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RE: Criteria for a long-term location!
Chris and Rockmoc - the mountains between Saltillo and Monterey (well, Santiago) ar some of the prettiest areas we've seen in Mexico (though we haven't been to Oaxaca).
Without humitity you're going to be away from shores, so have you checked out Bernal (a little east of Queretaro)? Or the mountains between the East Coast and SLP? Even between Xico and Pachuca is beautiful, (remote as hell) and lovely climate. And then there is the entire area around Cuernavaca - lovely climate, lots of history, lovely little villages.
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harvestmoon
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07/02/08 08:19am |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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RE: Criteria for a long-term location!
Really Dan, that is the real bottom line. Most places you would enjoy leaving for a couple months a year, there in Jalisco you would go to the beach in the winter, here we would go to the mountains or the US in the spring. I'm pretty comfortable here year around but I do admit that it gets hot before the rains start, around April and May. For me, that is a perfect time to visit friends in the US or elsewhere.
Oh, and it is cold as heck in Ajijic as well as GDL. I had the furnace going full time one Thanksgiving there and I won't even bring up the Janurary we were there for a few weeks. It's cold, and while you may use your pool year around I have a solar heater on mine in Merida so I can use it in the winter. No polar bear club here.
This is very true. We've very much aclimated to the Yucatan heat and for me, I'm in fleece (I have fleece pants and a jacket on right now) at 80F. The kids do the same during the nortes and 60F is simply unbearably cold. We were in the SF Bay Area last November and thought we were going to die. I LOVE the "wall" of heat that hits you here and while I don't exactly love being sweaty all the time, I'm very used to it. In the wintertime, when all the snowbirds are frolicking in the "warm" seas, my family is shivering on the shore.
And Jonna, you're so right. April and May are always hotter to me than any month after the rains start.
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harvestmoon
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07/02/08 08:15am |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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RE: Criteria for a long-term location!
Quite honestly, we didn't settle here because we fell in love with the place; the kids needed to stop for a while and the price was right and the future looked good as an investment.
The Caribbean only steps away, snorkeling every calm afternoon with a kid or two, even the kids swim to the reef it is so close, watching the amazing array of blues and greens, exercise walks along deserted beaches, proximity of amazing history, amazing food, city with large box stores 15km away, incredibly cheap rent (we're paid until 2011 or something crazy like that; water, electricity, garbage) all are positives.
However, I really hear the call of the open road. I can't think of one place I'd like to settle, but I am very happy exploring all of them. Once the kids are grown I'd like to hit the road again, and next year, assuming a more positive cash flow, I'd like to at least roam around Mexico a bit. We've been in the same place (although Jamie and I always remark to each other, "if we have to be stuck somewhere, this is pretty damn good") for over a year. That is pretty difficult for me. :) I'm really a gypsy at heart (and my 12yo keeps telling me, "Mom, I'm just not a gypsy like you are.").
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harvestmoon
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07/02/08 08:09am |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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RE: Would you travel Mexico if....
harvestmoon;
PALAPA??? more of a palacio!!!!!
Moisheh
No ----! Looks like I need to work harder. Need a babysitter for the palapa while you're gone? :B
Chris, you know that you and yours are welcome anytime! We even have room (inside) for guests. Seriously, just name the date and we'll have it ready. We're very seriously thinking of a road trip though for the fall and early winter of this year. Moisheh, I know (think?) you guys have a place in Kino/San Carlos, but you are also welcome.
Dan, if you follow the link under the picture, you can see the construction process.
And, aw shucks, thanks guys. We only did the painting though, the abaniles did the work.
- Kathy
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harvestmoon
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06/30/08 08:14am |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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RE: Would you travel Mexico if....
harvestmoon:
Where have you been??
Moisheh
Just hanging out here at home (Quintana Roo). HAven't been here for a while since we haven't RV'd MExico since winter 2007. Didn't really feel like I had much to offer since we're not moving around. We're looking to travel up to Chihuahua in Septemberish and head over to Mexicali so I guess we'll be RV'ers again! :) Even though we live in our rig (and palapa) we're not moving around the country and I don't feel like I have much to add...
Pics of our home...
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2012/2096484797_0afaaa5348.jpg
More here Palapa
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harvestmoon
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06/29/08 08:10am |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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RE: Looking for best route information/advice
We traveled MX57 for years until we settled in QRoo. It is still my favorite. Good road, much of it 4 lane and Zacatecas is not to be missed. We spent 2 weeks at the Pemex outside Zacatecas for the International Folkloric festival one year.
