New members of the Mexico forum, introduce yourselves here - 2018

mrhess wrote:

Originally from Alabama, but have moved around a lot.  Alabama, Texas, Nebraska, Virginia, Panama Canal Zone, Oklahoma, and then back to Alabama.  Practiced law in Alabama for 4 years, before moving to Georgia, doing mostly criminal defense.

Currently living in Atlanta, Georgia, and visiting Mexico about twice a year.  Planning to retire before I turn 60 and moving to Puerto Vallarta.  Trying to save up enough money to make that happen sooner rather than later.

I have been visiting Puerto Vallarta for the past 10 years and have made several friends who live there or visit there regularly.

Trying to learn Spanish, and currently using an app called Duolingo and it claims I have reached more than 50% fluency, but still pretty slow on the comprehension and speaking.

Hi Mr hess,

Duolingo is probably one of the best, Their other apps , like the stories, and tiny flash cards help quite a bit, you might try them also.

Mostly it's practice, and of course getting the ear and the sound of the words which can be a big issue. The dialogue can be different than what you imagine and the speech is quite rapid. You have to get whole sentences instead of just words. Words can slow you down so badly that you miss major parts of the conversation.

Buena suerte

2doggirl wrote:

Retired nurse practitioner from Memphis TN. I've visited Ajijic and made friends there. I'm now moving to San Juan Cosala as of Feb 28. I'm driving down with my 2 dogs and meeting an escort at the border. My friends are just amazed that I'm moving. Of course they wouldn't move across town which is why I've got to find some people that are more like me, adventurous. I hope to find some groups interested in cycling. motorcycles, travelling, foodies, wine etc etc etc.
Right now I'm trying to find a reliable mail service that will deliver from Laredo to Ajijic. I'd really like to hear suggestions. I've done some online research but want to hear what you've actually experienced.
Also what about Mexican insurance for cars? Anyone familiar with Bravo?

Hi 2dog,

I think with Mexican auto insurance it is sort of a crap shoot. You must have it, and yet for the most part it will not perform like U.S. insurance, I had ABA which was supposed to be the best, well not bad for a cracked windshield, but for major problems, not good at all.
Now I have an insurance that was tied into the purchase of my car so the car manufacturer/ bank has a vested interest in performance. I would check the customer reviews and go from there.

Know what you mean about friends, mine were all amazed complete with shaking heads.  I am very adventurous , so off I went and here I am.

Kerryspirit wrote:

Hi there, I am new here (well on the Mexico site I am already on the Ireland site where I live momentarily) and want to introduce myself shortly.
I am German, living in Ireland in the moment with my 12 year old daughter. I have years of experience in tourism, airport etc while I was living in Greece for a couple of years and have a degree in Graphics, PR etc and in social studies.
Since last February I study Spanish which I always loved and add to my German, Greek and English.
I always had a passion for Mexico, the culture, food, people, todo realmente lol and consider emigrating in 2019.
Also doing my TEFL this year to have a base starting teaching English.
So we could start somewhere and my daughter could go to school even she does not know SPanish YET (she will be in the first year secondary school then here)...
So any recommendations really really appreciated...
Like (even I read that as a teacher your employers will sort the visa) how difficult is it to get a visa to work as a European or will my EU driving licence be valid, can I drive with it... everything really.

Thanks

xx Chris

I drove using my U.S. license until I became a permanent resident, I found English to German was easier than English to Spanish. German is more like English. There are several people on the forum who are familiar with teaching jobs here, so I am sure someone will respond to the teaching questions.

So keep up the language studies in English, and now Spanish.

Buena suerte

Kerryspirit wrote:

Does that mean I would be able to drive with my EU licence? Sorry what does that mean English to German and to Spanish?
Yes I will try to connect with TEFL people here and try to get some info like would I be able to survive with it (for a starter anyway) with a child?
How long do you live in Mexico?!
Yo adoro eso pais especialmente Mexico desde fui una niña ;-)

Muchas gracias ;-)

It means as a visitor you can use your license from Deutschland. 

What I was saying  is, it is easier to learn german if you speak English, and English if you know German  because they are similar, but harder to learn Spanish, because they are not very similar. Es ist besser, nicht zu versuchen , gleichzeitig Englisch und Spanisch zu lernen.

