DIVERSION EXCURSION: LA ZONA LIBRE, BELIZE

I’ve been going to the Zona Libre (Free Zone), on and off for the past 4 years or so. I always take a bus excursion and leave the driving to someone else! The buses are clean, comfortable, air conditioned, equipped with a bathroom for when you just can’t hold it any longer, and movies! It’s an approximate 6 hour trip, depending on weather and traffic. We always stop about half way there to get out, stretch your legs, use the facilities, and get something to eat. Personally, I always bring a sandwich and a snack as I’m not fond of eating along the roadside, although I have and survived it!

The bus leaves Saturdays at 7:00 AM from the Fiesta Americana Hotel here in Merida, and returns Sunday morning at approximately the same time. We arrive in Belize around 1:30 in the afternoon, and leave at 1:00 AM for the return home. That gives you approximately 12 hours of shopping and casino!

I have been there with other tour operators, but my personal preference is Royal Travel. I have become friends with the owner, Tony Peniche, and can attest that you get one great deal with him. The cost of the trip is 300 Mexican pesos, round trip. That is the approximate equivalent of $24.00 US dollars. Pretty reasonable, don’t you think? There is always a tour guide, Cruz, and he speaks fairly good English. Tony often goes with his wife Diane to replenish his bar!

Admittedly, I am not a “shopper”. I have only shopped in the free zone two or three times in all the trips I have taken, but they do have some great buys there. Liquor and clothing are at the top of almost everyone’s list. You can find things there that you can’t find elsewhere.

This past trip, I purchased a good supply of cheese for the upcoming holidays; some for personal use and some to give as gifts. I buy my cheese from a store called “Chavez”. I find they have great prices and you get great service. Everyone in the free zone is genuinely happy and makes you feel welcome. (Probably because they know you’re there to spend money, but also because that is their nature.) You can spend either, (1) US Dollars; (2) Mexican Pesos; or (3) Belizean Dollars. There is never a problem exchanging currency!

Navigating the Free Zone is also very easy. You can catch a “taxi” for 10 Mexican Pesos, about 75 cents or so, and they will take you anywhere in the Free Zone you wish to go! Just wave one down as they pass and they are happy to accommodate you!

Your choice of stores is endless and it would be extremely difficult to visit them all in just one trip. Here are some of the stores I happened into on my last trip there.

And if you need a blue Christmas Tree, the Free Zone is where you need to be!

This little store sells only Liquor that is made in Belize. You can stop by for free samples and get a buzz on while shopping.

If you are interested in going, you should carry your immigration documents with you. You do not have to pass through immigration going or coming other than an occasional cursory “hi, where you headed”. The officials know and recognize the tour operator and there is never a hassle. In four years (probably 30 trips for me), I have been asked only once for my passport and my Mexican immigration papers. And then, the Immigration Official just briefly glanced at them and told me to have a good trip back to Merida.

On your return trip from Belize, you do have to pass through Customs. This too, is somewhat cursory, but if you abuse the import laws, you could have your merchandise confiscated or given an option to pay some outrageous taxes. You are allowed three (3) liters of alcohol, and the equivalent of 3,500 Mexican Pesos worth of purchases, per person. That will buy you a bunch of stuff in the Zona Libre!

The Golden Princess Casino is actually two separate buildings. One has nothing but slot machines and is also the hotel. The main casino is slot machines and table games such as poker, blackjack, and roulette. There are no “craps” tables. They play Texas Hold ‘Em, and some crazy variations of three-card poker and Caribbean poker. They have live entertainment and the casino is kept very clean and orderly. As long as you are “wagering”, you may order anything at all you care to drink! Whiskey to make you frisky, beer to make you cheer, gin to make you grin, or just plain, old-fashioned bottled water or a variety of soft drinks, coffee, this sort of thing. In addition, you can order free food (nothing special or to write home about), and later in the evenings they come around with various snacks and plates of fruit and salads, dispersed free to the “wagerers”

All in all, for only 300 Mexican Pesos/$24.00 US Dollars, you can’t go wrong. Most of us can eat and drink that much! If interested and in Merida or the surrounding area, give Royal Travel a call and ask for Tony or Cruz, and book your very own diversion excursion!

