tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145439356430068072.post8293672926006289483..comments2024-01-26T07:38:12.681-08:00Comments on a life made simple: THE REAL MEXICOTeresa Johannesma Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04452415576469118219noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145439356430068072.post-64815476025383253542014-03-06T21:01:50.341-08:002014-03-06T21:01:50.341-08:00We just returned from two weeks in Mexico that wer...We just returned from two weeks in Mexico that were so great we've moved our plans for full time RV life in 2016 to full time in 2014 with Mexico as our main, possibly permanent, destination. Can't wait!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145439356430068072.post-30010268823595372332014-01-12T21:34:54.118-08:002014-01-12T21:34:54.118-08:00Ha! A lurking reader! Love that! We knew there wer...Ha! A lurking reader! Love that! We knew there were a few of you out there! Thanks for stepping up and sharing your thoughts. We have definitely been in places that were a bit suspect in the USA too - although we don't stick around in those cases. You can find trouble if you are looking for it that is for sure! Keep in touch!Teresa Johannesma Woodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04452415576469118219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145439356430068072.post-12087363125718012602014-01-12T21:32:28.341-08:002014-01-12T21:32:28.341-08:00Hi James - thanks for commenting! You are exactly ...Hi James - thanks for commenting! You are exactly right. Anyone that we talked to in Harlingen and South Padre Island just looked at us in a really strange way for saying we are going to Mexico. You could tell they wanted to warn us. Like I said - lots of negative media there about all of the shootings. Teresa Johannesma Woodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04452415576469118219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145439356430068072.post-12440368379929724762014-01-12T21:31:03.212-08:002014-01-12T21:31:03.212-08:00Maybe you will make it down there Cj! Maybe in a f...Maybe you will make it down there Cj! Maybe in a few years - that is how long it took us to finally take the jump. I was pretty nervous at first so I know what you mean. We really felt proud of ourselves for taking it on and having a really good time as a result.Teresa Johannesma Woodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04452415576469118219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145439356430068072.post-83309403848797280742014-01-12T21:29:40.449-08:002014-01-12T21:29:40.449-08:00Thanks Croft and thanks for the extra info. You ar...Thanks Croft and thanks for the extra info. You are a well seasoned Mexico RV Traveler and everyone could learn a lot from your posts. Thankfully we didn't get in a bribe situation!Teresa Johannesma Woodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04452415576469118219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145439356430068072.post-65551603097589827662014-01-12T21:28:13.260-08:002014-01-12T21:28:13.260-08:00Thanks Carol! So true about mechanical issues - pr...Thanks Carol! So true about mechanical issues - probably would have been better for us and our van down there then up here this year. 7 in the back - kinda liked it when it was just us and you guys. Glad you are having a good time this year!Teresa Johannesma Woodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04452415576469118219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145439356430068072.post-34435101049521182922014-01-12T21:26:41.038-08:002014-01-12T21:26:41.038-08:00We felt safe as well. The thing is that there are ...We felt safe as well. The thing is that there are places in all countries foreigners should stay away from. Darn those things!Teresa Johannesma Woodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04452415576469118219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145439356430068072.post-45879666739429284242014-01-12T21:25:03.546-08:002014-01-12T21:25:03.546-08:00Hi Brenda - nice to hear from you! So true about c...Hi Brenda - nice to hear from you! So true about common sense. Seems to be missing from most folks these days. True about the excesses. Not sure how we got ours since that certainly wasn't the cause. Teresa Johannesma Woodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04452415576469118219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145439356430068072.post-5681086597430435792014-01-12T21:23:47.983-08:002014-01-12T21:23:47.983-08:00Thanks Peter - we do have a few rants in us. See y...Thanks Peter - we do have a few rants in us. See you down there next winter!Teresa Johannesma Woodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04452415576469118219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145439356430068072.post-11467310345827218332014-01-12T21:23:14.937-08:002014-01-12T21:23:14.937-08:00I hear ya Kevin!I hear ya Kevin!Teresa Johannesma Woodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04452415576469118219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145439356430068072.post-49468106280991873052014-01-11T14:04:49.206-08:002014-01-11T14:04:49.206-08:00I've experienced the same doom and gloom "...I've experienced the same doom and gloom "it was nice knowing you" kind of comments on my past trips to Mexico. The chorus was so loud the last time I was down there that I seriously started wondering if things had changed that much, and they really hadn't! Glad I ignored them!<br /><br />I haven't been there months at a stretch in an RV so far. Maybe one day, but from what I've seen there are definitely places in the US I've been that have made me far more concerned for my life! I'm sure they exist there, too, but I wasn't looking for them. LOL<br /><br />Good counterpoint post and hello from a lurking reader. ;-)Mark E Tisdalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03098452688080074567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145439356430068072.post-7154325328890199152014-01-09T07:51:06.309-08:002014-01-09T07:51:06.309-08:00I have a sister that lives in Mercedes Tx, which i...I have a sister that lives in Mercedes Tx, which is on the border and close to Harlingen. She teaches high school english at Weslaco High. I visit her every winter and it seems everybody that lives year round on theTexas border is terrified to cross the border. I can't figure it out, when I am there I go across every day if only to eat. I love Mexico and will retire there some day. Why are the Hispanic and White that live on the Texas border so afraid of going to Mexico? Try asking a few of the people from Harlingen about going across the border, I bet 90% would advise you not to go. Why is that? Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02341049990604946045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145439356430068072.post-70968374355073621852014-01-07T09:38:07.296-08:002014-01-07T09:38:07.296-08:00Lovely post....you covered it all and make it soun...Lovely post....you covered it all and make it sound just wonderful. I loved following last year and I'll be onboard again this year. One with experience would settle my nerves and I'd still have to be following bumper to bumper first trip over. Guessing one never being out of the states...I admit I am hesitant. But I'm a scaredy-cat to most things anyway unless I feel I know every detail - CRAZY! It's always baby steps for me....but I'm learning! I'll bookmark this for one day...you put a lot of work into this T!CJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16074480446451710279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145439356430068072.post-79098607130306348742014-01-07T09:24:27.632-08:002014-01-07T09:24:27.632-08:00I should add that we have spent 22 months in the l...I should add that we have spent 22 months in the last six years RVing throughout central Mexico.Crofthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17634815881045387152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145439356430068072.post-11082712383932813362014-01-07T09:21:27.982-08:002014-01-07T09:21:27.982-08:00Wow! Great post! One thing, you will need a new SI...Wow! Great post! One thing, you will need a new SIM for your Banda Ancha. Maybe 100 pesos. If you are going to need an oil change and want a certain grade oil, take it with you. A roadside mechanico will change your oil and filter for less than three dollars including tip if you bring your own. Everyone hits a tope too hard. Ours cost us an alignment when we got back in the USA. Vehicle repairs are cheap, cheap. Firestone stores (yes, they have them) charge 300 pesos ($23) per hour shop time and their mechanics are every bit as good as those in the US.<br /><br />If you behave yourself (no drugs or stealing Mexican's girl/boyfriends and are back to your rig by ten or eleven at night) you will have no problems. <br /><br />Teresa did not cover bribes to police. I argued my way out of one and paid one. The one I paid after talking him down from the demanded 1000 pesos to 200 as I "may" have been guilty of driving a dual wheeled vehicle in anything but the curb lane (I was trying to turn left but it did not matter to the cop. Even so, it was a friendly exchange. He did not threaten to shoot me, just make me spend a few hours at city hall.<br /><br />Again, excellent post!Crofthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17634815881045387152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145439356430068072.post-73901481429410226542014-01-07T07:39:15.836-08:002014-01-07T07:39:15.836-08:00Great post Teresa. But be quiet. Don't want to...Great post Teresa. But be quiet. Don't want to fill the highways and byways with tourists. Just kidding. Las Jabias this year has about 30 rigs in it. In fack there are 7 back here in the back with us......Another thing you might mention are mechanical breakdowns - there are garages and excellent mechanics in Mexico. Medical - we've been to the doc here about three different times for different ailments - very good - they have all spoke English and were inexpensive and cured the problems.<br />PS almost every day some one is shot in Indianapolis!Carol and Billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11920669106841440178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145439356430068072.post-23895802054064895012014-01-07T05:41:40.773-08:002014-01-07T05:41:40.773-08:00Excellent posting, you said it like it is. Love Me...Excellent posting, you said it like it is. Love Mexico and spent three months there with no issues at all. <br />Felt safe everyplace we went, much safer than a lot of many places in the USA or Canada.<br />Gotta watch those topes though we missed one too in our 36 foot class A, WOW was that a treat! No damage done. <br />But our Accident in Mexico ended up an almost pleasant experience.our awesome travelshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13031755671050584629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145439356430068072.post-64233209451965410102014-01-06T22:23:56.425-08:002014-01-06T22:23:56.425-08:00Great, great job Teresa!! Nailed it!!!!!Great, great job Teresa!! Nailed it!!!!!Doug and Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15871784919365473814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145439356430068072.post-24226807155176536792014-01-06T22:23:36.355-08:002014-01-06T22:23:36.355-08:00Excellent post, well said. We have lived down her...Excellent post, well said. We have lived down here full time now for 8 years and still love it. We have never had any problems, use your common sense and you will be fine. Too many people leave that at home when they leave.<br />I also think a lot of people gets Montezumas Revenge because they come down on holiday for 1 or 2 weeks and drink too much, get too much sun and also eat too much all at the same time. Your body cannot handle all the excess and lets you know it. <br />I am sure you will have a great time. Enjoy some warmth, both from the sun and the people.Brenda Maashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03451724306271286173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145439356430068072.post-30318389473190558112014-01-06T22:17:34.044-08:002014-01-06T22:17:34.044-08:00A wonderful rant! We are not far from joining you....A wonderful rant! We are not far from joining you...Peter Kouwenhovenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10197113786491782884noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7145439356430068072.post-44194831143850773462014-01-06T21:41:03.696-08:002014-01-06T21:41:03.696-08:00With the cold in the U.S. and Canada , I would be ...With the cold in the U.S. and Canada , I would be in Mexico right now even if all of those things really <i>were</i> a problem!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.travelwithkevinandruth.com" rel="nofollow">www.travelwithkevinandruth.com</a>Kevin Readhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05795747155781311686noreply@blogger.com