Laredo!
Its not a town I come to often, but as Texas A&M International has started working with my office, its a place I'll be hitting for the foreseeable future.
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Last I was in Laredo, I was in about 5th grade. I don't remember much about the trip except that:
1) I bought some plastic sunglasses I thought made me look cool (they did not)
2) My dad bought these crazy-huge longhorn horns in a shop. The horns hung over our fireplace briefly, and then one day, were back in the garage, never to be hung again.
3) Jason bought this wooden model Spanish galleon that was really pretty big. Like, two feet long and two feet high. I never figured out how he talked my folks into that purchase.
Laredo is one of the oldest cities in Texas, a sort of way-point between San Antonio and civilization back when when this was all Mexico/ Spain/ whatever.... And while its seen Mexican armies coming north to deal with unruly Tejanos and American armies coming south to insist that, no, Texas is most definitely a part of the US now... its not been the site of much actual military action.
As Mexico, especially border towns in Mexico, are having so many problems with drug cartels, Laredo is one of the destination cities for folks looking to not live in Mexico anymore. The town, which is far older than places like, say, Austin... looks like a bright, shiny new place in the area I'm staying. Nothing looks older than 5-10 years.
There was some concern about safety, but apparently all is well on the US side of the border.
I'm headed back to Austin mid-day tomorrow, but its great to get down here. Just wish I'd thought to plan a day in Laredo for a look-see. Next time.
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3 comments:
That was, indeed, an awesome ship. Whatever happened to it?
I don't actually remember what happened to it. Hopefully I gave it away and it didn't go right into the trash.
Howdy from a Laredoan. Check out the downtown area. It's not what it used to be like so many downtowns around the country but it still has a lot of character thanks to the old architecture that still remains. There's also an old movie theater, the Plaza Theater, with a single giant screen where I have fond memories of watching Godzilla and Sinbad movies. Last I heard they were trying to raise funds for restoring it.
Alberto Ramirez Jr.
Alberto Ramirez Jr.
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