GREEN TANGERINES: WHO'DA THUNK IT!

Having lived 30 years in Florida, I was always taught to choose an orange or a tangerine by its vibrant color, firmness and fragrance! I can’t tell you how many times I have been disappointed in those beautiful, wonderfully smelling, bright orange citrus fruits that are pretty much inedible after you peel them because they are either too “pulpy/pithy” or too bitter. But! They sure do smell good!

The other day, I encountered a little Mayan gentleman on the street, pushing a fruit and vegetable cart, selling his wares. He asked me if I wanted some tangerines, only 10 pesos a bag (about 15 or so). That converts to approximately 5 cents a tangerine! I really didn’t particularly want them right at that moment, but purchased a bag just the same. Much to my (then) chagrin, they were small and very green! I asked if they were sweet and he assured me that they were. What else would he say, I thought. Check out these green tangerines in the photo below:

I cut one open to try it and was pleasantly surprised to find that it at least had a fragrant citrus aroma and was the right color on the inside! See for yourself:

I quartered it, peeled it, and thought “what the heck, give it a try”! I like eating my citrus fruits the way the locals do, so I put a few drops of lime juice on it, sprinkled it with ground red chili pepper and ate it! It was one of the sweetest tangerines I have ever eaten. I was absolutely shocked at the sweetness of this green tangerine!

I am currently on the lookout for that little Mayan guy pushing his fruit and veggie cart!

DIVERSION EXCURSION: CHAMPOTON, CAMPECHE, MEXICO

Because I am inflicted with wanderlust, I couldn’t resist when a friend asked me if I wanted to go with him to check on his house in Champoton. There was no way I was going to say “no”! He has actually asked me several times to go with him, but the timing was never just right. I was either already on my way elsewhere, or his wife and two small children were also going! This time, I was available, and the wife and kids weren’t going!

Champoton is about a 3 hour ride from Merida, given there isn’t much traffic or any weather to contend with. We piled in his VW Caribe convertible, and off we went with the top down. We left Merida at 9:30 and had wonderful, sunny (and hot) weather all the way. Clear skies let the sun shine through and literally burn my face to a bright red! Ouch! It all happened before I realized it.

We only spent two days and one night there, but it was enjoyable. The vast majority of the time was devoted to taking care of the house, finding a plumber/electrician to fix the pump so we could get some water in the house to shower with, pay his hired help, make arrangements with a local nanny to return to Merida with us to help take care of his children, and search out the best seafood in the area!

Champoton has a lively history dating back to the Mayas and pirates, the revolution, the whole nine yards. There just isn’t too much to do or see in this wonderful fishing village with less than 30,000 people except to eat seafood cocktails, enjoy a cold beer (or two) and just watch time slip away. Admittedly, these are a few of my favorite things!

While there is absolutely beautiful, clear, and inviting water along the entire stretch of shore line in Champoton, there is no beach! I didn’t see anyone swimming. The reason? There is no sand – only rocks and boulders. Plenty of boating/fishing going on, but no indication of any water sports.

The malecon (boardwalk) is alive and bustling morning, noon and night and is the center or hub of activity. Lined with numerous restaurants, one can also find lots of street vendors set up along the malecon selling some of the freshest and best seafood in Mexico. This is what this great little place is really known for. While there, I enjoyed shrimp cocktails, mixed cocktails of shrimp and oysters, and on my way out, a small cocktail of just oysters. All fresh, all incredibly delicious, and very inexpensive. The medium cocktails cost the equivalent of approximately $4.00US. Indulge yourself!

I can highly recommend this quaint little fishing village for a great weekend get-a-way and some mighty fine eating! I'm sure that these guys will agree!

