Scorpions are a fact of life here in Mexico - they hide in your laundry baskets, they lurke in closets, they sleep in your tennis shoes.
Well....I killed my first one today. I opened the front door and a big one came running into the house. IT WAS HUGE. it was so HUGE I could hear it running across the tile..although locals said it was really very small.. The trick to killing a scorpion is to make sure you stomp the tail first - if you stomp it on the head, the tail will whip up and sting your foot - if you happen to be wearing sandals - which is exactly what I was wearing. And then, you never, ever pick it up with a paper towel, it can still sting you even after it is dead. JEEZ these things are brutal.
So now if you are ever charged by a HUGE scorpion, you will know - STOMP the tail!! And screaming helps too.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Cost of Living
I have been in Mexico for a couple of weeks now so I'm adjusting to the cost of living. My casita is $500 USD a month - this includes all my utilities. All inclusive rentals are rare - most homeowners who rent out their casitas only cover water.
I eat out for most meals - either in restaurants or at other peoples houses when I'm invited to parties or lunches. A restaurant lunch will run around $7.00 USD - but if you have seafood or steak - it can go up to around $12.00. A night out to a fancy restaurant with wine or drinks will cost you about $25 to $30. Prices here are reasonable - but costs can add up.
I have made a commitment to only eat out (where I actually pay) once a day, meaning I cook or make a sandwich here in my kitchen. Cooking is not really an option since I only have a 2-burner hotplate - but I do have a toaster oven and a small microwave. If you eat 'local' your food costs are much, much less. Imported American food is very expensive. A box of Ritz crackers will run you about $8.00 at a grocery store that caters to Americans and Canadians, but a box of Mexican crackers is about $1.00. Street food like roasted chickens, tortas, tacos, soups, etc. are very cheap; for about $2.00 you can eat a feast; add a beer for another $1.00 - best lunch you have ever had.
I drive a Prius so gasoline costs are not an issue - a gallon of Unleaded is about $2.10 - slightly less than the States. You can buy 10 black market movie CD's for a couple of dollars - the quality is not that good though. Clothes are really cheap - a embroidered shirt will cost you $8.00.
Since I visited here 6 years ago - a Walmart appeared - YUCK. It is very much like the Walmarts in the States - except there are relatively few things from China - most of the stuff is from either Mexico or the Philippines; Mexico has a long history of trade with the Philippines.
Overall, you can live comfortably here on $1,500 to $2,000 a month - that would include a small but comfortable house, good food, entertainment, some travel, and a maid and gardner...not bad.
I eat out for most meals - either in restaurants or at other peoples houses when I'm invited to parties or lunches. A restaurant lunch will run around $7.00 USD - but if you have seafood or steak - it can go up to around $12.00. A night out to a fancy restaurant with wine or drinks will cost you about $25 to $30. Prices here are reasonable - but costs can add up.
I have made a commitment to only eat out (where I actually pay) once a day, meaning I cook or make a sandwich here in my kitchen. Cooking is not really an option since I only have a 2-burner hotplate - but I do have a toaster oven and a small microwave. If you eat 'local' your food costs are much, much less. Imported American food is very expensive. A box of Ritz crackers will run you about $8.00 at a grocery store that caters to Americans and Canadians, but a box of Mexican crackers is about $1.00. Street food like roasted chickens, tortas, tacos, soups, etc. are very cheap; for about $2.00 you can eat a feast; add a beer for another $1.00 - best lunch you have ever had.
I drive a Prius so gasoline costs are not an issue - a gallon of Unleaded is about $2.10 - slightly less than the States. You can buy 10 black market movie CD's for a couple of dollars - the quality is not that good though. Clothes are really cheap - a embroidered shirt will cost you $8.00.
Since I visited here 6 years ago - a Walmart appeared - YUCK. It is very much like the Walmarts in the States - except there are relatively few things from China - most of the stuff is from either Mexico or the Philippines; Mexico has a long history of trade with the Philippines.
Overall, you can live comfortably here on $1,500 to $2,000 a month - that would include a small but comfortable house, good food, entertainment, some travel, and a maid and gardner...not bad.
Monday, October 11, 2010
What the Heck is THIS??
When I was considering moving to Ajijic, one of things on the top of my 'Bucket List' was to find a community that was active and like to socialize. My life in Austin had become sooooo routine. I went to work every day, came home at 3:30, walked the dog, figured out something for dinner, watched TV and went to bed. On the weekends I would go to estate and garge sales with friends, fix things around the house, take the dog to the dog park, yadda yadda yadda.
Now everyday I meet someone for breakfast, meet someone else for lunch, go to someone else's house for dinner and watch a movie. In between all this eatting, I visted a friend in the hospital and went to the market. Tomorrow a friend is coming for lunch and a swim and then I'm going to a fashion show. WTF - I need a NAP!!
Now everyday I meet someone for breakfast, meet someone else for lunch, go to someone else's house for dinner and watch a movie. In between all this eatting, I visted a friend in the hospital and went to the market. Tomorrow a friend is coming for lunch and a swim and then I'm going to a fashion show. WTF - I need a NAP!!
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Market Days
Every Wednesday is Market Day here in Ajijic. A narrow street downtown is closed off and hundreds of people set up awnings and tables and sell their wares. There were fresh fruits and veggies, chickens, flowers, CD's, clothes, anything you can think of. It is crowded with people shopping, eating, petting puppies, bargaining with the vendors and squeezing tomatoes. I loved it. I going to start doing my meager shopping there, you can get anything you need except maybe fresh milk, and it's considerably cheaper than the stores.
