Ferryman at the Wall
Mike Davidson first arrived at Big Bend because he was moving out of Texas and wanted to be around mountains. As an active outdoorsman he thought it would be a good idea to visit the national park before leaving. He ended up staying and now owns the commercial permits to run the international ferry. Last year his boat ferried over 11,000 tourists into Mexico.
Big Bend consists of a national park on the US side and protective areas on the Mexican side. In 2013 a port of entry was opened so that tourists visiting the park can cross into Mexico. Usually they are completely surprised when they realize that the ‘international ferry’ is essentially a rowboat.
As the boat crosses the river, its every move is being monitored from a distance. There are high-flying drones along the border making sure everybody is safe. Once visitors are over on the Mexican side, their passports are stamped and they can walk a short distance into the town or hire a donkey ride.
Visitors love the idea of visiting a small rural village that is far removed from all the problems that seem to be happening in other parts of Mexico. The people who live in that remote village make use of the little that they have to offer visitors an unforgettable cultural experience. They also use their creativity to make souvenirs from virtually anything they can find. This way they are able to maintain their families.
The beauty of Big Bend is that it’s a binational park that allows movement between both countries. The border checkpoints that are in place make sure everything runs smoothly. The same scenario is present at the Glacier National Park that combines with Waterton National Park in Canada. Back in 1932 they were joined as an international peace park.
There has been a lot of talk lately about the building of a large impenetrable wall that will keep people out and keep the United States safe. A lot of visitors only want to see the wall. What many don’t realize is that most of the land in the area is privately owned so there are openings in the wall that allow farmers and other workers to have access to their land. Still, the men and women that work at the border say that they feel absolutely safe there. Find out more now.
Loading...
