Mexico Archives : New Nomads

Blood, Sweat and Tears

A few years back, when we were staying in Mazatlán, I contracted dengue fever from one of a seemingly insignificant series of mosquito bites. In my life, I have been lucky enough to have only endured a few medical conditions of this type, food poisoning, valley fever, stomach flu, etc. Dengue is another level of misery. It makes all of the others pale by comparison. Living on the Caribbean, we take great pains to ensure we reduce the number of times we get bitten by mosquitos. Of course you can’t totally eliminate bites, so lowering your chances is the best…

Last night we took the quadcopter to our favorite beach-side restaurant, taking a little flight before dinner. It promised to be a great sunset, but as these things go it fizzled. Although a bit disappointed that I was not going to capture one of Isla Mujeres’ stunning sunsets, I still flew a bit to get a feel for how to get the best angles on marinas, the ferry, restaurants, etc. As I was bringing the quadcopter back in towards the pier at Restaurante Velazquez, it dawned on me that I am learning how to fly in one of the most…

As our housesit on Isla Mujeres comes to an end – for this period – we are looking at where the next few months will see us. My job is settling in for a couple of long-term contracts that mean I will only have to be onsite rarely, which opens – quite literally – up a world of options for our next locations. Diane has been working on some long-delayed dental work (which will be the subject of a whole other series of posts), so we will need to come back to Mexico in the spring to complete the series…

Garrafon de Castilla - Isla Mujeres, Mexico

My first outing with my quadcopter proved to be something of an enlightenment. After having read so many angry articles from people who see ‘drones’ as simply an invasion of privacy, it was fantastic to see the reaction of everyone I encountered. I would like to think it was because most people on Earth see the technology behind quadcopters as an positive equal enabler of communication, rather than a negative threat to their wellbeing. It was noticeable that the crowd at the beach where I flew were from Brazil, Venezuela and Mexico. I also think age played a large factor…

Just when you think you could not add anything else into a great evening with friends, sitting on the back deck watching the sunset over the Caribbean, along comes a storm that produces a waterspout… with dolphins swimming by, jumping out of the water… and then you notice that the water in the pool is sloshing. A quick check of earthquake monitoring site lets you know that on top of all of that, the Earth at your feet is literally shaking. Yep, just when you think that Mother Nature is putting on a good show, she ups the ante and…

This morning started out with hope. The clouds were building and a large storm formed just offshore. It was close enough for us to hear thunder rolling across the still Caribbean. But it was not to be. The clouds blew away and the humidity dropped. The stillness returned with its friend ‘heat’. We’ve retreated to the side porch where the wind comes (if there is even a puff) from the south. It is amazing the difference it makes! I know that when rain does come to the Caribbean, it comes with a vengeance. I will be careful for what I…

Early this morning, I made the short trip downtown to pay the water bill. At 352 pesos ($22.30 USD), we had moved into the second tier pricing (more expensive) because of our late dry season lawn watering. Prior to June 1st, it had not rained significantly in over 70 days, so everything had dried to a crisp – even here in the Caribbean. Of course, the proto-Tropical Storm Bill dumped 10.5 inches of rain on us in 24 hours, so our water levels returned to somewhat normal. The Cancun water authority – AguaKan – is one of the more interesting…

Offer this kind of view! This our B&B-sit. We’re running the B&B (the owner says, “bed and beach, breakfast is on you!”) for 10 days while the owners are at their daughter’s wedding. What a really nice way to spend a few days – and help free them up to not worry about their business! Now, where was my hammock? This B&B-sitting is tough work!

It is rare to have a day pass that someone does not say “oh, you’re so lucky” or “livin’ the dream” to us. Typically, we nod and acknowledge their compliment with a mock toast or a knowing grin. It is only when we get the ‘Oh I wish I could do that, but…” that I generally answer with one short, somewhat terse response, “Then do”. What follows is a litany of reasons that justify why they are trapped in their world. In the past, I have tried to give a few words of wisdom to help those few who actually…

One of my long lost quests has finally come to fruition! I bought a VW Bug. Down here, they are referred to a ‘Vochos’ – the origins of which, no one can seem to agree upon. Google translate, my trusty companion, fails me in a quite amusing way though! It turns heads! Last night, as we were sitting at dinner, a little boy from a Canadian family stopped to make a photo. I ran across the road and opened the door so his father could make a shot of him at the steering wheel. He was grinning from ear-to-ear! On…

Blood, Sweat and Tears

Flying in Paradise

Dreams of Sicily

First Flight Day

Waterspouts and Earthquakes (and Dolphins)

Rain, Why Doth Thou Taunt Me?

AguaKan

Not all house sits…

Not Lucky

Bought a Bug

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