Off to Mexico!!

Marlene texted me yesterday and asked if we wanted to go to Mexico with them. We said "yes" so in about an hour we will take off to meet them at the gate. There are a few more items we want to pick up, so this could be our last trip down and then again maybe not.
Update- We did meet Marlene and Bernard in Mexico on one of the busiest days I have ever seen there. While we were waiting for the Kelley's there was a double lineup to get in that went across the street!

On the way over we may have witnessed the first of an exodus to Mexico. This truck was loaded up with all their worldly goods and they were headed in- not out.

Next stop was the pharmacy- Marlene and Bernard doing a price check.

These ladies were preparing cactus (nopales) for sale. I gave her a dollar to take her picture but after reading this website perhaps I should have purchased some nopales.

 http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/nopales.html

 This tortilla factory has been in business a very long time.

Decided to add these health benefits of Nopales:

Health benefits of nopales

• Nopales are one of very low calorie vegetables. 100 g of fresh leaves carry just 16 calories. Nonetheless, its modified leaves (paddles) have many vital phytochemicals, fiber, anti-oxidants, vitamins, and minerals that can immensely benefit health.
• The succulent paddles are rich sources of dietary fiber, especially non-carbohydrate polysaccharides, such as pectin, mucilage and hemicellulose. Together, these substances help bring reduction in body weight, LDL-cholesterol, and blood sugar levels. This rich fiber and mucilaginous content in cactus pads aid in smooth passage of digested food particles through the gut and help relieve constipation problems.
• In addition, the juice extracted from the noples has been suggested to have immune-booster, and anti-inflammatory properties.
• Cactus pads feature moderate amounts of vitamin A with 100 g fresh pads carrying about 457 IU of vitamin A, and 250 µg of ß-carotene. ß-carotene converted into vitamin-A inside the body. Studies found that vitamin A and flavonoid compounds in vegetables help protect from skin, lung and oral cavity cancers.
• Further, nopal pads contain small levels of B-complex group of vitamins such as thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine), and pantothenic acid. These vitamins are essential for optimum cellular enzymatic and metabolic functions inside the human body.
• Fresh pads contain average levels of vitamin-C. 100 g provides 9.3 mg or 15% of this vitamin. Vitamin C is a water-soluble, natural anti-oxidant, which helps the body protect from scurvy and offer resistance against infectious agents (boost immunity), and help scavenge harmful, pro-inflammatory free radicals from the body.
• They contain small amounts of minerals, especially calcium, potassium, magnesium and iron.
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