Inside and Outside in Harlingen, Texas

This day I decided to check out shopping in Harlingen. I like to visit Antique Malls and Flea Markets. I am always on the lookout for items that I cannot identify. My first visit was to Antiques and Artisan. I found a slotted spoon for a niece. It is a quaint shop. The owner is a blogger and Facebook user. Using all the resources possible to get the information out to people. I found a “what is it” item in this store. While visiting with the owner I came to realize she would be a great resource. She has been in the antiquing business for many years and it is obvious that she loves what she is doing.

I also visited Antiques and Collectibles and they played a "what is it game" with me. The owner brought out a wonderful old telegraph machine (saw one later in Museum of South Texas) and a shock machine used in therapy. I was also shown some ribbons that I am going to research. This shop has wonderful areas to search for treasures.

Next was Twinkets’ Trinkets this store had some lovely antique tables and the staging was awesome. It is run by Pat and Sue Thomas “The twins” as they are called by the locals. I found one way to tell them apart. Sue wears her glasses over her eyes most of the time and Pat has her glasses pushed up on her head for the most part. They are retired English grammar teachers. Pat is dedicated to the welfare of feral cats. She is passionate about their care. When you visit their store ask them about their 50's memorabilia. This store has some beautiful wood antiques, shabby chic tables, and lots of other goodies.

If you are a person who likes to search out antiques and wonderful finds. Harlingen has an antique store for your taste, whether it is to dig and find or displayed beauty.

I LOVE libraries. It is one of the first places I hit when I move or visit a place for any length of time. Harlingen was no exception. It has a spectacular courtyard where you can sit and read with Mark Twain. The staff was helpful and friendly. The library is clean and well maintained. I obtained a 90 day temporary library card for computer use. The library is open M-Th 10-9, Fri-Sun 1-5. This library receives an A+ from me.

I live in Joplin, Missouri not far from Springfield, Missouri where Bass Pro Shops started in 1971. I remember my first visit to Bass Pro. It was prior to me living in Guam in 1989. They had these really colorful taxidermy fish. I remember looking at them thinking these cannot be real they are too colorful. It is dark under water why would they need color? I was to learn while snorkeling in Guam that truly the fish and coral is beautiful colors. I was/am a little naïve. The town of Harlingen is quite proud of their Bass Pro Shop and rightly so. It is grandiose. The handles of the front door are horns and the poles overhead are wrapped with antlers. The antlers reminded me of Jackson Hole, Wyoming. They had some pretty awesome uses for antlers there also. There was a taxidermy Moose which brought to mind the Moose print I found on a path in the tundra of Ekuk, Alaska. That Moose print must have been my hand spanned open in width. I thought if the footprint is this big the animal must be huge. The hoof on this Moose is not as big as the print I saw, but this animal is still big. The store had items that would definitely be used by people in the area of Harlingen. There were boats, fishing poles for deep sea fishing, nets, anything you could need. The store still has the new smell and look.

This is something I did for me. I had spent much of two days driving and I was in need of some relief in my lower back and shoulders. I looked in the telephone directory and found a massage spa called Prospa Concept Day Spa Salon. I chose it because it had Pro in its name. I received my massage from Summer Johnson and she did an excellent job of relieving my aching muscles. It was $70.00 for an hour long, deep tissue massage. I thought I liked a really, really deep massages, but Summer had to lighten up on me. Prospa is located at 1309 E. Tyler Avenue, 956-423-0478. Pro was in the name and it was a professional place and massage. I went home revived.

I did not frequent many restaurants during my visit to Harlingen, but I have it on good authority, Summer Johnson, that La Playa Mexican Café is a great place to eat. She told me about the stuffed avocados and spinach burritos. La Playa is located at 502 S. 77 Sunshine strip, 956-421-2000.

Day two of getting outdoor in Harlingen, Texas. Shopping, library, more shopping and a massage. I have the original Bass Pro to compare with and it jaded me a little. The library is awesome. The massage, what can I say, "I feel great" and the shopping is due for a repeat. Sounds like a girls day out to me.