen it like this.  The cars were also backed up clear across the bridge.

This gal on the motor scooter waved at two girls standing behind us -- they climbed over the short wall and got on with her.  They didn't gain much, though; they were still waiting to get through the car lanes when we got through the walking line.  Took just a little over 35 minutes to get from the end of the line through checking our Passports.

Ate at a restaurant off the main street in

Progreso where we usually stick to.  They group

from Kenwood who had gone in a van over last

week to visit Mabel's Free Clinic ate here.

This photo shows 5 other people from Kenwood

RV Park eating there.  Kathy Connellay had

to wave when she saw my camera.

Restaurant was packed

when a busload of really loud

people came in.

Charly played the keyboard

all the while we were there.

I felt bad I didn't buy one of

his $10 CD's.

Got our pickup back Saturday.  It had been laid up the whole week.  Won't go in to details.  When I was young I learned that if you told friends your troubles, about 80% didn't care one way or the other and the other 20% were glad you were having trouble.......................

Cleaned out some of the aluminum I had stored under the trailer 5 years ago that I got when Dave Engle tore down his carport and took it to salvage yard near Mercedes yesterday, along with some iron pieces I had collected.  Got some more paint to work on the Texas Room - here is photo of the boxing I did around the window by the door into the Texas Room off the landing.  Have to give it another coat of paint and put up some trim.  Got some more wire yesterday to tie the breaker box in to a junction box so can get electricity to some outlets and lights at south end of the Room.

More later, Lynn