Juarez
Our trip start at our site at the Mission RV Park
Our tour lead us up Interstate 10 to the border. Once in Mexico our tour guide showed us where we gave back some land to Mexico by rerouting the Rio Grande. From there he took us to the San Lorenzo Church next to Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission.
On the left is the Mission and on the right is the Mission and the Church with the mission behind the gazebo.
Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission
Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe de El Paso del Norte y do los Mansos, was the first mission established in the area. The present structure was completed in 1668. A joint effort of Mexican, Mansos Indian and Spanish labor, the church took six years to build. Today it remains the oldest surviving church structure in the area. Next door is the Juarez Cathedral with its Neo-classical facade. There's a large iron fence around the two churches with an open gate on the south side. Near this gate you can often find the mission's self-appointed tour guide, Angel. Angel is an old man with salt and pepper hair, usually in a gray suit and matching fedora, who patiently waits to give tours of both churches. He'll walk you through the old mission and cathedral and point out lots of very interesting details. It's worth a substantial tip to retain his services. This is an active parish so you'll find people inside praying and meditating - reverence is expected. Located on Av. 16th de Septiembre, two blocks west of Av. Juarez
Angel is the gentlemen that gave us our tour. Our tour guide introduced us to Angel and asked if we would like to tour the Mission and Church.
The following is the window on the left side of the church and is viewed only from inside
Oops a little out of focus
The next shots are from inside the Mission/
The ornate base of this statue case is adobe covered in gold leaf and was hand carved from wood in the 1700's
The next two pictures are of the ceilings in the font of the mission and the body of the mission. They are hand carved of wood and there are no nails.
After our tour of the town we were brought to this restaurant for lunch and the fellow in the red and white jacket was our waiter.
Behind the restaurant area is a stereo-typical mexican shopping court.
THE BRIDGE WALK
From the people back is Mexico.
And in front of us the USA. Oh the fellow on the left is Francisco our guide.
