The Thanksgiving trip to Rio bravo was a success. Image Gallery 1 Image Gallery 2 Image Gallery 3 Rio Bravo is long and skinny, with a rail line that bisects the town. This colonia runs along the easement for the railroad. Most of the residents live in modest houses, some live in shacks, and a few have nice houses. The city of Rio Bravo has run water, electricity, and a sewer main to serve the colonia.
Most residents have electricity, and a hose faucet in their front yard.
No one was connected to the sewer main, and everyone used outhouses. The canal behind the colonia was an environmental disaster area, full of sewage, garbage, and slimy green water. The school was across the street from a small pig farm, which stunk. However, in spite of these adverse, third world living conditions, the colonia residents seemed happy, healthy, and genuinely glad that we were there to work with them. The madres and padres de la familia worked side by side with us to improve their school, and were sad when Sunday came and we returned to Austin.