How long have I lived in Mexico ?  6 years.

Craig777 wrote:

Hi Gordy,

I am thinking along the same lines as you actually.
I'm new to this website.

Since I only have a few personal possessions that fit into about 3 large suitcases, (would like to get it down to (2 medium ones) soon, I want to travel to places and do sort of what you're doing.

Maybe
1 or 2 months Puerto Vallerta + towns along the beach in that area like Manzanillo
1 month or so Playa de Carmen
And check out some other cities.
I heard Cabo and that west cost area can be very expensive not exciting.
But I'm open to at least check it out.
I think you said you've been to Rosarito?
How was that?

I'm looking to drive down by car for anywhere from 3 to 6 months per year.
If I like Mexico I would like to stay up to the total 6 months they allow.

I'm also thinking about going to Guatemala for one month per year.
Looking to make new friends here and bounce ideas and opinions off each other.

I have lived in USA, Brazil a few years, Thailand a few months and traveled to many cities in Europe and Asia.

But would like to stay now on this side of the planet for now.

Please feel free to reply and I welcome any other replies.
Would definitely like suggestions and opinions specifically about:
1) Mexico - Incl: Playa de Carmen, Puerto Vallerta, and beach towns in Mexico.
2) Guatemala also...
3) Maybe even Belize...

Hi Craig,

There are a number of small beach towns worth exploring in the yucatan and Quintana roo. There are also beautiful old cities All down the eastern coast.

Be careful with Guatemala which is politically and environmentally unstable. There are people who have had a scary time there.  The Mexican border keeps a close eye on people returning from there, so be very careful with paperwork and meeting visa expiration dates.

Belize is worth seeing if you are a diver, and the beach towns are interesting, if you watch for sink holes. Suddenly being down to your knees on the beach is exciting. They are English speaking.

I think the cocktail hour begins at dawn , so that is something to be aware of also. It tends to be pretty expensive and has very different attitudes, There are potential mosquito carried parasites in jungle areas . I have been there 3 times, it is fun to visit occasionally.

Buena suerte

Craig777 wrote:

Hey T Light,
Thanks again!
Great info.

I will have to do more research about Mexico and the mosquito hotspots there.

I use natural spray I make myself with pure potent essential oils and water in a spray bottle.
I use lots of Lemon Eucalyptus Oil because I hear that they hate that.

That's good that Cancun Sprays. It keeps the cash coming in from from tourists that dont complain about stuff like that I guess.

It makes sense that Rosarito doesnt have any because neither does california which is right around the corner basically.

Let me know how you like Rosarito after June.
I'm curious about it.
I love that it's not expensive.
I love that it's a beach town.
And love the fact that I can make a fast run into San Diego if I ever wanted to in about 90 minutes from start to end.

Will you be going there by car?
 
I'll have to try and look up that movie on Netflix about the most environmentally dangerous and learn more about Guatemala.

You say people were trying to fly out?
Wonder if they made it out.
The police stopped them?
Is that on the video?

I like that there may not be Mosquito issues in Puerto Vallarta, Rosarito Beach, and Baja.

Have a great one.
Talk soon again hopefully!

Craig

Hi Craig,

The people I know who were in Guatemala made it out . One was actually stopped in the airport, after visiting Guatemala to renew his Mexican visa ( you have to exit the country every 6 month and comeback in, getting a new visa) The easy way to do that is Belize for a few days, but he decided to try something different. Given that Mexico takes a pretty hard line on Guatemala, for whatever reason they would not let him back into Mexico. It took him two to 3 weeks to fix that and I believe the whole trip scared him quite a bit. The other person also got stalled at the airport but it was Guatemala that decided they need some extra fees. She was stuck for 2-3 days.