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harvestmoon
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06/28/08 10:24pm |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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RE: Planning my '08-'09 trip to the Yucatan
We usually travel the West coast of Mexico and if you go to my website you can read my reports and blogs.
This year we thought we might leave earlier and go to Yucatan. So I have have some questions for you travelers to that area.
1. Palmul looks nice, do I need reservations, will they honor them to stay for a few weeks in late December?
2. If we decide to fly home for the holidays is there a safe place to park the motorhome for a week or so in that area?
3. Any other recommended campgrounds heading south to Chetumal, we have solar panels and enjoy dry camping.
4. What foods do I need to get out of my refrigerator before entering Campeche beside pork, chicken and eggs?
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West Coast question
We may head over to Huatulco on our way back. A year ago the nice campground next to the golf course was closed do to construction. Has it reopened, are there any alternatives if it has not?
Hey! I haven't been in this forum in forever.
1) We live in PaaMul (with our 4 kids) and you will definitely need reservations but last winter was much less crowded than the winter before. I suspect that the US economy downturn might disuade some of the snowbirds from coming next year also. Last summer quite a few spots were carved out of the jungle (I posted last year to Ed - was it 16 spots?) and while many of those now have palapas (let me think...4 have palapas, so that isn't many) all have some semblance of utilities. I haven't ever checked the plugs so I really don't know for sure but if people are building there, they must have services (though I do continue to see electrical cords strung over the exposed limestone path). So, make reservations. :)
2) I would leave the motorhome in PaaMul, but negotiate with the office for a non-service site and a very reduced fee. I really can't think of any other place you that is secure where you could leave your rig.
3) South towards Chetumal I would stay at a ruin site in the Xpuhil area and maybe Kathe's Calderitis (did I spell that correctly, Jonna?) and definitely Cenote Azul next to Laguna Bacalar. Xcalak is REALLY out of the way and remote but Jonna made a very enticing picture there. I would say Xcalak is more ex-pat than national, wouldn't you say, Jonna?
4) We always hide food at Tabasco, Yucatan, Sonora and Campeche state. QRoo doesn't seem to care. :)
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harvestmoon
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06/28/08 10:18pm |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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RE: Mileage from city to city ??
I vote with Chris. I love the Traza tu ruta map - it also gives toll casetas and costs.
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harvestmoon
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06/28/08 10:06pm |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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RE: I want to be a Mexican!!!
We have found Mexico to be much cheaper for our family. We have 4 kids, 14 (in less than a week), 12, 8 and 6. We have been traveling MExico since 2004 and moved here January 1, 2007. I budget $2500USD a month for all expenses, but built into that budget are costs that come up yearly (life insurance, health insurance (I need to drop the US health insurance and get ING), Sirius radio :), stuff like that). We generally spend around $1600USD a month. We live on the Caribbean and snorkel daily (but not in the winter when it is too cold - all the snowbirds think it is warm, but they are nutz! :), eh Jonna?). We do NOT live an American lifestyle though and cook almost everything from scratch, get our fruits and veggies on Wednesday (during the sales), etc.
In our experience it is very possible as long as you're willing to be frugral and live a non-disposable lifestyle.
Jonna already pointed out that citizenship is not only possible, it is probable. We're all on FM3's and will probably get citizenship if/when it becomes possible (although now that the FM2 is actually required (there was a short time that an FM3 would suffice, I think) it is a more expensive endeavour.
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harvestmoon
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06/28/08 09:50pm |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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RE: Would you travel Mexico if....
This is my first time back in this forum in forever. We live in the south of Mexico, in the state of Quintana Roo. We're thinking seriously of leaving Mexico to see the grandfolks (we are the ones with the grandkids :)) as it has been over 2 years since we've seen them. One big change is that we'll be going Mexico all the way to California.
So, for us, like Chris, the big question is, "will you leave Mexico for the US?" and for us, it is a measured, tiny, "maybe". Still have to crunch the numbers...
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harvestmoon
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06/28/08 09:29pm |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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RE: Nomad (trailer) in Mexico
What are you going to do with the trailer you have? IF you are going to leave it here in Mexico, I bet you could get an excellent price for it in PaaMul.
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harvestmoon
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05/02/08 11:25pm |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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RE: Food Riots in Mexico??
Here in QRoo (well, this little corner of Quintana Roo) Chris, they are as they are up there. $10/kilo in the tortillerias and $5/kilo in the supers.
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harvestmoon
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05/02/08 10:59pm |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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RE: Did Everybody Go Home For The Summer?
Still here in QRoo. Waiting for the tortugas to come. Hoping the huracanes stay away.
