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The Brunette and I are taking the kids to West Texas this morning.
There have been lots of bear sightings in the Big Bend country this year, hopefully we'll get to see one!
that drought continues to decimate the area.
I understand that an informal crossing has been or soon will be open again at Boaquillas.
I did inhale.
for it when we go to Boquillas!
Bad decisions make good stories.
Tourists could once again visit rural town of Boquillas del Carmen
Pam LeBlanc AMERICAN-STATESMANEN
http://www.statesman.com/life/new-border-crossing-at-big-bend-national-park-2045512.html
And while I am somewhat happy to see the crossing reopen--if only for the sake of the poverty of the Mexicans who live in the village, the new one will be super official and efficient and all scientific and shit. Something that middle class Americans will feel safe doing and will reinforce what I Ed Abbey called industrial tourism.
The old way was vastly superior. You negotiated with the ferryman for BOTH ways before you went across. Cuz if you only did one way, well, ha! And when you go over you walked up to the village or rode a horse or rented one for the day for $5. You walked up to the bar and had a beer with all kinds of drop outs who lived in the area. Now, well, kiss that authenticity good bye. It'll be made safe for bourgeois Americans. Hip-hip, fucking hooray!
This sounds like some sort of a trial thing. I don't see how this crossing thing will work without all the border stuff that goes along with it these days.
1. A huge fortified compound near by to house all the Homeland Security aparati.
2. Big assed metal fences about 15 to 20 feet high. They will probably be kind of picket fence looking, like the so called Architecturally designed one running through Brownsville.
3. The usual way point Border Patrol check point along the Park road on the way out, where you will be stopped and asked if you are an "American Citizen" as your car is sniffed and looked at.
4. There will be super tall radio tower looking observation platforms with the Hairy Eyeball on top.
5. We'll all be jacked up as the big dudes run whole semi-loads through the NAFTA approved ports of smuggling Free Trade Zones.
6. Don't expect that the locals will be able to do some Free Trading Barter at the border. This NAFTA crap is just for corporations. I'd love to trade some of my extra car stuff for some pottery. No-way I'd be hung. "There are two types of folk music: quiet folk music and loud folk music. I play both."
Dave Alvin
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