Driving Back

I'm am at the hotel, exhausted so I am not sure how this will come out. I just finished Day #2 of the 3 day drive back and this time I am taking the inland route through Queretero. Where to start?

Day one went well. Whether you take the inland or coastal route when driving back and forth to Merida you generall cover the same ground between Merida and Villahermosa. The roads are good in Yucatan. In Campeche the are under heavy construction right now and you shouldn't drive them in the dark at all. My truck was covered in dirt by the time I got to Tabasco. The roads are unpaved at this time in several stretches of HWY 180 in Campeche which makes for slower going.

I also missed the turn to get onto the Cuoto (toll Road) at Champoton because of the construction mess. The distraction was that they had us merging off of a road with oncoming traffic and they didn't have the cones and temporary guardrails up so it caused some distraction and I ended up on the Libre (Free) route. Big mistake. It winds through some coastal mountains which you have to shift down into 2nd gear for (very steep) and it leads you into areas that are confusing. Just take the cuota at all times and make sure you take out a small signature loan for all of your toll expenses before you hit them. I think I have spent close to $100 in tolls and I am not even out of Queretero yet.

Once I got to Villahermosa at around 2:30PM it was rush hour on Friday an the locals were cranky, cranky, cranky. I watched a semi truck back up into the lady in front of me and not even get out to look at the damage. He just took off. Unbelievable.

Stayed at teh Quality Inn behind VIPS like I have recommended before. That was fine. Villahermosa just seeemed different to me on this trip. I noticed the trees along HWY 180 had black trunks from all of the smog. Just not applealing. For dinner I stayed in my room and at crackers and apples. Big spender.

Day 2. I left Villahermosa at 5AM and I noticed my headlights were not working that well. I later got out and noticed that they were covered in dirt from all of the roads in Campeche. The sun came up at 6:30 but the roads were clear for a bit of driving in the dark. Not a problem. I didi miss the turn to Minititlan and ended up on 180 towards Coatzacoatal. Another mistake. Had to backtrack and get back on the main HWY. Then I took the road towards Mexico City, Hwy 150. I have to tell you, for toll roads, Hwy 180 in Tabasco and Hwy 150 heading towards Mexico City are very torn up. They need to do alot of repairs for much of that stretch.

I was pulled over twice, once by the military, once by Federal Police. The Feds tried to tell me that I have to reregister my car with Aduanas each year. I told them and showed them the written law where, as long as my visa is current, the sticker on my windshield is current. The officer told me I was wrong even while I pointed to the sheet that was given me by Aduanas, green highlights and all, to show I was legal. He let me go with a warning.

I also continued to be amazed at how bad the toll roads are. There were a few stretches that were well paved but probably 65% of them were not. At times it was real bad, the quality of the roads. The Arco Norte was another story. It is the Mexican version of the Autobahn. At the entry point they give you a plastic card to hold onto and you give it to the toll attendant at whatever point you exit. I road it the full distance to Hwy 57, Queretero exit. The cost, $275 MXP just for that stretch. HWY 57 north to Queretero is 6 lanes and is an American quality hwy...with tolls of course.

I am staying in the Hampton Inn in Queretero tonight. $1475 MXP. I tried to take up residence at at a park and "whateve" hotel but they told me my truck was too big. Queretero is a very beautiful city, very modern. Not sure where all the wealth comes from but it is nice.

All right friends. I am going to finish up and hit the ATM to make sure I have enought for any more cuotas manana.
Caio
Jay

Planned Pethood

Today we took our adopted labrador Missy to the vet to get her Certificado de Saludo. Planned Pethood is a popular veterenarian used by many expats here in Merida.

In order to bring a dog back into the U.S. you have to have their records up to date. This includes a rabies shot that is administered between the last 30 days and 12 months. What I am saying is that the shots need 30 days to settle into the animal's body and can not be more than 12 months since administered. Make sense? This is per U.S. Customs regulations.

A dog also has to have a Certificado de Salud (Health Certificate) that is not more than 10 days old at the time of your border crossing. That means if I get my CS/HC today, I have to cross the border by February 9th. Does that make sense?

