La Lomita Chapel, Anzalduas Park, and Hidalgo Viejo

Saturday I headed south to do some sightseeing.  The first stop was the La Lomita Chapel Historical Park. You have to go up and drive a short way along the long levee that was put up after heavy flooding along the Rio Grande.

Flood control works along the Rio Grande include 102 miles of levees and floodplain from Penitas to beyond Brownsville. It also serves as a sort of border protection because there is no border fence along here.  There is a one lane road along the top of the levee and numerous places where roads go up and over it.  It's high and somewhat scary where you have to drive along it especially if you are driving a big truck.  The first place I had to up, drive along the top, and then go down the other side was to reach Lomita Chapel. Whooo!

The original chapel was built in 1865 and relocated to this site in 1899.

Hidden away in Texas mesquite, La Lomita (Little Hill) Chapel was first built in 1865, an adobe overnight way station for Oblate padres who regularly traveled on horseback between Brownsville and Roma. The tiny  (12 by 25 feet) structure rebuilt of sandstone in 1889 still exhibits original brick floors, rough heavy-beamed ceilings shaped from native trees, outdoor beehive oven, and original waterwell.  The chapel is still used for private services such as weddings.  There is a seven-acre park with picnic facilities, cooking grills, rest rooms, brick walkways, and historical site.  

Right next to the Lomita chapel there are several huge thatched pavilions. My friend Sue said this was a very popular gathering place prior to the extensive flooding a few years ago.  It was all underwater and has not been restored to date.  I did see a big dumpster there though so perhaps this is going to happen.

West of the chapel is the Riverside Club, a popular bar and grill and special events establishment. I didn't get a picture of that because I was too busy watching where I was going on top of the levee and praying no other cars would come along.  There is about room for motorcycles to pass each other. Anyway, I found out later that they also have river tours every day.  That would have been fun.  Going the other direction from the chapel, there was a border patrol office complete with tower and patrol trucks.

I can't image pulling my RV up and over the levee to get to the Chimney Park RV Resort but obviously a lot of people love it because it was pretty full. The closest road to this park is just to the right of my truck hood. You make a little jog to the left and then go down the other side of the levee into the park.  I don't think I would want to park where those RVs are right next to the levee because I would be picturing an RV coming over the top of the levee and failing to make the turn to the left.

The Traveling Longdogs and I headed further west where we saw this beautiful shell of a building. There was also a school inside the grounds but I didn't get the name of it.

Next stop was Anzalduas Park. This park is well-known by birding enthusiasts. It cost $4 per person to enter.

Signs all over the park encourage you to watch for snakes but this is not unusual in south Texas.

The grounds are quite nice with lots of picnic tables.

There are several playscapes for the kids.

This is a look across the Rio Grande River to Mexico.

There is a nice park on that side too. It has to be fairly new since the old park on the Mexican side was wiped out a few years ago by flooding.

This sign could be a little more illuminating when warning that it is U.S. Government Property-Do Not Molest (molestar is spanish for "to distub" or "to bother".) Why all this security for what looks like a more or less empty area with black and yellow posts and yellow ground plugs.  When flowing water passes over metal (as at the Dam), it builds up a huge electrical charge.  Not only is this dangerous to workers, it vastly increases corrosion in metals.  This site takes the electrical charge off the Dam and sends it into the ground.

Another little jaunt down the road and we come to the El Granjeno Cemetery.  It was established in 1872 with the burial of Don Antonio Garza and donated to the nearby U.S. and Mexican communities.

One thing I noticed about all the cemeteries I have seen down here is that all the graves are very well decorated with artificial flowers so it is a very colorful site.

Next stop, Hidalgo Viejo (Old Hidalgo).

This is the old courthouse plaza.

This building has an awful lot of entrances.

This is the Old Hidalgo Pumphouse.

This is an interesting place to visit. Check out my blog post from April 2013 for more details.

It was time to head on home. The Traveling Longdogs were worn out from all their adventures and ready for dinner.  And I was off to meet Birdie and Sue at B.J.'s Brewery Pub for a burger.

Harley snuck off to the bedroom after we all got home to get in a little snooze.

National Butterfly Center in Mission TX

Today the sun made an appearance early and warmed the day up so we decided to visit the National Butterfly Center in Mission TX. One thing you have to remember about the Valley is that there are a string of towns and small cities in a row so it isn't that far from one place to another. Sometimes you don't even know when you are in the next town.

First stop is inside to pay the admission fee and then to check out the merchandise for sale. They have all kinds of beautiful T-Shirts with butterfly and bird prints on them. They also have ones that start out white with black outlines of various scenes, flowers, birds, butterflies, etc., but get them in the sun and they morph into beautifully colored scenes. They also have jewelry, aprons, cards, etc. You'll want to take a look for sure because they also have all kinds of information about butterflies and their life cycles. You also learn to tell the difference between butterflies and moths and it isn't necessarily their colors.

We stepped outside to the garden next to the building. Although this winter has been chillier than normal, we still found some pretty flowers.

Then we hopped back into the car and drove back further back on the property and parked.

We wandered over to the bird feeding area. This photo is a little close up so you can't see the whole bath but it is a rock balancing on another rock. The water flows into it along the branch you can see over it.....very natural and unique looking.  There are trees all around this area with half oranges and grapefruit stuck into branches for the birds. Surrounding the area are benches and picnic tables so you can sit and quietly watch all the birds flitting through this feeding area.  There were also seeds on the ground for the smaller birds and a feeder hanging from a tree. It was beautiful and very peaceful with only the sounds of the birds since there weren't a lot of people there.

This red squirrel stopped by for a drink.

Great Kiskadees are a treat for bird watchers who visit south Texas....they have a boisterous attitude and coloring:  a black bandit's mask, a yellow belly, and flashes of warm reddish-brown when they fly. They like to sit out in the open and attract your attention with "kis-ka-dee" calls and short flights.  Birdie said they were very rare when she started birding in the early 90s.

Green Jay......initially I thought I was seeing another green parrot when it flew over because it is very green underneath and I'm such a novice.  Green Jays are colorful  tropical birds found primarily in Mexico and South America making its way into the United States in southern Texas. They are beautiful.

We also saw a number of Ladder-backed Woodpeckers.

Look at this big guy! He was about two feet long.

He was moving around and stopped long enough to pose for me.

The butterflies were few and far between on this day.....still a little cool (about 60) and windy. I bet they will be out in force with the warm week in the 70s and 80s we have coming up.

Another nice little shady area to take a break.

There were more of the tiny butterflies.

And a bee feeding on the nectar as well.

Mockingbird

Another Kisskadee....they really are beautiful.

Golden fronted woodpecker.

Four Cattle Egrets flew in as a crew and settled down to strut around the area as well. They look like chickens when they walk.

You really have to see this sign......

in order to "see" this unique sculpture.  Otherwise you get caught up in looking at the individual tires.

We had a wonderful time at the National Butterfly Center.  One day I want to come back when there are a lot of butterflies flitting around but this visit was nice as well.