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Showing content with the highest reputation on 06/02/2019 in all areas

  1. 9 points
    To my knowledge we have neither a "Brickette" nor a Pedro here and if I get the idea the latter Pedro of infamy is here under a new handle his stay will be short. Not only has this thread totally diverged from the OP's request, it has degenerated into a personal pissing match. Closed.
  2. 3 points
    Very good video. One question comes to mind, and that is whether the cost of top level hearing aids is unnecessarily inflated because of a simple profit motive, or is it really that much more costly to produce? They are so expensive that they are out of reach of people on a tight budget. Being able to purchase anything OTC that could help the problem to any extent, and at an affordable price, is going to make a major difference in many seniors' lives. Growing old is already a royal PITA, but becoming isolated by deafness as well is even worse. I have never understood why it isn't covered by any kind of insurance since it's so essential to well being.
  3. 3 points
    Just as an aside, for those who say this market is better, that one is too touristy, etc. Please note that not everyone just hops in their car and then off they go to whatever spot suits them at the moment. Some of us do not have a car, and make our choices according to time/distance/ease of access. This is NOT a complaint, as I am car free by choice, just a statement. Some of us need flat, even surfaces to feel safe as we walk. Over a decade ago, I used to live across the street from the Ajijic tianguis, and it was VERY convenient. Milk and perishables were available at El Torito and it was so very easy. Those were the days BEFORE WalMart. Then I moved to a location directly on the bus line but with NO tienditas nearby. I so wish there was one, but alas, not so. By the time I navigate the cobblestones into San Antonio to the little Mom and Pop stores, I am exhausted from trying to navigate the cobblestones and potholes. Then I have to carry it all back on the bus. I have been to the Chapala tianguis and it IS bigger than the one in Ajijic, but it requires crossing a busy highway, and then navigating even more wicked streets. I went once and never again. I shop frequently at the Chapala Central Mercado and I like the convenience of it. No cobblestones ! The Ajijic tianguis is a once in a while thing now, as it seems to be more touristy and craftsy than I want or need. The streets, though, are actually walkable once you get in there. Too many people visiting and standing around in the middle of the walking path, oblivious to anyone else. I do not begrudge them the chatting, just take it to the side. I am assuming that these are the same people that make a knot in the middle of the aisle in WalMart or leave their cart in the middle of a row in CostCo. 😉 The Monday Market is nice enough, but I do my own cooking and don't need prepared food. The "Organic " Market out in La Huerta can take up to 40 minutes on a bus. I can walk to WalMart in 15. For me, convenience and ease of access wins hands down over everything else these days. I am grateful for WalMart, no matter how much you may hiss and boo. The convenience brought to me by the young Mexican family that runs the Lakeside Shopping Service to CostCo and then delivers to my door is so very much appreciated. The Pet store that delivers big bags of dog food is appreciated, as well. These are not Mom & Pop stores, and patronage of them in no way disparages the tiny abarrotes that abound in some areas. Remember that everyone has a different experience. YMMV
  4. 2 points
    That's what a Min Pin is, a Miniature Pinscher. A Doberman Pinscher is another variation. I will contact the powers that be and see what we can do to help.
  5. 2 points
    You just do not get it Liana, the rich Mexicans from Ajijic send their servants to buy expensive fish to Chapala as it is cheaper.. Another case where the Pedro logic prevails...or by the way it is also cheaper because the guy drives every day from San Blas with the fresh fish in his truck.. and we all know that red snapper is the best fish you can buy and on and on😅 Imagine driving 4 h to go and 4 to come back just to gets us some fres fish from San Blas when the stuff arrives every day in Zapopan..just as fresh...It is interesting that all the tianguis fish retailers say they come from San Blas but the stores buy the same stuff just as fresh from the mercado del mar ..
  6. 2 points
    Pedro you are the one with the inferiority complex and the chip on the shoulder, as i said I do not care, I buy fish at the fish store near my house. I was looking for an expensive fish and ask him if he sold it in Chapala. He said no.
