Monday, May 18, 2009

"Hell-hot" in Merida

Here it is only mid-May and I’ve already had my fill of temperatures in excess of 100 degrees fahrenheit. I’ve lived here for 14 years, but for some reason, have never gotten acclimated to the Yucatecan heat. And, I moved here from Florida! You’d think it wouldn’t be so bad to get accustomed to it, but I just have not. It seems each new summer is hotter than the one before.

I do manage though. I plan all “outdoor” activities in the early morning before the sun is full or early evening after the never-ending ball of fire starts to gradually fade away. The hottest hours of the day seem to be from noon until around 3 or 4. Normally, I try to be indoors, preferably at home, but on occasion I do venture out to shop. If I do go out in the hell-hot heat, I make sure to use the air conditioner in my car and I only go to air conditioned stores. No exceptions! If I’m home, rest assured that I have my air conditioners and fans on to keep cool. I also do siestas - a great Mexican tradition!

I try real hard to keep myself well hydrated by drinking plenty of liquids. I can’t always do the multiple glasses of water thing, but I do drink other beverages, some carbonated, most are not. And here’s a word about a nice cold, refreshing, delicious, wonderful, can’t live without it, beer. Beer is a diuretic! Yes, it will make you urinate more and perspire more, and you will loose as much liquid as you have taken in and then some. Not a good choice, but hey – I’m not perfect!! And, I’ve never seen a death certificate that says “died from drinking a beer”.

If you have to be in the sun, be sure to use a good sun screen to block those sun's rays and prevent skin cancers, especially melanomas. Force yourself to drink copious amounts of liquids, even if you don’t feel thirsty, to avoid getting dehydrated. Melanoma and/or dehydration can kill you while sun screen and liquids could save your life.

If it sounds a bit like I am preaching (even if to the choir), that would be because I am.

Amen!

10 comments:

  1. In defense of the beer, may I offer this? It is good to drink a variety of beverages in addition to the recommended 3 liters of water a day. I have seen people pass out from HEAT EXHAUSTION from drinking nothing but water. I was told it is good to drink a beer now and again in the heat. I never researched the BS factor of this information, it just sounded like sound advice to me!

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  2. Hey Lin!

    Absolutely a fantastic idea!!

    I'll drink to that!!

    Merida Mikey

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  3. Wow! No AC here, not in the house or the car and I do find myself out driving around doing errands in the hottest part of the day. I'm trying to change that. It's been warm but I haven't felt the need to get an AC installed yet. The house is cool and I spend most of the afternoon on the terrace and in the pool. I think you don't adjust to the temps if you are in AC a lot.

    Oh, I also lay in the sun, no sunscreen just my tan. Not much beer, but lots of water and aguas. Guess I break most of your rules, to each his own.

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  4. Well you may be sweltering in the Mexican heat, but back here in Florida the air is off and the weather wet and cool. It's been in the low 70's and today we passed a bank thermometer at 12:10 and it read a mere 66*. Unbelievable for this time of year. Enjoy it while it lasts for soon we too will be chugging the beers as well.
    Barb

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  5. We have found that if we are in air conditioning too much, like shopping and restaurants it kind of ruins us for the rest of the day. Our house only has air conditioning in the bedrooms, so we have acclimated pretty well. Although we do carry our sweat rags everywhere and drink a lot of a variety of beverages. It is pretty humid here, different than the heat in Mérida.

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  6. Hey Mikey, I was in Merida yesterday, and just don't know how you city dwellers do it! OMG it was hot! I carried a couple of bottles of frozen water with me and they were melted in no time, me too! Come on down to the beach and have beers with Doug and me, it's a bit cooler!

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  7. Wow hot or what. I don't know if I can cope with this...how long does it go on for ? It really is draining and I never thought I would complain about the heat ever again but guess I am doing.

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  8. Hi Mikey--very interesting information. I am planning to come to the Merida area for a couple of months in January and I need to find a supplier for medical oxygen. I had no problem getting some in Ajijic but I have no way to get that info for your area. Can y ou help me? An internet address or phone number would be great! I'll check back with you in a couple of days. Thank you so much, Inez

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  9. Inez,

    Here are two leads for you.

    1. Medi Gas (52-999) 984-2134, 984-2491, and
    984-2494

    They also have a toll free Mexican number which is 800-500-2222

    e-mail: cscmedigas@praxair.com

    2. Infra Medica (52-999) 922-6258 and 922-6170

    e-mail: inframay@infrasur.com.mx
    web site: www.inframedica.com

    Good luck!

    Merida Mikey

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  10. Is Merida hotter than Cancun?

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