IN HOT WATER IN MERIDA

The water we receive from the city is considered “potable” and is safe for washing, bathing, and even dishes. You can also cook with it if boiling something, but most gringos choose not to. (I’ve been cooking with it for years and years, and am alive to write this blog.) I don’t know anyone who drinks it, save for a few local families. Everyone buys commercially prepared purified water (agua purificada), delivered to your doorstep.

The city water is metered and costs about the equivalent of $5.00 US Dollars per month. It trickles in to your home and is stored in a “tinaco” which is made from high impact plastic and/or fiberglass. They can also be made from cement!. The tinaco is normally located on the roof and is almost always black in color. The black color absorbs the sun’s rays and in turn, heats the water stored in the tinaco. This could be the original forerunner of solar heating! However, keep in mind that when the sun goes down, so goes the temperature of the water in the tinaco, and hasta la vista agua caliente!

There is no pressure provided by the city unless you consider a gravitational trickle comparable to low pressure! The water flows from the tinaco to your taps via gravity. If you’ve never experienced it, perhaps you can imagine how long it sometimes takes to complete a shower. Lots of folks liken it to a gentle rain.

Personally, I’m not much into gentle rains. Give me a storm! Therefore, I purchased a pressure system for my home. When I did, the water heater I had (only 3 years old) sprung a leak and was determined to be “unfixable” due to the pressure system. Therefore, I trotted down to Home Depot, discussed the problem with a water heater technician (so-to-speak) who just happened to be in the office picking up installation orders, and I purchased a fancy Bosch model with an electronic ignition and on-demand hot water. This water heater is made especially for pressurized systems. Wow, good to go!

It’s the type of water heater that provides “on demand” hot water and doesn’t have a pilot light to go out all the time. When you turn on a hot water tap, the water flows through a special valve in the water heater and it, in turn, causes the electronic firing system to produce a spark, which then lights the gas to heat the water. Sounds complicated, but it works. (I have to remember to replace the batteries ever few months, or there will be no spark to ignite the gas!)

So, I now have pressurized water, hot and cold, in every tap in the house, including the washer! Talk about creature comforts! I don’t often allow myself too many extravagant luxuries, but I do like my hot showers and I like ‘em under pressure!

We’ll see how well this continues to work, and how long it will last. Hopefully, long enough to get my money’s worth out of it!

THE COMMERCIALIZATION OF CHRISTMAS

When I was in Florida in September, I noticed the stores were getting their Christmas displays and merchandise ready for the Christmas season. Summer goods disappeared and Christmas decorations took their places on the shelves. I really dislike having to deal with Christmas in September. I’m glad I didn’t hear Jingle Bells or Silent Night as I strolled through the aisles! Oh well, I thought, that’s just the way they do it now in the States, and probably Canada, too.

I get back to Merida only to find the same damn thing! In September, Home Depot, Servi-Star, Sam’s Club, and COSTCO, each had their Christmas merchandise displayed for sale! And, GOOD GRIEF!!!! People were actually buying it! (Am I missing something here??) I even saw Christmas goods at my favorite supermarket, MEGA! It seems the gringo stores are influencing the local stores, and to be competitive, the locals are putting their Christmas goods out earlier, and earlier so as to not let the gringo stores get a jump start on them! (As I said before, I dislike having to deal with Christmas in September.)

I’m old enough to remember the way Christmas was celebrated by my (then) large family. The biggest part of the event was the gathering of the entire family for Christmas dinner. We embraced the religious aspects of Christmas and the spirit of the season. Gift giving was an added pleasure and always a welcomed surprise by kids, and not an obligation on anyone’s part. Things were actually simpler and less complicated then. The tree never went up until after Thanksgiving and all the leftovers were gone! Progress, ‘ya gotta luv it.

Have I mentioned that I dislike dealing with Christmas in September?