  7. 2 points
    The Mexican government does have an organic certification program. It is Agricultura Mexico. There will be a number like MX-BIO-132 . Also the new Organico Sagarpa Mexico. In fact Mexico is number 4 in the world in organic production. Locals here won't pay the cost. National brands like Mr Lucky produce have the certification.
  8. 2 points
    Probably better to spell it out a little more, like… ¿Tiene parches de tela se puede planchar sobre la tela rota para arreglarla? Hierro is iron alright….different kind….LOL
  9. 2 points
    I think the Mexican concept is that you are not the owner of the other 50% so you have to become the owner before you have any rights on the property and this is why you have beneficiaries and wills.. It is to designate who had the right to the property but you still have to be the owner of it, which is spelt out in the deed. If your name is not on both parts of the 50% you cannot sell 100% of the property, It seems pretty clear to me.
  10. 2 points
    I would think fastening you seat belt would be good practice anytime you are moving in a vehicle in Mexico. I know the Transito policía think that way, they think it is a "must" also……..LOL
  11. 2 points
    From what I understand that is not correct. It would make total sense that it should be the way you are thinking as this was my thinking as well. But, of course, the government has to make is complex in order to get more fees. Someone I know was trying to purchase a property where this situation existed and before the sale could be completed, the property had to be transferred in the name of the remaining owner and it slowed everything down for two months or more.
  12. 2 points
    In an earlier post I referred to the Chapala tianguis and it's wonders. You have quoted me out of context.I am speaking of the wonders of the Chapala Mercado in the Plaza, which can be frequented 7 days per week to enjoy all the things that you mentioned that you can only do for one day, in what I consider your apple as opposed to my orange.And I suggest again that the Chapala tianguis is larger and far superior to the Ajijic tianguis and less expensive as a bonus. who wouldn't want to buy a belt from this guy at the Chapala tianguis. I bought 2.
  13. 1 point
    We had to go to Mexico city
  14. 1 point
    Talking about price. I was told that the price charged at Costco is much more reasonable than most outlets. I bought a pair of Resound hearing aids in Sep 2016 from the Seattle Costco hearing aid center for only $2,599.98 US. Yes, that's quite a bit of money, but much less than what the video above suggested many hearing aid centers would charge.
  15. 1 point
    Could this be him? I saw someone posting about him wandering in Villa Nova since the beginning of April, on a Facebook page for lost and found animals. They say his owner hasn't been seen in months.
  16. 1 point
  17. 1 point
    FYI? The Children's Art Program no longer meets on that patio. They are now on the front lawn of the house on the South Campus and all of their art supplies have also been moved from those bodegas.
  18. 1 point
    Experiences are OK, don't get me wrong. Just not a very customer oriented personality a bit too brusque for my tastes. I'll continue to use him for repair but I want someone more accommodative and willing to take the time to answer questions when spending big bucks on new aids.
  19. 1 point
    Truthfully I don't find him to be the most communicative person around here I've dealt with. Just not very customer oriented IMO. Your mileage may vary.
  20. 1 point
    I suggest that he told you what he thought you wanted to here to make you feel better. HAPPYJILLIN
  21. 1 point
    I've had good results with Polo repairing my Costco (Oticon) hearing aids. However not sure if he would be able to program or reprogram these or newer hearing aids. I think that requires some pretty specialized equipment.
  22. 1 point
    Get there 20 minutes before if you take a private jet. Try Jet smart. There are many others. BTW be prepared to pay about 25,000 dollars. https://www.jetsuite.com/
  23. 1 point
    I posted elsewhere--the SAT tower 's antennae was stolen. Talked to the gentleman at TelCel last week, he said a new one has been ordered and will be here and installed in 2 weeks, mas o menos. I am thinking, mas.
