A Day Trip to Tonala!

Tonola is a suburb of Guadalajara and is 40 minutes from where we live.  It is a shoppers paradise featuring tons and tons of beautiful handcrafted Mexican wares.  Hand blown glass shops, copper shops, home furnishings, ceramics, clay planters etc.  There are so many stores you could not possibly see them all in one day - maybe not even over a weekend! 
We went to Tonala with our friends Wess & Marty for the day and bought alot of nice things for our place - super inexpensive and unique. 
Here is a you tube video that I found online that gives you a little overview of the lovely place.
I can't wait to go back.  We shopped till we dropped. 
When you come to visit, a trip to Tonala is definately in order!  Fun, Fun, Fun..............


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWNaxdoRtcA&feature=related

Creepy Crawlers..............

When Greg and I decided to move to Mexico, one thing immediately caught our attention and concern.  Not the crime stats, not the healthcare, no, for us it was all those creepy crawlers that live well in Mexico.  We're not talking about regular insects, we're talking about the scary ones..............
Scorpions, Cockroaches, Black Widow Spinders, Rattlesnacks.   We are well accustomed to mosquitos, ticks and the dreaded Black Flies...............but this was going to be different, these could kill you!
We listened carefully to the advice of our expat friends.............Never go barefeet, not even in the house, keep bedsheets and blanket up off the floors, use this product or that product on your floors, but the one tip suggested time and time again was "Be sure to use plastic drain covers on all your drains when not in use.:  We did all of the above.
One morning I decided to take a bath instead of the usual fast shower.  I had bought myself some lovely coconut foam bath and was anticipating a nice long soak.  I opened up the tub/shower door and reached down to pour in my bubbly..........to my shock, there was a very healthy scorpion sitting on the drain - tail pointed straight up!  Well, that was the end of the nice relaxing soak .  Screeching, I call Greg.  We're both standing there looking at the thing not knowing how these things move.  Will it jump?  Do they move fast?  Can it fly?  Yeesh.............. After a few minutes we decided the best thing to do was to go get one of Greg's Size 13 sneakers.  Success!
We haven't had a further close call but we do see them around from time to time.  We were concerned for the dogs being outside so much.  Our vet recommended that we keep a vile of anti-serum (complete with syringe!) in the fridge to allow us to administer a quick needle in the event of a sting.   We have the same thing for ourselves.  Most of the scorpions here are small and we are told will not kill you.  They leave a very painful sting and of course for those of us who are allergic to bee stings, this can cause a problem.  The Red Cross phone number sits beside the phone - just in case!
  Our newest little addition "Bella" is a scorpion hunter.  The other day on the front porch Bella begins to bark looking directly at the corner.  Not her usual bark, this one was an alert bark.  You guessed it, there it was on the floor - a scorpion!  Size 13's again fixed the problem.
We now have the outside of our home, around the perimeter sprayed monthly - we're told that this will elliminate the little monsters from coming indoors.
And to think that I use to be afraid of the Little Brown Mice we had visiting us on Black Lake!!

Kindness.................

Over the past couple of days both Greg and I have had some stomach complaints - okay it's been over 2 months in Mexico and we have been waiting for this!  Nothing extremely serious, just plain old "Mexican Stuff".  If you've been here, you know what I'm referring to.
Today (Wednesday) is garbage day.  As Greg is down at the gate putting it to the street, our Mexican Neighbours Maid saunters across the street to chat with Greg.  She is in her PJ's (cute flannel ones) and after a little morning neighbor chat she leaves.
Not long after, our doorbell at the gate rings, there she is (still in PJ's) with a large pot of brewed homeade herbal (majic) tea in her hand.  She explains (in spanish) that it is the remedy for what is ailing us both.   As we sit here drinking the pot of tea, we again are reminded of the kindness and helpfullness of the Mexican people. 
We hope a second pot won't be necessary!!

Espanol.............Por Favor!

Each day our Spanish improves...........we now can effectively communicate with our gardener Juan and our weekly cleaning lady Maria.  What began as sign language has now become daily exchanges of basic communication.  Although we stumble with putting together complete sentences, both Juan and Maria seem to understand what we are trying to say.  Every now and then they begin laughing when we mistakenly use an incorrect word. I think they applaud our efforts!   Here are just a few of the words we use on a daily basis.............

*Basura - garbage
* Hasta Luego - see you later
* Mucho Mahor - big job
* Poco, Poco - little by little
* Paintura - painting
* Jardin - garden
* Mucho Deneros - alot of money
*  Plantas - plants
*  Auga - water
*  Mucho Calor - very hot
*  Juvia - Rain
*  Bano - bathroom
*  Libramento -  highway
*  mas  - alot
*  grande - large
*  especial - special
*  necessario - necessary
* muerto - dead
*  hoy - today
* ahorrar - save
*cafe solo - black coffee
*  poco cafe por favor - a little more coffee please!
* de nada - you're welcome (or "don't mention it")
*  Pollio - chicken
*Pierro - dog
*vente - for sale
*renta - for rent
* amigo - friend (male)
* amiga - (friend female)
* bien trabajo - good job

That's it for todays post!  Love you all...........
xoxo

The Great Wall of China........um, I mean The Great Wall of Chapala......