One vendor was cooking tacos on this big, flat wok looking thing; it had onions, peppers, chicken, sausage, cabrito, steak all going at once. In the middle were little corn tortillas. When you ordered, he would grab a hot tortilla and scoop up some onions and peppers and whatever meat you ordered and just hand it to you. They were delicious, hot and greasy.
I bought some bananas and a beautiful shirt covered with embroidered butterflies.
The weather here continues perfect - 70's during the day and 50's at night. No need for AC or heaters - very good sleeping weather.
One vendor was cooking tacos on this big, flat wok looking thing; it had onions, peppers, chicken, sausage, cabrito, steak all going at once. In the middle were little corn tortillas. When you ordered, he would grab a hot tortilla and scoop up some onions and peppers and whatever meat you ordered and just hand it to you. They were delicious, hot and greasy.
I bought some bananas and a beautiful shirt covered with embroidered butterflies.
The weather here continues perfect - 70's during the day and 50's at night. No need for AC or heaters - very good sleeping weather.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Joyce's House on the Hill
We arrived at a friends house around 6:00 the second day; exhausted, smelly, numb-assed, and starving. I connected with Joyce thru a group of women here in Ajijic who stay in touch thru a yahoo group. I agreed to bring down a bunch of new sheets and towels Joyce had ordered and she let us stay in her house for a few day; worked out great for me.
Joyce is typical of most American retired women who find their way to this community; financially secure but not wealthy, indpendent minded, adventureous, and love to help other American women find their way around down here. She rents this spectacular house on a steep hill overlooking Lake Chapala. It had 2 nice size bedrooms upstairs and a huge master suite downstairs with 2 walls made entirely out of glass. Since Julie has cats and because Joyce has 4 dogs plus my little Boston, she thought it safer for Julie to stay downstairs. Although my room was darling and comfortable - I really would have liked to watch the sunrise from my bed in the mornings like Julie and her cats.
To get to the house - you have to descend down these really steep steps - a couple of trips up and down with a numb ass - was all I could take for the first night.
The next day, Joyce brought me out to meet my new landlady and see my home for the next two months. It is adorable - a little outside the village but quite and secure. It is on a large walled estate with a pool, beautiful flowers, a yard for my dog, and a little patio to drink my coffee in the mornings.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Federalies and Butterflies
We crossed safely into Mexico near Laredo - my friend Julie and I were caravanning for safety. Before we left, I bought a pair of cheap walkie-talkies - worked very well, we were able to keep in constant communication without using our cell phones.
Mexico is such a mixture of beauty and violence. Along the border we saw hundreds of Federalies - riding in the backs of pickup trucks, wearing ski masks and Kevlar - brandishing machine guns. They had several roadblocks you had to slow down for - they never stopped us - but they were very intimidating. At one stop - they had about 6 or 7 young guys lined up with their hands in the air - Julie said they probably would be shot before nightfall; I guess they have given up with due process - there are just too many gangs and cartel members - so they just shoot them.
We stopped in a tiny village that had reasonably clean rooms - I was traveling with my little Boston Terrier and Julie had two cats - so not many motels would take us. I only got a couple of hours of sleep - there was a tremendous thunderstorm all night long -quite a light show. Needless to say - between the storm and my fear of scorpions falling from the ceiling - I didn't get much sleep.
The next morning we were treated with a spectacular sunrise - but needed to get back on the road to stay on schedule. The rest of the drive was a blur of highways, toll booths, questionable bathrooms, and the most beautiful vista I have ever seen. You could travel for miles and miles without seeing any civilization; it reminded me of taking car trips in the 1950's. Mexico is really quite beautiful and empty.
Julie spotted an old woman along the road trying to hitch a ride and picked her up. Julie doesn't speak Spanish and the old lady didn't know a word of English. After a few hours, I saw Julie's van swerve off the road and stop. The old lady got out in the middle of nowhere - requested Julie give her some clothes for the winter (Julie had an old coat and gave it to her) and within 5 minutes a pickup truck comes roaring up and she hops in. WTF?? How did they know she was going to be there at that time? Jungle drums?
Mexico is such a mixture of beauty and violence. Along the border we saw hundreds of Federalies - riding in the backs of pickup trucks, wearing ski masks and Kevlar - brandishing machine guns. They had several roadblocks you had to slow down for - they never stopped us - but they were very intimidating. At one stop - they had about 6 or 7 young guys lined up with their hands in the air - Julie said they probably would be shot before nightfall; I guess they have given up with due process - there are just too many gangs and cartel members - so they just shoot them.
We stopped in a tiny village that had reasonably clean rooms - I was traveling with my little Boston Terrier and Julie had two cats - so not many motels would take us. I only got a couple of hours of sleep - there was a tremendous thunderstorm all night long -quite a light show. Needless to say - between the storm and my fear of scorpions falling from the ceiling - I didn't get much sleep.
The next morning we were treated with a spectacular sunrise - but needed to get back on the road to stay on schedule. The rest of the drive was a blur of highways, toll booths, questionable bathrooms, and the most beautiful vista I have ever seen. You could travel for miles and miles without seeing any civilization; it reminded me of taking car trips in the 1950's. Mexico is really quite beautiful and empty.
Julie spotted an old woman along the road trying to hitch a ride and picked her up. Julie doesn't speak Spanish and the old lady didn't know a word of English. After a few hours, I saw Julie's van swerve off the road and stop. The old lady got out in the middle of nowhere - requested Julie give her some clothes for the winter (Julie had an old coat and gave it to her) and within 5 minutes a pickup truck comes roaring up and she hops in. WTF?? How did they know she was going to be there at that time? Jungle drums?
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