This prosperous, bustling Mexican city was founded in 1749. Its famous Anzalduas Canal, large as a river, runs through the city parallel to the Rio Grande. Although its old cathedrals and plazas remain unchanged, Reynosa has been one of Mexico’s fastest growing cities since the discovery of oil in the area. The historic towns of CAMARGO and MIER slumber on the south bank of the Rio Grande across from Rio Grande City and Roma. Mier was founded in 1763 and was the site of the famous “black bean episode of the Mier Expedition.” An American party of one hundred and seventy invaded Mexico and were captured by two thousand Mexicans on Christmas Eve, 1842. A drawing was held among the prisoners. Those drawing white beans were spared by order of the Mexican commander. The one in ten who drew a black bean faced the firing squad. The battle-scarred Mier church has an altar and ceiling of carved wood imported many years ago from Spain. In five locations modern bridges take the tourist into the old world enchantment of another civilization. [Illustration: (uncaptioned)] _Fun Calendar_ The holiday spirit, like the tropical warmth, never really seems to leave Padre Island and the Rio Grande Valley. All year long there is something going on that creates crowds, costumes, parades and a spirit of excitement and fun. “Come, be gay with us,” the slogan of Brownsville’s Charro Days sums up the fun calendar. A colorful pageant called BUCCANEER DAYS is held annually in the spring in Corpus Christi. Visitors and natives are requested to dress in pirate costumes. Spectacular events include a parade of floats, water pageant, bathing beauty review, fashion shows, street dances, a square dance festival, and a huge show at Buccaneer Stadium with a treasure chest of prizes. In Brownsville, CHARRO DAYS, the four day pre-Lenten festival in the Mexican tradition, features parades, street dances and colorful displays of merchandise. This whirl of color in motion combines the cultural elements of both Mexico and Texas. Here the population of Brownsville and Matamoros, meet attired in costumes of Latin America. Thousands of charmingly attired children steal the show in the children’s parade. MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY, the across-the-border celebration on September sixteenth, includes serenades in the plaza, street dances, parties and elaborate fireworks, parades, imaginative decorations, games, colored lanterns, and great glowing crepe paper globes filled with smoke that are released to float over the city. At the Charro rodeo the cowboys demonstrate their fine horsemanship and courage in the competitions. Bullfights are staged on special holidays. Tourists from all parts of the nation come to watch the beautiful girls and handsome boys participate in the courtship promenade known as the _serenata_, the young ladies walking clockwise and the young men counterclockwise.