The cost of the treatment: $450 MXP for rabis shot, $75MXP for 30mg Endogard tablet, $200MXP for a Certificate of Health. Total Cost : $725 MXP or $53 USD. Not bad at all.

Tenga Buen Dia
Jay

Last Day of School

Today was our boys last day of school at Calvary Christian Academy. The experience there has been a very good one. This was the hardest part of saying good-bye for us. My wife and I felt like we had attended a funeral of sorts. In many ways our hearts are very much with what is happening in the lives of these teachers and students at this school.

This is Joseph's 6th grade class. Their are two classes in each grade from K through 6th. Each year the school adds a grade. Each grade has two classes of 25 students each. The tuition is only $1,200 MXP per month, approximately $100 USD per month. This class is taking the Spanish block of courses in the morning and the English classes after lunch. The other 6th grade class is below. They are in the English block in the morning and the Spanish block after lunch.

This is Joseph with his two teachers, Teacher Mimi and Teacher Andreas. Andreas teaches the English block to both classes and Mimi takes the Spanish blocks. Both teachers are bilingual. Andreas lived in the U.S. for 22 years and is a dual citizen. Mimi has family in Texas.

All 50 students after a serving of chocolate cake. These kids are really really sweet.

All the ladies need a good-bye hug. Joseph was really really embarrased.



Now it's time for Joel's good-bye party to start at lunchtime. He is in first grade.

Pictured around Joel is Miss Vaness and Teacher Lily. Vanessa was Joel's "shadow". We hired her to help him with his homework and assist him into his transition in the Mexican school system. To the Right is Teacher Lily. She is a wonderful bilingual teacher. She loves Joel and visa versa.

Joel with Miss Vanessa. Saying Good-bye to her was very very hard. The good news is God promoted her to be a 5th grade teacher. "I will bless those who bless you....says the Lord." She was blessed for her faithful service to our family and to the school as a whole.

Teacher Lily.

Joel's Classmates. 5 beautiful Yucateca girls.

Good-bye Calvary Christian Academy. We will love you and always miss you. Maybe again someday if the Lord brings us back.

Saludos

Jay and family

Your Credit Score

Unfortunately that credit score doesn't mean anything here. Someone asked me if their credit standing in the states affects their ability to rent here. Answer: No it doesn't.

Enjoy your new start. Most people that buy a home here pay cash. Those that don't have to get foreign loans and from what I might imagine, the underwriting standards are doubled up and the interest rates are higher.

In summary, your credit in the states can't be pulled from down here from what I understand. You have to understand that the Mexican system is about 20 years behind in some technological areas. This is one of them.

Saludos
Jay

Recommended Realtor and Attorney

Just a quick recommendation. I have mentioned him in previous posts but I just want to personally recommend Fransisco Guiterrez with http://www.yucatanrealestateparadise.com/.

His contact info is:

Francisco Gutierrez Cetina

Founding Partner

Attorney at Law

Certified Attorney of First American Title Insurance Company

francisco@yucatanparadise.com.mx

Cel: (999) 900-36-36

 

He helped me with my rental contract and my residency visas as well. He always did a good job for me so I would recommend him for all the services his company can provide from a real estate standpoint and from an attorney-at-law. Some of you are emailing me and asking me for a recommendation. Here is a very good one. Also, he is bilingual.

 

Saludos

Jay

Taking it Back

They say "facts tell but stories sell." So here goes:

Story #1: Back in 2010 we bought a water dispenser from Costco. It was one of those with hot and cold features for your 5 gallon jugs of drinking water. After about 8 weeks it sprang a leak inside and started gushing water. So I took it back to Costco to get a refund. I explained my situation to the guy behind the counter at the return desk.

He looked the water dispenser over, explained to me that they wouldn't take it back, got on the phone and dialed up a repair service, handed the phone to me and turned around and walked away. I stood there for oooohh....until I got tired of no one answering on the other line. I grabbed my broken water dispenser, walked to my car, called my wife, she got on the internet and looked up regional headquarters phone number....and the fight was on.

She contacted a regional English speaking person in authority with Cotco here in Mexico. She explained our situation and the lady she spoke with was very apologetic and explained that this was an ongoing problem with customer service in Costco in Mexico. She instructed my wife to call me immediately and have me go back into the store right away for a refund. By the time I got back to the service desk the appropriate managers had been contacted. I got an instore credit which was all I wanted in the first place and I went and purchased some groceries.

