So after the first day, I knew there was no way I was going to get to South Padre Island...AND Galveston...in a mere three days, and just decided on South Padre. So, on the way there, I saw this and wondered, "WTF is going on here?? Is the world coming to an end? Armageddon??"
Suddenly, this wet stuff came out of the sky and I was more confused than ever! Then, from the dark recesses of my memory, I remembered something...something I think they refer to as "R-A-I-N??" I also had to remember how to turn on the windshield wipers because it's been so freaking long. Rain...what a welcome thing. I didn't even mind driving in it because it was so refreshing.
About 350 miles later, I arrived at the island. This is a picture taken while I was crossing the bridge. The water definitely has a bluer...blue-er...more blue (whatever) hue to it than Corpus Christi or Galveston...but not the turquoise of Isla.
I don't know the history of South Padre, but everything looks pretty new. So it has places like this which I'm not crazy about but I guess it caters to certain types of tourists...
And this... I think that "S" from "Souvenirs" must have fallen behind that huge shell and no one can find it. They'll probably have to order a new one.
I didn't have a reservation anywhere and figured I'd have to stay somewhere out of town because of the Labor Day crowds. However, every hotel I checked had vacancies which was kind of surprising, so I shopped around. In the picture below, guess which one I decided on?
Yep...the little guy second from the right. And what a good choice! It was a really cute place. Here's the living area...
Kitchen...which is in the living area...
Dining area...which is also in the living area...
A little separate bedroom area...
Opposite view...
A tiny bathroom with no counter space, but still cute...
Anyway, I think it was way nicer than a non-descript hotel room and could definitely spend a very comfortable week here if I ever decided to come back. And, despite the safety issues, I personally prefer places that still use these...
...as opposed to the new keyed cards.There are no separate balconies, but this is the view from the balcony that runs in front of all the rooms.
Here's a view down one way of the beach...
And the other way...
I did notice that most of the places along the beach are condos...not hotels. A lot of the hotels run along the middle of the island so that it's a walk to the beach.Like I said, the water is not turquoise, but it's definitely blue...just darker. It's very clear and clean...and the temperature is comfortable. A little cool to start out with, but you get used to it very quickly.
They keep the beach very clean. The sand is VERY soft...not white, but a light tan which turns very brown when it's wet. I would never swim in the water of Corpus Christi...would maybe venture in at Galveston...but felt very comfortable going in the water at South Padre.
Toes in the sand...
Walking down the beach, I was able to catch this lucky fisherman...
The next morning, I ordered the Migas breakfast...with a Mexican Coke. Mexican breakfasts always go better with Mexican Cokes. Pretty plates, too.
This is the view from the restaurant that's at the motel. It's nice, but I really like sitting on the sand right next to the water without all the landscaping in between. But I'm not going to complain too much because it's a lot better than the view I get at home.
These were the flowers that grow on these viney plants that trail out on the beach. They look like petunias and may very well be another variety...don't know enough about them to say.
I didn't take many pictures of South Padre Island because a lot of it looks alike. Just condos, hotels, restaurants...nothing quaint or picturesque.The island is very close to the Mexican border, so when I drove down, I chose the most southern highway to get to it. This is the fence that runs along the Rio Grand river between Mexico and the U.S.
It must go along the whole length because this is what it looks like behind private properties...
And you see lots of these...
So, South Padre Island is just a small part of my little Labor Day trip. Being the crazy woman I am, I decided to jump the border and head to Mexico on a whim, just because I could. My next report will be MUCH more interesting from Nuevo Progreso, Mexico.Stay tuned...
8 comments:
Loved this post Deb! My favorite aunt and I used to go to South Padre together back in the 80's. Lots of great memories and stories from those trips. I was trying to recognize where you stayed, but it's been too long. Our favorite restaurant was a dive down at the jetty.
Can't wait for your next installment because we used to go to Progreso for lunch. I don't know if that's the same as Nuevo Progreso?
I would classify the sand as light brown and the water as grey/blue, but it looked pretty damn good compared to a Kansas City winter!
Beck - I stayed on the eastern side of the island so I don't know if that helps or not. I didn't even go anywhere on the western side that looks back on the mainland. As far as Progreso, it's 'Nuevo Progreso' in Mexico, and there's a 'Progreso' on the state side in Texas just across the border. There's a HUGE difference between the two as you'll see when I post some photos.
Deb, we were in Mexico, so it was definitely Nuevo Progreso. We always stayed ocean (east) side. Back then, the other side was a marina and mud bay with a few condo complexes. My aunt had a standing reservation at an older condo complex oceanfront called the International for the first few years, then she moved to a newer place a block off the beach in the later years. At that time, there were still some older homes along the ocean that were semi-eroding into the sea. I think development has built way north from where it used to be. The Bahia Mar Hotel was practically the end of the main road back then.
Thanks for sharing another corner of your world, Deb. I'm looking forward to the next installment!
Nice Trip Amiga,, Definately good enough for a Tour Deja vu...can't wait for the next entry too..Tales of the Border.."Where it's never a good idea , when Immigration asks"Are you an American Citizen?.. you show your Bilingual schooling and say'Si" Glad you made it Home safe.
you "caught" a fisherman, interesting:-))
carl/debbie
Beck - I'm sure the island has changed a lot since you were there. Now that I think about it, I saw very few actual homes there...it seemed to be all condos, hotels, restaurants and shops. Very much a touristy area without much personality...but the beach is nice.
Vee - I had to work on my Spanish homework last night, but will try to get the Mexican leg of my trip posted soon.
Barry - On the highways going north from Mexico, they have a checkpoint about 50 miles from the border where they stop and ask you if you're an American citizen. Don't ask for any ID or anything. But then again, I guess I don't look very Mexican!
Carl - I was thinking the same thing when I took that picture. Ha!
Great post but it doesn't answer the question of what is the allure of South Padre? I've never been but have heard so much about it. I really, really appreciated pictures of the wall. I have not seen it and wondered what the monstrosity looked like. Thanks for sharing!
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