  24. 1 point
    EXACTLY! And quit thinking everything here is a simple scenario like "Foreign Husband and Wife buy a property in Mexico and one of them dies...". There are COUNTLESS other possible complications and questions of ownership. --A fifty year old deed contains a beneficiary clause that's no longer relevant to current situation (but was never changed) --Oh, look! There's a surprise will nobody knew about! --Multiple children/heirs from inside the marriage....or children/heirs from outside the marriage --Whoops! There are extra husbands or wives in the background... (never legalized that divorce from #1, or #2, or...maybe we were never really married?) And on and on and on. Imagine the possibilities. It's not a "rubber stamp the new deed" situation. Sometimes there are multiple owners of a single piece of property. Legal ownership has to be proven for good reason. Go talk to your favorite Notario.
  25. 1 point
    I love my Costco hearing aids. Although I happened to buy the pair at the Seattle Costco which is 4 miles from my Condo, the two Guadalajara Costco's that I have visited, both carried the same brand and product as I purchased in Seattle for about the same price.
  26. 1 point
    The vendors from Ajijic told me they went to Chapala as well. The fish guy once told me his selction was better in Ajijic because more people could afford fish that was more exensive.. IYears ago before Walmar and SOriana I used to go there every Wednesday , now I do not bother at all. In San Cristobal I live a couple of block from the indigenous market and I shop there every day. They have a great selction from the hghlands for the cold veggies and fruit and from the low lands with all kinds of exotic fruit and veggies. Indigenous bring wild mushrooms, snailsm ants and all kinds if green leves veggies and I would not miss one day there. We also get things from the abasto so it is heaven f you are a foodie. When it come to imported items you can just forget it. so you have to adapt your cooking to what s available and fresh. I enjoy markets that offer a lot of variety and unfortunately the tiabguys here are the samo samo..
  27. 1 point
    We just used Derek (he had an ad in the Guad Reporter) who came and installed Firesticks on our two Samsung TVs. Now, we have access to practically everything and it's all FREE (after the cost of installation/Firesticks). He spent a lot of time here until everything was up and running. I really recommend him. FWIW, one of the access points (or whatever you call it) is the same as I have on my Android tablet. No more $130/month cable bills. If you go to Play Store, just download USA TV & Radio. You'll be amazed at what's out there for free!
  28. 1 point
  29. 1 point
    Costco also has a hearing center with a sound proof booth and they do hearing tests. I'd be concerned about Polo's tests since they are subject to interference from ambient noise.
  30. 1 point
    There are more food vendors in the Chapala tianguis than you can shake a stick at. More than one taco stand for starters.
  31. 1 point
    All of that is sold at the Ajijic Wednesday market. When I lived in Ajijic, that tianguis was the highlight of my week. Conversing with the vendors--don Rafa and his wife doña Tere, the young women who sold gorditas, the man who sold fresh fish and always had a sample of something to taste, the young man who sold great chicken, the yoghurt man and his wife--plus seeing so many of my Mexican friends and neighbors (I had a van and my neighbors often carpooled there and back with me). I often saw ex-pat friends--people I only saw at the tianguis, we'd always stop to chat for a minute. And the woman with the taco stand about midway through--I still remember her tacos. The last time I was there, IMHO there was too much emphasis on arts and crafts and too little emphasis on what a tianguis is generally for: buying fresh provisions for the kitchen. I don't know any tianguis--in Mexico City, in Morelia, in Pátzcuaro, in Oaxaca, in Guadalajara--where the produce is home-grown and brought to market. The vendors are re-sellers, buying at wholesale in a mercado de abastos and reselling at a very, very small profit in the tianguis. In Pátzcuaro, sellers do come from little towns around the area, even from Janitzio island, to sell certain home-grown or net-fished items--but only twice a week. Same in Morelia, at the Mercado de Independencia--twice a week. In Zaachila, Oaxaca and in San Cristóbal de las Casas, there are purely indigenous markets where people do bring their own goods to sell. I make it a point to shop in the tianguis wherever I am. Deep relationships form between seller and buyer, jokes are shared between buyer and vendor, or between one buyer and another, produce is better, meat is better, fish is better, cheese, yoghurt, etc etc etc are better. In Mexico City, due to illness I failed to go to my neighborhood tianguis for about six weeks. When I was finally able to go back, one of the vendors reached out to hug me and said, "Ay señora, you're an older person and we thought something had happened to you!" He was so relieved that I was back and not in the más allá. Build relationships in your communities. Shop your tianguis and your municipal market, not just the organic market or whatever upscale market you have. And please note that the word is TIANGUIS: tea AHN geese. One tianguis, two tianguis, three tianguis. The word is based on a Náhuatl word and means street market. Always the same in singular and plural. NEVER tiangus and never tiangui. From me and your tianguis to you: https://mexicocooks.typepad.com/mexico_cooks/2007/08/tianguis-mexico.html
  32. 1 point
    Any optical shop anywhere can do it for you. No need to call first.
