Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Big Bend National Park – The Border

The border with Mexico seems more fluid here, literally. At the hot springs, a couple of guys crossed the border by just walking across the river and then back. We saw several boats along the river edge so that people could cross. This guy seems to regularly cross the river on horseback to check on his sales.

Along several of the hikes (in the U.S.) you can see a small collection of trinkets and walking sticks for sale along with a cup to put your money. I guess they are put out by Mexicans like the guy on the horse every morning and brought back in the evening.

  
On one hike we heard the “Singing Mexican”. He stands on the Mexican side of Boquillas Canyon and sings so his music reverberates in the canyon singing America versions of Mexican traditional songs like “La Cucaracha”. He leaves a bowl on the U.S. side for donations. Seems like a lot of work to cross the river twice plus sit in the sun all day waiting for hikers to come along and then sing.

We realized that Rio Grande isn’t really so big. Nothing seemed dangerous on these border crossings. There are border checks as you leave the park so it’s not like someone drives a bus of illegal aliens from the park every day. It seems to work.

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