The Shrine in San Juan, Texas

This is the 15th installment in our series entitled, "Top 100 Things To Do in the South Padre Island/Brownsville Area," a series designed to highlight the area's most interesting and beautiful attractions.

The Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan Del Valle National Shrine is located in San Juan, Texas was dedicated in 1954. Find out more of the fascinating story behind this marvel here.

The shrine serves as a symbol of hope for many pilgrims who come from all over the world.

Many miracles have been attributed to the prayers made at this amazing shrine. Pictures of the miracle room were not included here. That room has objects such as crutches no longer needed and many pictures that serve as inspiration and hope to others who are hoping for a miracle, healing, or help from the intercession of the Virgin Mary. You must see the miracle room in person.

86. Do the Anzalduas Run

This is the 14th installment of our series titled, "Top 100 Things to do in the South Padre Island/Brownsville Area." If it is a beautiful day and you want something different to do, consider doing the Anzalduas Run, don't worry there is no running involved. You can make it a whole day's event involving barbecuing or enjoying a pitcher at Pepe's on the River while watching the jet skiers zoom by.

To do the Anzalduas Run, you need to go to Mission, Tx. on Hwy 83, a beautiful city known for its citrus groves. In fact, the last week of January and early February heralds a full schedule of fun and activities and includes the Parade of Oranges.

A great place to visit is the Shary-Shivers Estate.

It was built by John Shary, known as the Father of the Texas Citrus Industry. The estate has been given to the University of Texas - Pan American and is open to the public.

Doesn't this look like the perfect subject for a painting?


















There are some very nice houses to look at on your leisurely drive.

You travel on 1016 and turn right on old Military Hwy. til you see this.

The St. Joseph and St. Peter Seminary is your marker.

In fact, here is the marker...

The trail of the Oblate Fathers is noted here as it was in Brownsville at the cathedral downtown. In 1888, seven dedicated Oblate Fathers were traveling a circuit 150 miles long and 40 miles wide offering masses in homes at more than two hundred ranches. This is an area seeped in history.

When you pass this seminary, turn right at the first road and continue. Go south on FM 494. Do not be phased by the levee. Drive over it and you will be very surprised.

There is a big county park back there. Back in the 80's, it was packed with car after car booming loud music, girls, guys, children and their pets. People used to cruise around it just passing the time. Now it is very serene and there were only 5 cars in the whole park and we went on a Sunday. You used to have to wait in line for an hour or two to get in on weekends, but there wasn't even anybody at the entrance to collect the toll. There were two county sheriff dept. cars there and two separate families enjoying the playgrounds and barbecuing. It was very quiet and peaceful. Nothing like the old days.

The Spanish moss hung from the trees like wistful tinsel.

It was a melancholic scene.

A young tyke got his line caught in the brush.

I needed this fisherman's help to convince my family of the fact that the bank they saw only feet away was in Mexico. He was a descendant of one of the original owners of the land and remembered how busy the park used to get.

He remembered the good old days when the park was busy and everybody took their families there, cooked out, met girls, met guys and had fun. The Mexican side of the park was bustling with activity with boaters, fishermen and guys just out listening to music and checking out the girls.

The park has an undeveloped area hidden over a levee. You go over the levee and follow the road to the bluffs overlooking the Rio Grande and the dam. There is no road directly on the damn because this is an international border. The Anzalduas Run includes the La Lomita Mission and Pepe's on the River.

La Lomita Mission is right next to Pepe's On the River. It is the cornerstone of Mission, Texas.

http://www.pepesontheriver.net/main.html

87. Visit the IMAS Museum in McAllen, Texas

This is the thirteenth installment of our series entitled, "Top 100 Things to do in the South Padre Island/Brownsville Area," designed to aid the visitor in getting the complete experience of this tropical area in South Texas. As we work our way up to the top things to do ON the island, if it is cold and rainy or you want to treat the kids or grandkids to an exceptional time, you might consider an afternoon in the International Museum of Arts and Sciences on the corner of Nolana and Bicentennial Blvd in McAllen.

87. Visit the IMAS Museum in McAllen, Texas.

Salome receives the head of John the Baptist on a silver platter.

This work was called the American Mona Lisa.

There were artifacts from all over the world.

Inlaid ivory box with intricate details you cannot see without being there in person.

A Zulu shield that was made of skin hung on the wall among the other artifacts.

This teak dining room set had mother-of-pearl inlaid in it.



































These were Chinese PAPER cutouts



















You had to be there to see how miniscule the details were.

This display was from Mexico.

There was a display sponsored by NASA

that shot the coolest images on a spherical screen.

The spherical screen hung in midair.

There was a great children's section.

Each piece of wood you touched produced a different sound.

It was triggered by the heat in your hand.

These are just a few of the animals there.

There were many mosaics there.

There was an exhibition on torture devices.

This belt resulted in infections and gangrene.

The Iron Maiden caused a slow, painful death.

The spiked chair.

This was used to dislocate limbs.

Man's inhumanity to man throughout the ages was apalling.

Many of these cages were commonly displayed outside of town halls and other public places to show that you should not question authority or you would be hung naked in one of these until the elements and then scavenger birds picked your bones clean.

This sword, from a private collection, was used for beheadings.

The adjacent room housed a brighter exhibition featuring spectacular works of art.

Layers upon layers of color danced inside glass.

The colors swirled inside the panes of glass.

You cannot see the miniscule brush strokes that are visible in person.

The baptism of Jesus Christ.

The colors in the glass shone through with the light in an amazing fashion.

The crown's jewels were glowing rocks of glass.











I could not transfer their luminescence onto film for you.

You must see this in person to fully appreciate its beauty.

Layer upon layer of luminescense.

My favorites were the deep azures and iridescent jewels.

The gift shop has many interesting and unique items for sale.

-+*