  33. 1 point
    the principle street in Chapala is a disgrace you must put on your seatbelt to drive down Madero or be toss out of your car, it has been this way for several years, embarrassing
  34. 1 point
    Buy a pack in a store an use it.. No need to buy up north.
  35. 1 point
    Back when I was in my 20s and traveling Mexico, I remember that they used to sell those hard plastic containers that held half a dozen eggs- they sold them wherever they sold plastic stuff. Now you never see them anymore. But you can get them up north in sporting goods stores that sell camping gear. It would be a good thing to bring down from a trip NOB. The eggs in a plastic bag is ridiculous- I can never get 6 home without at least one or two broken.
  36. 1 point
    In the small shops around here, that is exactly how the eggs are. All different shapes and all different shades and they aren't perfectly clean neither. You usually tell them how many you want and they place them in a small plastic bag, so be careful. If we buy eggs at Walmart or Soriana, we usually save the cartons for when we buy the local mom and pop store eggs. Many people here (like us) will have neighbors that sell their chicken and ducks out of their house.
  37. 1 point
    That is what I call organic.
  38. 1 point
    Unfortunately, you're wrong. Mexicans use tons of pesticides. There's little education here about the dangers- they spray malathion around like it's water, using no gloves, no masks, etc.
  39. 1 point
    There is no organic certification by the government (or anyone else). “Organic” is taken on faith and anyone can use the term. Also, some pesticides banned in the U.S. are still used here.
  40. 1 point
    Ajijic lacks a mercado, but Chapala has an active one, where fresh produce, meats, poultry, and more, are available every morning. We loved living nearby.
  41. 1 point
    I didn't know that. Thank you for sharing your solution!
  42. 1 point
    I took the oath of citizenship yesterday.
  43. 1 point
    I've lived in six locations on the north side; lake front in Ajijic (2), mountain side Ajijic, Ajijic village, San Antonio, and upper Chula Vista, as well as Jocotepec over eight plus years, and now living (happily) lake front near San Luis. Telmex does have phone and internet here, IF, you can get an available line. I've been on the waiting list for something like six months. I don't know the local speed for Telmex, but they commonly offer only a fractional upload speed, compared to the download speed (10Mb dn/perhaps 0.5Mb up). Spyderweb offers internet in many locations here (needs line of sight from their towers and uses wifi frequencies to a local modem) but their prices are quite high comparatively. However, you can choose your up and download speeds, to a point... I used them in Joco and here in San Luis, but they aren't exactly a customer oriented company, more like a buyer beware, and I haven't experienced a steady, reliable signal from them. Ilox has been here (south shore) for years. Currently, they say they will only install to "businesses", but the definition is not clear, might be that telling them you have a business is enough. Yet, I have a neighbor who's had their residential service for a couple of years. He reported there were some outages from time to time, and, you pay a year in advance. Speeds can be much higher than Telmex. When it's working, it's a good service. Ilox's system was installed at Roca Azul (rv park in Joco) around a year ago, and the residents there report continued, frequent outages of the internet (as well as with the electricity and water) and, it's only provides a 20Mb service for the ALL the RVs, which can number as high as 35 to 40 units when a caravan come in. One full-timer there uses Spyderweb and generally reports a reasonably steady service, but not without occasional calls to fix problems. The new options from both AT&T cellular and Telcel, are cell system based internet modems (essentially Hot Spots) are providing much better speed and reliability (so far). (AT&T less so while they are solving a problem, which might be from overselling their system. I have a modem from both companies. Each offers a choice between 5 and 10Mb speeds, same prices, and both throttle speeds down after passing certain monthly bandwidth usage. These will only work well ( i think), if you are close enough to a cell tower to pick up the 4g service