Living in Mexico

Living in Mexico comes with many challenges and many rewards. We have been recipients on both ends of the spectrum since we arrived here on December 1st, 2017. Some of the rewards are the cost of living, the friendliness of the people, the beauty, the culture, the food, the beaches–this list could go on and on. Some of the challenges are general safety (in most places these safety issues amount to break-ins and petty theft), and what they call “Mexico Time” which happens in many other tropical regions of the world: you just gotta realize that people are more relaxed here. It takes some adjusting when you’re living in Mexico to get into this mindset.

I’ve been joking in our shows lately, that you know you’re having a great time living in Mexico when you’ve gotten to know the doctors, the lawyers and the police. For better and for worse, we have had the opportunity to get to know all three of these civil departments. Some of the incidents were our naivety, and some were sheer bad luck. At the end of the day some people just aren’t as dependable or as nice as we hope them to be. That’s life everywhere.

When living in Mexico, or at least here in Puerto Vallarta,  you have to replace the gas tank yourself. There is a company called Global Gas, but they’re not always dependable when you call them. We went for a few days without hot water until eventually I was able to flag a driver of a truck down on the street. After three days pursuit and an extra hour’s wait, our hot water was restored. James’ tipped the gentleman who installed the new gas tank with a 12 pack of Corona and the man immediately gave us his personal cell phone and said call me whenever you need help. When living in Mexico, you have to drink bottled water for the most part. The city of Puerto Vallarta prides itself on being the only city in Mexico where you are able to drink the water and have been for the past 23 years.

https://www.allaboutpuertovallarta.com/about-puerto-vallarta/travel-tips/frequently-asked-questions/

“Puerto Vallarta has the cleanest water in Mexico. The water here is treated and purified, but the distribution system is not so perfect. In most hotels and restaurants, you will get purified water, if in doubt – ASK. (Auga purificada?) I would not drink the water from a private home or condo, unless you know there is a purification system installed, and working. Buy bottled water; why not be completely safe? Don’t take the chance of ruining your vacation!”

In order to get a 30 liter bottle of water, you have to have an empty one to return. Where you get the initial empty one is still a mystery. Some people gave us ours.

It’s quirky here. Traffic laws are different: some rules of sanitation and standards are obviously not the same. We’ve gotten to know the ins and outs of living her,e having planned a DIY wedding in Puerto Vallarta. Bottom line – a smile and a little bit of Spanish go a long way. It’s been so nice to try out expat living for a few months and we wouldn’t have traded this time in for anything in the world. Enjoy the photos!