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harvestmoon
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04/26/08 02:54pm |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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RE: Border Gas Prices
We are a fronterra, Chris, and diesel is running 5.76 right now. I'll make a point to check gas (we generally only fill up once a month) prices next time I see a Pemex.
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harvestmoon
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04/22/08 08:02am |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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RE: Pre-paid Toll road charges....
As a resident on an FM2 or FM3 you can open a bank account and receive a credit card.
It is possible to get a Mexican bank account without an FM2/3. Here in QRoo, our neighbor on an FMT (and I've heard this experience recounted by other ex-pats) got a bank account with Santender Serifin. I know this is very particular to each bank branch and probably employee; when I asked at HSBC they told me I needed an FM3.
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harvestmoon
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04/19/08 08:39am |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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RE: Health Care in Mexico
Jonna; tell them about your cardio exeprience also.
Hospiten is The Most Expensive Hospital here. It costs $600 just to walk in the door. I've heard horror stories about the cost of the ER, but Jonna defies those rumours.
We use a combination of housecall docs (when the kids are too sick or hubby was once too sick) to comfortably leave; if we'd HAD to leave, we would have, but with the option of a housecall, why do it? Clinic docs (from Centro de Salud at $30 for the consult and drugs to private sanitarios) and hospitals. We honestly haven't had a bad experience. We are waiting to get to Merida (and Star Medica) to get some tourist doctoring going. Jamie could use a hernia repair and I'm thinking of getting my tubes tied.
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harvestmoon
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04/19/08 08:36am |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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RE: Our Mexico trip was one in hell.
i think the key to living down here (we have been traveling in Mexico since 2004 and living fulltime since Jan 2007) is to let go of expectations. The reason I had concern about you living down here is because you seemed to be so set on your expectations and itinerary. If you can get to a place (geographically) and throw your schedule out the window because you've either fallen in love, just want to explore or are having trouble, you can get to a place (figuratively) where the little nigging items just don't matter. Being, living and traveling in Mexico and having a GOOD time requires that you adapt, change, lose your NOB expectations and REALLY SLOW DOWN.
I think it really helps to look at the journey and not the destination.
Living here will drive you insane if you can't let go.
It looks like you've already identified many of the issues that caused you to see your vacation as "hellish" but I think you also have to realize that you cannot plan or plan for everything. Sheet happens. And then you deal.
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harvestmoon
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04/10/08 01:33pm |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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RE: Spring Break-Queretaro, Hidalgo, San Luis Potosi
Jonna; I'm pretty sure Chris stayed at the place we do just north of Queretaro. It is a hotel and restaurant and the last time we were there they were providing electricity. We really never needed A/C even in June and July but luz is nice at times. They even have a Pemex there. You really can't miss it; it is on the northbound side of the road (divided) right about 14-15km north of Queretaro. Great spot to explore Queretaro, Ceyala, Dolores Hidalgo and San Miguel. And just up the road, at a town with a (to me) polish name (can't remember the name) you'll find the most amazing chicharones evah.
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harvestmoon
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04/10/08 12:20am |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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RE: Our Mexico trip was one in hell.
One thing keeps calling my attention through all your installments. You seemed to be tied to an itinerary and frequently drove long days. And honestly, if that trip was a trip from hell, I would SERIOUSLY reconsider moving to Mexico. Sounds like you had a LOVELY trip with a couple setbacks. Get rid of the GPS, throw the schedule out the window and travel short days. But truthfully, I really think you should stay NOB. I can't even imagine how difficult you will find life down here (I live in QRoo).
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harvestmoon
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04/10/08 12:05am |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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RE: Stand-alone Satellite Internet System
Harvestmoon,
Stupid question..what is 'VAR'? Also, do you mean that Starband does now have coverage in Mexico but not when you were signing up?
Thanks
VAR's re-sell the Hughes service, generally (to justify the added price they tack on) providing additional service. For example, if you contract directly with Hughes (as we do) if you call for tech support, you will be talking to India for quite a while and you cannot request a satellite move. If you contract with Ground Control or Motosat you will talk to US agents and can request satellite moves.
When we originally purchased our system (2005?) Starband did not offer a bird that covered Mexico. From the posts I'm reading (though I do not have direct experience) it seems that they now have service on birds with Mexican footprints, so it would seem that they are an option. I do believe, however, that they no longer provide the Mobile Flyer option. But I could be wrong; I'd talk to a Starband dealer like Barb and Joe of RV Networking or Terry Cannon of Roving Internet
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harvestmoon
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04/06/08 12:45pm |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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