and don't have many buildings between you and the cell tower. The AT&T office in Joco is buried in the downtown buildings and there he seldom gets much speed from his modem. For non-imported groceries, you can find a lot in Jocotepec, as well as a number of restaurants, but, they aren't the gringo oriented ones as in Ajijic. You can also get basic groceries (vegies, breads and meats) in any of the villages. The need for speaking Spanish is most relevant to how you live. If you are spending lots of time interacting with the locals (south shore), you'll need more Spanish but, MANY speak at least a little and others speak a lot of English. At the government offices, less so. Can't offer much about boat docking. I plan a boat in the future, but it won't be until I can build a secure boat house, or long (perhaps) rail based access down to the water. Leaving a nice boat unprotected on the shore is probably a precursor to giving your boat to someone else... However, if you bought something like one of the old fishing boats here, might be less threat of loss. (Like having a rusty old bicycle or rust-bucket car that nobody would want to steal.) One could easily have a trailer sized boat, stored at your home and just get it wet when needed, but if you aren't going to have a car at all, that's more complicated. NOT having a car over also offers complications. Walmart (as a point of reference) is 25 miles by road (8 to 10 miles by water) and can sometimes be driven in 40 minutes, if you drive fast where possible, but will normally take an hour, unless you are east of San Luis. The closet hospital I know of is east of Joco, about 25 minutes by car. Travel time to Costco (in Guad) is no longer, maybe a little faster than from Ajijic, about 50 minutes (+/_). You might want to have a plan in place if you need sudden transportation, such as an unplanned trip to the doctor. And, if you choose east of San Luis, you will learn to hate the road "through" San luis. It's about 1 1/2 miles of narrow two lane, with cars randomly parked on the side causing a one lane event with countless car and trucks (and backhoes/farm equipment) trying to get through. The highway is busy much of the day and night, thus, of you live close to it, means traffic noise, mostly from the countless truck (jake breaks and lost mufflers) and weekend motorcycles (in mass). Otherwise, this side seems quieter to me. And, finally, the view looking north (as compared to looking south from the north shore) is really, quite a lot nicer. One things is seeing the night lights of the far more developed north shore. Another might be just the difference between the mountain ranges on the north and south sides. And in the dark, you see the 'light' of Guadalajara over the mountain top, but you also see lots of stars overhead. Fire trucks will come from Joco, which means you should get your hose turned on while you wait... Real Estate scams and problems can occur anywhere around the lakeside (around Mexico?), caution is obviously needed if you are buying. Still, lots of gringos have purchased properties along the south shore, many have never had any "title" issues at all. A long-term lease would remove those specific concerns. Regarding water and electricity, San Luis appears to pump (pressurize) water (on the west side) three late afternoons each week, Tues., Thur. and Saturday. This water fills your own tanks, and you draw water from them. Of course, some scheduled days they might not pump (it happens), and sometimes the pressure could be lower than other times. If you design a new water storage system here, it might make sense to have a week or more capacity to avoid a possible day or two without water. If renting, buying a second storage tank is easily affordable. Electricity seems normal for Mexico. Voltage (mean voltage target in Mexico is 127v) during the day is commonly lower, and in the evenings/overnight commonly higher. There are occasional brief (a minute or two) outages, and when there's a break in the power line (storms or auto accidents) power can go out for some hours, which isn't significantly different from the other lakeside locations I've lived. However, I have a general inclination for installing a proper voltage regulator (boost/reduce functions). There are many choices and sizes available. You might find voltage Controllers, as well as true Regulators. Iso Solabasic offers both such