BOQUILLAS CROSSING....with the Brits

We had only one day....Sunday, the 6th...to enjoy Alison and John's company as they were departing for their return to the UK on the Monday.   So we left Lajitas Resort fairly early and drove one of the main roads through Big Bend National Park to show them the majesty and the remoteness of the area.  Our destination was the Rio Grande Village area in the southeast of the park.  When we arrived we purchased 4 tickets for the row-boat ride across the Rio Grande to the small Mexican village of Boquillas.  The village had fallen on desperate times when after September 11, 2001 the border crossing was closed, putting an end to the tourism  the village needed to survive.   But after several years of hardship the border crossing was opened again, so we planned to go across the river and have a new experience.

This was the first ever visit to Mexico by Pam, Alison and John, which made the crossing even more memorable.   There are two ways across the river: by rowboat operated by the Mexicans or by wading across.   We opted for the boat.

The trip across the river gave us a few minutes to think of how we wanted to get from the river into the village about a mile away.  The choices were riding horses, riding donkeys, riding in a pickup truck and walking.   We chose the horses....a big deal for me as I had never been on a horse before.  So not without some measures of difficulty, we managed to mount our horses and "enjoy" the ride to Boquillas (which means 'little mouth', by the way).

I thought I was quite clever in taking photos of the other three over my shoulder during the ride, but when my horse stumbled and nearly fell, I decided discretion was the better part of valor!

Here John and Pam are quite clear behind me....and you can get just a peek of Alison, behind John.

As it turned out, Alison had the horse which wanted to be in the lead, so here she is out in front for the second half of the ride....she had some nice chats with the Mexican lads who provided her escort!

After checking in with Mexican customs officials, we walked through the village taking note of the gorgeous mountain scenery and the colorful adobe buildings, like this Catholic Church.

We had a wonderful lunch at Falcon's restaurant above, all the while being 'doted upon' by Lillia Falcon and her charming husband, Bernardo.  The food was so good we wanted to stay and order again!!   But after picking up a few souvenirs at the gift shop, it was time for us to turn in our day long visas, mount up and head for the river and the return boat ride to the US.

Here Pam enjoys her ride back to the Rio Grande after a great visit to the village of Boquillas.

John also enjoyed his return ride to the river....note he had on a ball cap for the ride to the village and a Stetson for the ride back to the river....yup, he found himself a nice Texas hat in Mexico.

So, armed with Mexican stamps in our passports and a whole host of special, and fun memories "across the Rio Grande in Boquillas" we walked back through US Customs and  back to the US for our return drive to Lajitas.

After joining John and Alison for a wonderful Monday morning breakfast, sadly, it was time to share many hugs and a near tearful goodbye as they left for Midland, TX and their flights back to England.   We will cherish the memory of their surprise visit to Texas, and the few days of fun and laughter we had with them.  It couldn't have been better.