DIVERSION EXCURSION: GRINGO FIX, FLORIDA

I have a small condo in St. Petersburg, Florida, area that I have been trying to sell ever since the economy and the housing market took a dump a few years back. It’s completely furnished, absolutely exceptionally nice and a great little get-away, but not much interest from potential “get-awayers”!

I travel back and forth from my home in Merida to St. Petersburg to check on it and take care of some errands such as doctor, house and car insurance, this sort of thing. I have found it cheaper to eat every meal out (two per day only) rather than buy groceries and cook at home. Besides, I never learned how to cook for just one person. When I cook, I can usually feed the masses! Sticker shock is what I go through when I buy something in the grocery store, or just about anywhere for that matter! I’m too accustomed to Merida’s prices and our great markets.

Prices in the stores are out of sight! $7.00 for a medium size watermelon! Lemons, three for #1.29! Meats are at least twice, if not three times as much as we pay here in Merida, and aren’t any better! Absolutely everything is expensive and requires some smart shopping habits for those on a limited income and/or a budget. I see lots of price comparing going on by shoppers, and coupons are the name of the game! In-store specials are always a big hit.

I previously thought of my trips back to Florida as my “Gringo Fix”. But honestly, I’m no longer in need of a fix and will be quite content when I sell the condo and am out of Florida on a permanent basis. Everything there is so much “faster” and disorganized. Folks aren’t as friendly as I once remembered they were. Some of my favorite stores and restaurants have closed due to bad economic times. Traffic is terrific, people are always in a huge rush to get to wherever it is they are going, and generally speaking, folks seem to be a bit depressed and anxious. Many old friends are now residing in Nursing Homes, and I even attended the funeral of a close friend while there. The streets are full of homeless people holding signs and asking for work and/or money. The cost of utilities is out-of-sight and the State Legislature is considering one utility company’s request for a 31% rate increase! I could go on, and on.

I love my country and always will. Nothing will ever change that. I also love my adopted country, Mexico, and little could ever change that, either. It’s just that I don’t require a Gringo Fix any longer but will still have to travel back and forth a few times a year to check on things until I can sell the condo. Interested??

DIVERSION EXCURSION: RIVIERA MAYA REVISITED!

I read my blog on the Riviera Maya and just couldn’t resist going back there!

I have an extended/adopted family here in Merida and decided to take my housekeeper’s youngest, Janet (age 10). What an absolute delight she is to be around. So, it was Janet, her uncle, and me! I should mention that children under 12 are free! All I had to do was pay for her bus fare which was around 300 pesos. What a deal and what a thrill for her!

When I checked in, I asked for, and received, a wonderful room with two double beds, and they brought in an extra bed to accommodate Janet! No extra charge, either. I mentioned to the very nice young lady that checked me in that this was my second trip there and I sure wouldn’t mind having a first-floor room on the ocean side with a view. Poof! I got it with no problems! Talk about a room with a view! The balcony overlooked a beautiful white sandy beach lined with about 200 beach lounge chairs, and right smack dab on the magnificent Caribbean!

The staff mentioned to me that the 1,000 rooms were all taken for the weekend and they had 2,600 guests! Wow! Hard to visualize. Even with that many people there, it never once seemed crowded. I did notice that we had to wait an extra minute or two for transportation, but that was no problem. Also, there was no “free-flowing” lobster on the menu this time! I presume it would be difficult to give out lobster to 2,600 people. Instead of lobster, I ate my fair share of jumbo (emphasis on the word “large”) prawns, shrimp of all kinds, calamar, fish, ceviches, etc., and so on. The last night there we dined at the Steak House and had mar y tierra (surf and turf)! The filet mignon was so tender that you just had to look at it and it fell apart. The lobster tail was sweet and succulent, cooked to perfection.

We took in two very entertaining shows and enjoyed them both tremendously. As usual, the entire staff was happy, helpful, and went out of their way to accomodate you. Needless to say, we all had a wonderful time (again), and I would definitely go back.

I am going to stop reading my blogs and stay home!

Life is good.