Now how hard was it to return the water dispenser....at Costco of all places?

Story #2: In August, 2011 I bought two of those freezable plastic ice packs with the funny blue gel inside of them at everyone's favorite store, Wal Mart. My wife wanted to use them as ice packs for her lower back. I bought one at first and it seemed to work well so I went back on another day and bought a second one. The cost for both together was about $90 MXPesos.....$7.50 USD.

After about a week the seams on the ice packs began to break apart and the frozen blue gel on the inside began to come out. Sooooo....I went with receipts in hand to get a refund on both. The lady at the return desk looked at my ice packs, looked at both of my receipts, and proceeded to tell me that because I had bought the ice packs on two seperate days that I could not get a refund at all, on either ice pack. Uuuuugh....What?

When she could see that I was not going to stop staring at her and walk away she called over her supervisor to explain the situation. Her supervisor looked at her like she was crazy and told her to give me a refund. She looked confused and perplexed as to why her original logic was being shot down by her co-worker. I stood there amazed as to why she couldn't understand what was happening.

Story #3: About 6 weeks before the past Christmas I went to Mega at Grand Plaza to buy some toys for Christmas for some of the local kids at our church. Long story short....it ended up not working out that the kids we purchased the toys for (Max Steele Action Figures) were able to receive the toys. So, after 5 weeks I went to get a refund at Mega or at least an instore credit to spend on other things before Christmas.

After having conversations with two different Mega associates and waiting at the return desk for over 30 minutes for a final decision from the Toy department manager, I was told I could not have any sort of refund. They informed me that there return policy is 15 days. Fair enough. But the return policy was not stated on my receipts nor was it stated on any signs hanging in the store that I could see. I was expected to know that on my own without any proactive effort on Mega's part.

So I finally left, feeling more concerned about their willingness to steal 30 minutes of my time on a 30 second issue more than the cost of the $20 USD in toys. We just gave them to the special ed department for our kids school instead. Not a big deal here. Just don't waste my time anymore than necessary.

Are you seeing patterns here?  Before I buy anything in Mexico I ask myself three questions:

1. Do I really, really need this? Or does someone I am buying it for really need this?
2. Do I know what the return policy is in this store I am shopping at and am I willing to stand up to the employees if they give me any pushback?
3. If I can't get a refund, do I have a Plan B? Am I ok with Plan B?

As I have noted in previous posts, I used to manage for both the Olive Garden and Sam's Club. Those are two companies noted for a "no questions asked...how can I make this right" mentality. So much so that it frustrates the managers, especially at the O.G.

You will not find the same mentality here, even with the American companies. When you buy something here it's pretty much yours unless you garage sale it or are willing to go through some of what I described above. Just be aware of what to expect and make sure when you pull the trigger on a purchase you are, most of the time,  "All-in" on it.

Saludos
Jay

Stevia

Many expats here have learned the importance of good nutrition. I always tell people, if the subject comes up, that Stevia sweetener is a better alternative than artificial sweeteners or processed sugar.

Per Wikipedia Stevia is a genus of about 240 species of herbs and shrubs in the sunflower family (Asteraceae), native to subtropical and tropical regions from western North America to South America. The species Stevia rebaudiana, commonly known as sweetleaf, sweet leaf, sugarleaf, or simply stevia, is widely grown for its sweet leaves. As a sweetener and sugar substitute, stevia's taste has a slower onset and longer duration than that of sugar, although some of its extracts may have a bitter or licorice-like aftertaste at high concentrations.
With its steviol glycoside extracts having up to 300 times the sweetness of sugar, stevia has garnered attention with the rise in demand for low-carbohydrate, low-sugar food alternatives. Because stevia has a negligible effect on blood glucose, it is attractive as a natural sweetener to people on carbohydrate-controlled diets.

As for where to get it, Costco sells it for a really good price. 300 packets for about 140 pesos ($10 USD). Health food shops sell it here as well but I think there prices are a little higher. Sam's sells a Stevia substitute, basically mixing it with artificial junk and rendering it's natural properties and benefits inefective.

FYI.

Jay