Yesterday afternoon, we took our first trip to Mexico this season.  We have  been avoiding it because of fear of border violence.  Nuevo Progreso, however, has been relatively free of the mayhem plaguing other border cities in Mexico.  Tourists from the U.S. have been visiting, although in much smaller numbers than in years past, without incident so we decided to buck our fear and go.

It turned out to be a fun trip, if only for the people watching, but we also had a great lunch and bought some inexpensive prescription drugs.

Regarding the people watching, beggars are everywhere, beginning at the bridge on the Mexican side of the border.  This woman holding out her cap at the foot of the bridge is one of many people shouting a stream of Spanish to get our attention and cash.

This little girl caught our attention where the bridge begins to descend into Nuevo Progreso.  I pushed the camera into an opening of the bridge sidewall to get her picture.  It was difficult not to toss her a few coins just because she is so cute.  We have been discouraged from donating because many of the beggars apparently make a  decent living from panhandling and are not  nearly so poverty stricken as they appear.

Pedaling chiclets makes panhandling legal apparently. Vicki did give him a dollar, but declined the chiclets (she simply can't resist cute).

The next stand-out group a visitor encounters is the Mexican Army.  The amphibious vehicle is armed with what appears to be a 40mm grenade launcher.  I wouldn't want to be a bystander when those things start flying.

Guards standing near their sandbagged defensive position at the first cross-street in town.  Interestingly, the Army's presence begins and ends right at the border.  Farther into town there are no soldiers to be seen.

Vendors and a tourist on the main street.  Two years ago there were so many tourists it was difficult to walk along this sidewalk.

A large percentage of the town's business consists of pharmacies and dentists catering to U.S. tourists.  There are also a few very good restaurants.

This woman was panhandling  with a baby who began crying when I looked at her.  It's difficult to tell whether the woman is the mother, grandmother or not related at all.  Many of the female beggars have babies or little children with them.

After I waved and smiled, the little girl became my BFF.  Even with her beautiful smile, cold hearted meanie that I am, she didn't get a donation either.

By the way, that's my knee she's holding on to.

We had intended to have lunch at Angels, but, upon arrival, the Maitre'D held a sign announcing that they were "Temporarily not taking credit cards."  I don't particularily like washing dishes, especially in third world countries, so we moved on.

Nonetheless, Angels has been one of our favorite restaurants in Nuevo Progreso.

We also passed up the Arizona Restaurant, another popular eatery, not far from the bridge.

After stopping at the "Almost Free" Pharmacy, we met our friends Gail and Jim for lunch at the Old Town Restaurant & Bar.

When he saw my camera, Jesus quickly posed with Gail.

We chose to sit in the outdoor cafe next to the sidewalk where we could people watch.

Heri, pronounced like Eddy, when the "r" is rolled in Spanish, takes a short break while leaning against a stack of hooked rugs being sold by a sidewalk vendor just  outside the restaurant.  Heri is another of the waiters at the Old Town Restaurant and Bar.

We first encountered this little guy on the other side of the street right after we  crossed the bridge. I presumed that the admiring woman in the background is his mother.

The basket vendor was one of the more colorful characters who passed by. Others were selling jewelry, sun screens for car and truck windows, and refrigerator magnets. 

We are now  the proud owners of three, very attractive  magnets  (Vicki has no sales resistance after a couple Margaritas).

A pedal cart vendor rides down the street across from the Old Town.  We have seen similar carts in  Reynosa, Cancun and Juarez.  This guy was selling some sort of fruit concoction.

After I had an adequate quantity of the almost mandatory Margaritas, Jesus served this beautiflul Shrimp and veggie barbecue.  The shrimp was a little overcooked, but still very tasty.

After lunch, it was back toward the border, past the Army, it was time for shift-change...

...and again, past the beggars under the bridge.

We have heard stories about the old woman who, after a day of panhandling, shuffles off to a parking lot, rips off her tattered shawl, jumps into a shiney new Caddilac and drives across the border to her very nice home in the U.S. Who knows for sure whether they need  financial help or perhaps they are making a comfortable living plying on the gullability of tourists who have a little loose change in their pockets?

As usual our visit across the border was a very pleasant experience and I wouldn't discourage anyone from visiting Nuevo Progreso.