I have never been to Mexico before or even south Texas so the whole trip is an adventure. I've always wanted to go to Mexico since I love the culture and music and dance and language and the arts of Mexico. Will I love the reality of Mexico? Qien sabe?
I arrived in Harlingen on a sunny Sunday evening and made my way from the baggage claim to the rental car kiosk and out to the Ford Focus I managed to talk the clerk into letting me have. Man was it hot! Not the car, the temperature.... about 80 degrees. I was sweating like a pig by the time I got my luggage in the trunk and settled in the driver's seat and cranked up the AC.
The trip to Weslaco from Harlingen (pronounced har'-lin-jen) took about 30 minutes and I found the hotel located just off Hwy 83 and International Blvd.
America's Best? What a dump! No kidding. The whole place was really in poor repair and the pool water was green, seriously. I decided to go ahead and stay there this time but vowed to find another place next trip.
I checked in and put my stuff in my room and then called Miss Bea, Dr. Durzzo's assistant. She had asked me to call her when I got to my hotel offering to come pick me up and for a show and tell trip across the border. I really appreciated her doing this so I would feel more comfortable crossing by myself the next day for my first appointment. Wow! I've never had a dentist's staff do that before...
We drove south down International Blvd to the small parking lot on the US side of the International Bridge at Nuevo Progresso where we left her suv and paid our $2 for parking in the guarded lot.
We walked the short distance to the border crossing where she showed me how to put my quarter in the turnstyle and walk over the border. The walk over the bridge was pleasant and we were joined by a dozen or so other Americans going over. I stopped to look at the Rio Grande since I'd never seen it before. It's a pretty river, kind of lazy and winding along banks of green plant life (what a change from Amarillo with no water or trees).
We walked the one block to Dr. Durzzo's office which is upstairs in the "Arturo's Plaza" building on the west side of the main drag through Nuevo Progresso. It's the big turquoise two story building on the first corner after you get into the village. Literally five minutes from parking lot to Dentist office. Sweet.
She introduced me to the receptionist cum assistant Daisy who told me she had scheduled my first appointment for 10am Monday morning. Then Bea and I went to one of the most popular restaurants in Nuevo, "Arturo's," which is located on the east side of the main drag.
The meal at Arturo's was divine and the service unbelievable. The waiters were dressed in crisp white shirts and bow ties and even though we were eating enchiladas and salad it was truly a fine dining experience. Yum. I decided to eat well since I was looking at a few root canals and some surgery the next day. I figured I'd be drinking my meals after that for a couple of days.
After our meal we walked back across the bridge to the parking lot. I felt perfectly secure in my path for the following day thanks to Bea showing me the ropes about crossing into Old Mexico.
Rating for my first day in Mexico: definitely a 9 or 10. More later about my first day in the dental chair and meeting Dr. Durzzo.
Hasta Luego!
~Kyt
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