The sun beats down on Laredo, TX. It's 82 degrees Fahrenheit, here. the Mexican border is within walking distance, not that anyone in their right mind would want to walk there. Laredo is an interesting place to be. During the day, freight moves back and forth, people come and go. Lots of regulars pass through the truck stops that line I -35. The implications of lawlessness implied in the movies is virtually non-existent. I'm sure it's here, but, like anything else, you have to go look for it. I'm not looking.
My truck becomes a sweat lodge on wheels in weather like this. Even with all the windows and vents open, there's not much else to do during the day other than lay in bed, naked, and sweat. As nice a purge as that is, it can be uncomfortable and makes one feel gross that much sooner. One of the ironies of the place where I'm parked is the presence of a Taco Bell franchise.
It's 18:00 hrs, here. The sun will start setting in another hour or so. That's when this busy, yet quiet exit comes alive. Trucks will line the street out front selling anything and everything you can imagine and a few things you can't. I'm sure the strip club on the other side of the highway will have its share of mayhem, it is Thursday night. I'm saving my money. Some things are more important than ogling tits that aren't my wife's. Besides, I've been told not to trust the coffee, there.
One of those things would be food. My personal highlight is the taco trucks with their fresh, made from scratch tortillas wrapped around an assortment of meats seasoned according to family recipes going back generations, topped with cilantro, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, sour cream, and salsas that people who live in places like New England can only dream of replicating on Taco Tuesday. The choice of meat, alone will make a less traveled person's head spin. Along with ground beef, steak, and chicken, there's pork, goat, barbacoa (face), and my old co-driver's personal favourite, tacos del lingua (tongue). With competition like that, it makes me wonder why the Taco Bell franchise owner even bothers.
It's coming to places like this that keep my job interesting. I feel lucky to live in such an amazingly scenic and diverse country and to be paid to travel and see it all. There are plenty of places around Texas that I hope to write about and I'll eventually get to them. Meanwhile, there's a sunset that I hope to capture and tacos to be consumed.
Good night and may your god go with you.
