Poncho Villa State Park and Palomas, Mexico

We joined Al and Marcia at the park for a couple days of camping in our RVs and one of the days walked across the border to spend time in Palomas. 

Pancho Villa, both hero and villain, was the inspiration for the park's name. He was a Mexician revolutionary. When he ran out of funds to support his troops, he took to banditry. One raid took him across the border to Columbus. Incensed, US authorities sent troops across the border to catch him. They were unsuccessful, even with a major offensive of over 10,000 troops. 

Poncho Villa, attack mode (or defense?) portrayed in statue in Palomas. 

The Palomas Catholic Church faces the town plaza. 

The place most often visited by tourists is "the Pink Store," one block from the border and full of artifacts from across Mexico.  It also has a restaurant with delicious food and live music. 

It was good to be back in Latin America, if only for a few hours. (We even purchased some Mennonite Cheese, which tastes just like that from the colonies in Bolivia.)

Helen