Well, it's been a few very weeks of outdoor projects here  at Casa Blanco.............
It all started with Greg & I deciding to cut back some of the wild jasmine trees that bordered our back property.  This stuff had literally taken over a good deal of our property.  After cutting alot of it back we saw what was left of a decripid chain link fence - half fallen over from the weight of these humungous plants.  So, it began.  We decided to remove all of it and build a solid brick wall across the back.  The thing is huge - looks great and is now complete.   We had a team of between 6 to 9 local guys here who were happy to have the work.  We also decided to replace and or repair all of the broken sidewalks and patio's that surround our place.  (remember, we bought a fixer-upper!!)  And the work began.  It's been wonderful  to see the skilled larbors going about their craft.  The work is now complete and we are thrilled with the results, especially the very cost of the project.  We've supplied Cokes, snacks and  special lunches for the guys on Fridays.  These are hard working men/boys.  They begin each day here at 8 am and finish for the day at  6 pm Monday to Friday.  Saturdays are working days for the Mexicans - 8am - 2 pm.  Sundays are their only days off and as I've said before - Family Day!
Here's the team!  I had to bribe them with ice cold cokes and chips in order to get them together for a group shot!   A couple pics of the "Great Wall of Chapala!"
Stay Tuned, and thanks for reading our blog!

Thought for Today!

A couple of quotes, from a couple of my favourite guys!!  Hummm................


Bilbo Baggins, from The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring: “It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.”

Mark Twain said: “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.

Boomers in Mexico

A very enlightening article that a friend of mine sent to me - it really gives perspective to retiring in Mexcio and explains why it's the choice of so many Canadians and Americans...............

MyBlog - MyBlog

“Reports of violence have only reduced the frequency or duration of trips to Mexico for only 7 percent of Americans…and remains retirees' No. 1 travel destination.” - ABC News Recent reports strongly indicate that the highly televised Mexican drug war has not stopped most Americans from traveling or moving South of the Border. In fact, according to an ABC News report, of the 5.25 million Americans living in other countries, the vast majority (over 1 million) live in Mexico, and many more may be on their way. A number of Mexican communities now virtually look like U.S. suburbs and in some cases American and Canadian property owners outnumber locals. No Fear Here In areas far from US border towns, such as Playa del Carmen and Tulum, Mexico’s drug war is a distant and far away place. In fact, when surveyed, most Americans living here feel that they are much safer than in cities like L.A., New York, Chicago, Atlanta or Miami. Indeed, recent statistics prove them to be right. According to a report last year by the LA Times, tourist areas in Mexico are 12 times safer than Tampa or Honolulu, 17 times safer than Dallas or West Palm Beach, 26 times safer than Orlando or Houston and a whopping 39 times safer than the U.S. capital, Washington D.C., and Americans and Canadians are coming in droves. Why Here, Why Now? Americans and Canadians are sneaking South of the Boarder for all the usual suspects: tropical weather, pristine property, tree-lined beaches, white-sand, warm turquoise water, crystalline coastlines, the beckoning beach lifestyle, and a litany of other adjectives. But perhaps this time they are descending on magical Mexico for a compelling new impetus altogether. When the global recession hit, many retirees and investors were driven south where life is cheap and the living is easy. A dollar down here buys roughly 30% more, taxes are negotiable, and the economy is rebounding at a rapid pace. Personal debt and the credit crisis are virtually non-existent since Mexicans do not generally use credit to buy things. Surging Economy That could explain why the Mexican economy is surging (not sputtering) out of the global recession, recording a 4.3% growth rate in the first quarter of 2010 alone (much faster than the U.S.) And if you had invested $10,000 here in 2000 you would have witnessed a 232% gain in your bank account. Perhaps the biggest bonus for retirees and investors in Mexico has been their opportunistic purchases of homes, condos and real estate property. In key areas, real estate development in Mexico is far outpacing growth in other countries. For example, Playa del Carmen was named the fastest growing area in the world just a few years ago and Tulum, just to the south, is poised to grow even faster in the next 5 years. Healthcare Heaven The other goldmine that Americans and Canadians are getting in Mexico is the veritable healthcare jackpot they enjoy that includes full medical, dental and vision coverage for about $600 a year. This government run healthcare plan (IMSS) was created for Mexican employees but is also open to legal foreigners. Imagine a healthcare-fantasy world where there are no deductibles, no co-pays, no limits, no prescriptions to pay for and even pre-existing conditions are covered after 1-2 years. No small reason to make your way to Mexico. There are now over 18,000 major American companies currently investing and operating in Mexico and it is estimated that over 1 million Americans are buying, building and or retiring here. In truth, no one knows exactly how many American or Canadian retirees, entrepreneurs, and families are now traveling or making plans to relocate to Mexico. One thing’s for sure, it’s not a few, it’s not slowing down, and there seems to be no end in sight. And for those who might doubt it, just ask the Mexican locals and they will quickly remind you “they’re moving in all around us!”. by Michael Zenn