Thank you very much Kevin for your very kind words & your continuing support. I agree with your observances- times have changed since we were all "on the road" & writing almost daily. However, during this season I have had 2 separate couples seek me out & ask for help in finding my previous posts in the archives, so there are still folks out there wanting to read about our adventures & travels.
Glad you are feeling settled in now. Things are tight here in Zihua too- hotels are cutting staff, etc., but the RV parks are still full.
And, for folks that have not already done so, they should get Tahoe's video. We have almost worn ours out (the one on the West Coast.) We, seriously, have watched it more than a dozen times...esp when we get sad because we are not SOB. It is avail HERE
Kevin's post saddens me: guess this means there won't be an East Coast video....sigh. But, glad you guys are doing great...We were thinking of you the other day.
The Johnsons (incls a Bouvier, Lab, and Newfie)
Cedar Island, NC (Gateway to the Outer Banks)
2008 Winnie Sightseer 35J
Our Mexico trip Blog
Even though we haven't yet had a chance to cross paths I feel I know you and Jeanne through your correspondence since what? 4 winters ago, now? Funny how time trudges on...
I'm hanging out in Quartzsite this winter with a new fiver and a lot of work on an old truck, so Mexico is not in the picture, this year. Once I get everything shaken out and schedule permits, I still have Paa Mul as a targeted destination, at some point (at some point...)
Until then, glad to hear things are working out, for you. I'll continue to look for your posts/blog and forward them to my SO, wishing you the best.
Take care,
rickb
Current stable:
'97 F350 CC 4x4 SWD/'97 Coachmen Ranger cabover camper, 11.5'
DataStorm Satellite Internet w/ 'a/b' Internal WiFi (I'm here!)
Nice to see you on the forum again. I am sure everyone would like to hear more of your take on the economy, etc. Mexico is suffering the same as every other nation. I read that tourism by Mexicans is way down as well. You mentioned the cost of the palapas!! Wow! I would be interested in knowing how they handle the legalities. Do you actually purchase the lot and get a title/trust?
Steve and Danielle, Rick B, Moisheh, Linda - it's great to read your notes and thank you all for your welcome back.
As to the palapa arrangement here in Paa Mul, we are on an annual land lease basis. You build your own palapa - although only one or two empty spaces are left - and the annual rent is $6000US. Palapas range from the simplest - just something to park your rig under - to the elaborate and everything in-between. Re-sales are now in the $65,000 to $140,000 range. The park is on government-designated green space and is a sea turtle preserve. Nothing but an RV park and a few grandfathered-in houses can occupy the land so we feel secure building here.
You know the saying "when the US sneezes, the rest of the world catches a cold". For Mexico, it might be the flu. The interdependence with the US is certainly the greatest for Mexico and many jobs have been lost in this region. That said, most of the lost jobs have been among migrants - young men from all over Mexico and Guatemala who came here for the booming construction trades. The local Mayans seem mostly unfazed although you can be sure there are exceptions to that. Mayans know how to live simply off the abundant sea food, fruits and the support of their families. They do not have the feelings of entitlement to the good life that you see in other parts of the world. Prosperity in this region is a fairly new phenomenon and they know how to live without it.
As to our volume three, we receive a lot of inquiries about it at our web site and we know we need to do something about it. We've mentioned before that we don't believe it is economically viable due to the very limited RV travel to the magnificent central highlands. Our volumes one and two sell well because most people want the beach environments when they come to Mexico. So, what to do with the great material we have on the colonial cities of the highlands and selected areas of the east coast? Enter the Travel Channel. They have asked us to make a proposal and sample piece for consideration as a series on RV travel that we call "RV Beyond the Horizon". We have sent them this "teaser" - here
This was done at very high resolution for professional level bandwidth so it may not play smoothly on your connection. You can download the piece at the site and watch it without the glitches of streaming.
I think it is a long shot (very) that our Mexico travels will end up on the Travel Channel but we want to give it a try. If that doesn't happen soon, we are going to make the third program available one way or the other. It is the final episode of a trilogy of just about all the places one would want to go in Mexico and we don't feel complete without it.
The presentation is so professionally done that it takes your breath away to realize that you do it all and most of it from the RV. I watched it and could only say you need to see it at least twice to be able to put a label on the various places shown. You give good examples of most of the country without showing the "seamier" sides of the country. I've seen most of the places you show and it certainly makes me want to get back on the road again.
I spent the fall term teaching at Monterrey Tec/Aguascalientes. Aguas is a great place to travel from to see the Mexican colonial highlands and we did as much of that as time and budget allowed. The city of Aguascalientes is one of the best kept secrets in México in that it is so clean, well-managed and things actually work there. Lots of things to see and friendly folks. The plaza principal contains beautiful cathedral, governmental building with fantastic murals and a constant change of activity on the large paved court.
You show few pix of Guanajuato, San Miguel, and I think I saw some Queretaro and Lago Chapala. I really like the highlands and think that many more travelers would like it too.
I sure hope you produce another video and I will add it to my other two DVDs of your travels.
Muchas gracias y welcome back.
drtee
Wm. W. Thompson, PhD
Professor of Marketing
UT-Pan American
Edinburg, TX
Oh my gosh- yes, you have to do it. The "teaser" is wonderful, as are your 1st 2 DVD's. I don't think it matters whether you are viewing places you have been or viewing for information about places you have yet to visit- you 2 have the mixture of charm and class that makes it an experience- not just entertainment. Go for it- all the best & please keep us posted. Don't want to miss anything!
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