Puente Internacional

It takes about 10 miles and 15 minutes to cross the Rio Grande River and be in Reynosa, Mexico from where we live. Going to Mexico is fast. It takes about 10 miles and a minimum of one hour to cross the Rio Grande River and be back in Texas. Crossing the bridge back into the US is slow.

We pay the toll on the Mexican side of the bridge, 24 pesos or $2 and immediately choose a lane. My husband swears the far right lane moves the most quickly, because at the other side of the bridge, the lanes fan out and traffic disperses more efficiently. I like the right lane because we can see over the bridge. On a Sunday afternoon, traffic moves at a slow crawl, if at all.

There is a sign on the bridge that says in Spanish and in English,
No Loitering

Sale or Purchase of Items is Prohibited

Penalties/Fines
No Pedestrian Traffic Allowed

That sign makes me laugh.

We haven't finished paying the toll before the first guy wants to wash our windshield. Before we cross the bridge we will be asked to

have our windshield and windows washed,

and have the car buffed.

We will have the opportunity to buy

chicharrones (fried pork rinds),

sunscreens for the windows,

water,

jewelry,

popsicles,
stuffed dolls,
garden statues,

pumpkin seeds and peanuts,

cell phone holders,

fresh fruit cups,

hammocks,

crucifixes,

hats,

candy and gum,

Mary statues,

bread,

and Smurf dolls.

And a blind man led by a lady,

two different men with only one leg,

a man in a wheelchair,

and a lady with a baby

will have asked us for money.

I smiled at one man, and he relentlessly followed us, convinced we needed him to wash our windows.

We leave the windows up, or the products come in. We shake our head "no" incessantly.

And we inch our way back to the crossing and back into the US.