My first trip to Del Rio, TX - Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila (shops, car)

[TexasRedneck]

Holy chit, M2 - you're absolutely correct!! My apologies folks - and I will be going back to edit my previous, erroneous post! It used to be a state insurance REQUIREMENT that ANY Texas-issued policy HAD to be good within 25 miles of the border, but that's obviously changed, and I danged well failed to check that out before flappin' my gums!

ETA - went back, and for some reason can't edit the post, so I've asked the mods to delete it!

[Drzy]

Thanks, great topic!

How necessary is it to speak Spanish? I started learning recently and know basic words and phrases (from the pictures I recognize words like calle, playa, izquierda), but am nowhere near conversationally fluent.

[roadtripping]

Not necessary to speak Spanish in Acuna - but knowing some basics makes it more fun.

On the car insurance, just call your insurer to make sure you're covered. And then find it in writing on your policy. My insurance company told me it's a good idea to take your policy or at least the declarations (I think that is what is called) page. Now this is just for the border. To drive your vehicle down into the interior is a whole different bag of tricks - haven't done that and don't plan to.....too chicken.

[TexasVines]

I was wrong Acuna is not in NL state

but there is still something about the power and control structure in Acuna that made the area not a big drug shipment point

[Cathy4017]

Boy, talk about bringing back memories. I haven't been there for 30 years or more, but grew up 112 miles to the northwest. We used to drive to Del Rio from our river lease for an outing, and always ate at Ma Crosby's....YUM.

[majormadmax]

I would avoid the border area right now, at least around Laredo; but not for the usual reasons...

Authorities Warn of Possible Disease-Carrying Mosquitos

Health officials in Laredo are now warning people about the possible spread of disease as a result of the severe flooding that hit the city last week. They are asking residents to use mosquito nets when possible because of the vast number of insects that have hatched...

(click on title for full article)

Cheers! M2

[temptation001]

I loved the pictures. I haven't visited Mexico in almost 10 years. The bakery IS awesome. I was one who was surprised as well when I went to a local grocery store and they were selling bakeries for very , very good prices. Great thread.

[roadtripping]

About the street food carts - we never thought we would try them out. But it was late one night and thought, what the heck. We were very pleasantly surprised - inexpensive, clean and tasty. A husband/wife team runs one of them just off the main street - they are most entertaining and accomodating. And they don't close up until 4 am. The street action doesn't really start until around midnight - it's great fun to people watch and just walk around.
We stayed once at the San Jorge - in the winter. It was OK at that time of year but when we checked it out this summer, well, it was pretty dirty and we picked up some not so good vibes. The one time we stayed there, we saw "ladies of the night" being escorted down the hall by their customers toward the rooms at the back. Didn't bother us particularly - but that kind of thing is a one time adventurous experience. But, hey, it's only $25/night and if you stay in Room 101 (front with balcony), you might actually enjoy it.
There's a really cool shop - well, it's a big place about a block off the main street - that has yard (and other) stuff for good prices. Some stores are ripoffs but there are many more where you can actually negotiate and get unique things for cheap.
I think one of the things I like most about Acuna is that they remember you - or they do a dang good job faking it. They're just so happy to see customers! I think that is why we enjoy going to Mexico - and not just the border. The people are generally extremely nice and animated. Not all the glum long faces that I too often see here. A different culture for sure.

[Rasero]

Great post!

I had to go to Ciudad Acuña about two years ago to help out a brother-in-law, had never been there before, and was pleasantly surprised with how different it was from Nuevo Laredo. Very quiet, safe, little city.

I've driven to the heart of Mexico numerous times, and usually have to go through Nuevo Laredo. That time I went through Ciudad Acuña, and drove south through the state of Coahuila all the way down to San Luis Potosi and then Guanajuato. That year I drove down to Guanajuato five times. I always bought Mexican insurance here through Sanjborn's. Got my car permits at the border (you have to have the title, or have the registration (in YOUR name) and a letter from the lienholder authorizing you to take the vehicle into Mexico (SSFCU gave me the letter in a flash). I've traveled to Mexico since I was 16, both via bus and my own vehicle. Guess I'm a lucky gringo (married to a naturalized citizen from Mexico), but I've NEVER had anything happen to me in over 15 years of traveling and living down there. But still, every time I cross into Mexico I do get that nervous feeling, you should always be on your guard. I just stick to the toll roads. Heck, I took my parents down there for the first time in Dec '08, for two weeks, we covered over 2,000 miles, all the way to Colima and Guanajuato, and they had the time of their life. Once you get past the ugly border, and drive towards the interior, it gets a lot better.

[Dopo]

Originally Posted by Drzy

Thanks, great topic!

How necessary is it to speak Spanish? I started learning recently and know basic words and phrases (from the pictures I recognize words like calle, playa, izquierda), but am nowhere near conversationally fluent.

I always say, if you are ever going to visit a country, make sure that you learn the language, because you never know when some s..... is going to happen and you don't want to be the last person to find out what's going on.