Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Feliz Navidad

Is there really that much more to say??

Feliz Navidad !!!!

I wish nothing but the best for everyone this holiday season. I truly mean that!!!!

It's always a little strange around Christmas time - my husband and his family celebrate Christmas on the 24th of December "Buena Noche". My family and I have ALWAYS celebrated Christmas on the 25th. This is something I won't budge on. He can have every other holiday, but NOT Christmas. I like our tradition...... I don't want it to change too much. We can always add on, but we will celebrate the 25th.... Indefinitely :)

What's on the menu?? Nothing but "good old faithful".

Turkey, Potatoes (roasted & mashed), Stuffing, Yams, Cauliflower, Carrots, Salad, Etc....

I just can't change it up.

At least we can agree on one thing - REAL TREE!!! I just looove the scent in the house, and there's something about the humidity. I don't ever remember a tree smelling so nice and for so long!!! How about you??

I'll have to post some pics of the neighbours houses - Seeing Santa in Cancun is just a totally different experience!! One that will be appreciated! LOL.

Well.... time to go and get ready for the fiesta!!!

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Owning a car in Mexico....

To own a car in Mexico…..

Okay, until now most of my posts have been REALLY positive. I now must vent…

In 1961 the government reissued a tax on owning a car in order to "afford" the construction of new facilities for the Olympics; this was called the Tenencia (from the verb tener; "to have" in Spanish). However, the tax remained to finance the 1970 FIFA World Cup, held also in Mexico. Ironically, the tax remains today.

This tax is variable depending of the car's value, number of cylinders, etc. Since many Mexican drivers default on paying this tax, government started taking countermeasures but due to this being perceived as uncontrollable, candidates to the presidency started making proposals to quit this tax before the July 2, 2006 elections including Felipe Calderón, current president of Mexico who took the charge on December 1. Tenencia remains to date though it's still due to be abolished by 2012.

Well with that all being said I was screwed! We purchased a van from a DEALERSHIP which gave us all papers indicating the taxes had been paid in full up until now. Well, well we just went to register it and found out that papers were incorrect, and the dealership was only paying as if it were a smaller vehicle. We now owe $2500. GREAT.

How does a dealership get away with this?? I just am mad. My husband and I aren’t stupid people… How did this get past us? Also, he’s mexican – he knows what to be looking for. Oh well, we have a lawyer who is looking into this for us – I’ll let you know how that goes. For now we just want the van to be working, and that it is….. J

Well, it is time for me to head out and get some last minute Xmas shopping done… Hopefully, it won’t be another 2 weeks before I post!!! I was in Toronto for business, and was able to visit some old friends from Cancun…. Ohhh how nice it was to see them!!! I’ll have to post some pics, and share a few stories of our trip!!!

Until then….. Feliz Navidad!!!

Thursday, December 4, 2008

El Carnaval de las Maravillas - Merida

Okay, so every year Merida hosts a WONDERFUL carnival for everyone to enjoy!! Seriously, it's for alllll ages. A few main streets get shut down for the parade to go through, most notably Paseo Montejo. Ahhh... for those of you who haven't been to Merida, look at my pictures in this post!!! For those of you who have been , you know what I'm talking about!!! Paseo Montejo is a street full of HUGE mansions.... Old colonial. Some are still used as a residence, and have been taken care of very well, others... they are used as offices, etc... It's unbelievable.

(Paseo Montejo)
The Carnival itself runs for a week. It's amazing. So lively. Very family oriented, but you see the teenagers out too. You can sit on a patio of a restaurant (you'll need a light sweater) and watch the parade go by... You will see the famous Corona float go by, then the Sol ladies and men dancing in their ...ummm... bathing suits?? !!! Then you'll see the older generations go by dancing, with a van that usually follows carrying the members that couldn't last.... Oh soooo cute!! You'll see the kids perform, wow can some of them DANCE!! At such a young age, in their costumes and they are soooo proud to let you take a picture of them - just for you.


(A shot from above some stands)
All the floats go by and they throw different gifts at you - ranging from T-shirts, to pens and mardi gras like beads!! All the while music is blaring, your waiter is serving you drinks, and you get to watch a BEAUTIFUL city enjoy life. After the parade shuts down - you can take a carriage ride around the town, listening to the music from the different performers in el centro..

Every night, and day they usually have different floats, however, they are very similar, but well worth it!!! It's free!!


During the day event you go to "Paseo Montejo" and buy allll sorts of different foods from the vendors. