Trip to Monterrey & Rio Grande River Tour

Before a couple of our Japanese friends were to go back to Japan after 5 years of their stay in McAllen, we have decided to take them to Monterrey, Mexico, where we used to live for more than 5 years more than a decade ago. They had only been to Reynosa and Progresso, and had limited impressions of Mexico.

After a few hours of easy drive, we had arrived to Monterrey, Mexico.
We had decided to go to San Augstin Mall. After we did a little shopping, we went to eat at an Argentine Restaurant.

Before we had even started to eat, we could not resist thinking about the wide variety of sweets they had had at the restaurant.

Their shrrasco and arrachera were excellent!

The name of the Argentine Restaurant we went is 'El gaucho'.

Thumbs up!

The second day we had decided to drive up to Chipinque Mountain before breakfast.

These slides were here when our children were small. They enjoyed them.

Could not believe that they were still here!

After breakfast we went to carretera, where you can find many Mexican art crafts and food.

These are some Mexican sweets made from sweet potatoes and pumpkins.

When we were living here we never had a traffic to go up to Chipinque.

Now this is how it looks like before the entrance gate.

Oh yes, now they even charge to get into the park.

It used to be free. Time flies.

We had our brunch @ our favorite hotel, Quinta Real.

Pans dulces there are so good.

We also like the fresh juice with Nopales(cactus), Orange, and Pineapple.
We also had their Chilaquiles for the first time, and it was excellent!

A week later we took them to Rio Grande River Tour.

You can see the border patrol boats going by the ferry.




This is how it looks like at the back of our ferry boat.





This is a view of the American side from the ferry.
You can see cozy RV homes. They probably are for Winter Texans.

Mexican people were enjoying water.

As you can tell, Mexican border is not far at all.

This is the far end of our trip.

Rio Grande River has a dam between the U.S. and Mexican border.

People on both sides were enjoying swimming, fishing, riding mortar boats, etc.

It was a peaceful sunny summer afternoon.

Graduation

Last Friday John had graduated from his high school.

As he was a Salutatorian of his class he took part in Pledge of Allegiance and Salutatory Address.
4 years have passed so quickly that I cannot believe he is already graduating and soon be going to college! Well, Christine is already starting her jonior year at college and that is also unbelievable!

His Salutatory Address was dedicated to three people, my husband, whose birthday happened to be the same day, Jim, our friend who passed away just recently of cancer, and his classmate who is fighting against lukeimere.

His speech covered all areas of shool life as well as people who supported the students. He put homorous comments and made every audience laugh and relaxed yet his message was clear and strong.My husband and I both felt so proud of him.

Pleadge of Allegience

Salutatory Address

Righ after receiveing the diplomas they all looked so happy.

After the celemony we finally found John in the crowds!

We hugged each other and cried for joy.