systems. Both can function with input from about 90 volts to about 147 volts. The output is essentially flat with their regulators, but their Correctors output from 102 to 132v. A 50amp corrector has a retail price around 4,500p and the Regulator is around 8,000p. I've seen them for less in the big Commercial electrical shops in Guad. Lots of Gringos have solar panels and many pay next to nothing each month as a result. Not all include a battery storage system, but having one and a suitably sized inverter can eliminate brown/black outs. In west Ajijic a few years ago I saw voltage as low as 65 and as high as 160. That high isn't normal, but lows aren't uncommon. Also, some will probably have to debate, during the rainy season, I have observed lots more clouds and rain on the north side, then here on the south side. Perhaps I am delusional, as well as decrepit... I prefer being on the south, but, if you think about going out to eat more than, perhaps once a week, or participating in any of the countless groups and activities on the north shore, you'll spend a lot of time on the road and probably tire of it fast. I suggest you consider keeping (or getting) a car, possibly an small economy type, and use it as sparingly as you like, but, have it for when you need it. (trips to Costco?) This side is certainly more peaceful and relaxed and probably represents what the north shore was 30-50 years ago. I expect property values will climb here, but, who is going to live long enough to enjoy that? Last, take all dire warnings about anything posted on this webboard, with a load of sale (or maybe BBQ sauce). There are so many old people here passing on old stories and fears and rumors and guesses, about nearly everything, things can sound a lot worse than they are. If you crossed north by your little boat, getting a ride to shops would be easy by obtaining the local Taxi stand phone numbers (to call ahead), or by learning some of the private driver's numbers or even using Uber. In your 40's, walking might be desirable. If you were ready to motor back south across the lake, and see a big storm, there are plenty of places you could wait it out, possibly with a nice beer or music or just enjoying an art gallery. And if the wind happened to come up when you are half way back across, it's only four or five miles more which might be 10 minutes travel time, even a modest motor boat will likely get you to shore before any real trouble. I expect you're an adult and can make reasonable decisions on the fly... Renting first is one of the best bits of advice for anyone coming here to buy. It's easy be enamored with this or that location/community or house, but taking the time to learn how close that house is to an Eventos or how many dogs live next door or on the roof, or which house has parties till tomorrow all weekend long, will greatly improve your happiness. Unless you're deaf, in which case, who cares? In hunting for a house, be it to purchase or rent, get out of the car and walk and talk to everybody. You speak Spanish. Ask. Most small communities are going to have at least shop that the proprietor will know everybody and (nearly) every opportunity. Start at the corner grocery and work your way down the street. You've already spent time lakeside, you already know it can be a great place to live!
  44. 1 point
    We switched to Santorini (21 pesos) a year ago and my frequent tummy troubles have become much less frequent.
  45. 1 point
    We have a friend that has one of those water filter pitchers and Bonafont had alot of debris in the pitcher, I asked her to try Miguel water from Javier and there were no black specs in the water pitcher. Bonafont is expensive and over rated but I like the bigger jugs and all the water guys have all kinds of jugs.
  46. 0 points
    Two Texans that moved to Mexico share their thoughts on what they wish they knew before they came here.
  47. 0 points
    Looks like a miniature Doberman.
  48. 0 points
    FYI: I went to Soriana in search of the iron on patches. They do not have them. I guess it's the Tiangus....dang.
  49. 0 points
    It is the same stuff the stores carry so no great shake of a mercado.
  50. 0 points
    Why people keep coming when the infrastructure cannot support a larger population is beyond me. If I had it to do over again, I'd pick darn near anywhere but here.
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