As for Guatemala itself beyond the political issues, "Guatemala has been severely affected by natural hazards including volcanic activity, hurricanes, and landslides. The worst disaster was the 1976 earthquake that killed over 23,000 people and resulted in economic damages estimated at 17.9 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). Over the last decades, further events caused additional human and economic losses, such as Hurricane Mitch (4.7 percent of GDP), the 2001 drought (0.1 percent), and Hurricane Stan (3.4 percent)." ( banking /financial website)

No I won't be going to Rosarito by car . I have crossed the border numerous times using a car, but driving from here to there would take a long time ( week or so), time I don't have. So we  ( my Mexican amigo and I will fly). Of course if I was Mexican it would only take maybe 4 days or less, but I like to sleep at nigh, and be off the road at sunset, plus I drive much closer to the speed limit. Ja Ja

The mosquito spots are actually fairly easy, hot humid, little wind, and the best WETLANDS. The area with flamingos for instance , okay during the day, but with those wetlands loaded with mosquitoes at night.
Areas that do not eliminate standing water. After rain, I put bleach in standing puddles and I don't have a problem. Known areas are places like Merida which is hot and humid it has mosquitos in the rainy season which is beginning. They have no winds to speak of and no beach , so it would be a prime spot.
and Tulum with it's wetlands. I just basically figure there could be a problem and always have sprays.

What I have had problems with is the " Chaquiste" a nasty little sucker sort of a cross between a noseeum and a chigger. You don't see them, they hang out in garden areas, the male likes pollen the female likes you. As with chiggers , if you assume you may have one on you, you take a a thorough shower and you will probably be fine. If you don't there might be a nasty itch later followed by a large red bite spot which can last a couple of weeks. I have found cleaning the area quickly then applying activated charcoal on the bite works well. Charcoal works on mosquito bites also, but they don't last long. My last mosquito bite was last year.

Craig777 wrote:

Hi Gordy,

I think you said you've been to Rosarito?
How was that?

There are two towns named "Rosarito" that I know of in Baja:

South of Tijuana is what I mistakenly called "Rosarita Beach". I've been to Rosarito Beach twice, once as a little boy to witness my mother marrying her third husband.

Back then it was a step up from the quality of life in Tijuana; a nice little beach town for a day trip.

No longer.

I was there about a year ago, and was amazed at how trashed the town appears now.

It's become the West coast Ft. Lauderdale for Southern California kids who want to party hard, every weekend, being not too far from the border.

Tijuana, on the other hand, has had a bit of a facelift, and whenever I visit from San Diego, I cross the border on foot, skip the taxi lines, and walk into town and back without a care in the world...during the daytime.

There is another very small town named Rosarito in the Valle De Los Cirios Natural Protected Area, but I've never been there.

travellight wrote:

here is a good source Craig,

https://www.mexperience.com/lifestyle/l … migration/

As for the car, it would require an import sticker once you are past specific Border based areas , So your traveling without the car and coming back for it later isn't a good plan.

Thanks for info, T-Light. This related link on that site helped clarify things for me:

BRINGING FOREIGN PLATED CARS INTO MEXICO

Rosiedoll wrote:

Thanks, I've had all the visa info etc.
Unfortunately, it's not answering the stuff I posted about

If you look at the directory, that site has more than just visa info.

travellight wrote:

For instance https://www.mexperience.com/lifestyle/l … ations/#11

OK, so this is what you said "I also see that Mexico has retirement incentive..is that in baja as well?
Here is an excerpt from an international magazine
"
Get a senior citizen’s card once you’re 60 years old through INAPAM, Mexico’s national senior citizens’ organization.
With an INAPAM card from your Mexican state government, you can get discounts off a variety of goods and services, including medical care and devices; airline and bus tickets; entrance fees to concerts, museums, and archaeological sites; and even get a discount on your property taxes.

With a temporary residence visa you can bring your foreign-plated car to Mexico and keep it here. If you switch to a permanent visa you’ll need to get a Mexican-plated car." The site I referred you to talks about those types of issues.

As for living here, depending on what your needs are you can live here with the cost limitations you spoke of. I referred you to another source because you quoted a source and some of those "international magazines' are selling so they give the briefest information and are not providing complete information, just the most positive slant..

There may also be old posts on this site which may answer your specific questions. Checking under the housing tab on this site might help you also.

So you want to move with your car to somewhere in Mexico, have you been to the Mexican counsel in your area to see if you can get a temporary visa ? That is your first step. As for the car , there would be an import fee required. When I came in it was $300 for my car which was returned when I left Mexico to renew my visa. I then gave the money back when I reentered. That money switched hands probably 6 times before I qualified to actually become temporary or permanent. They gave me permanent. At this point it may be possible to get a temporary from the counsel before coming down here but you have to provide proof of your income and a filled out form to the counsel.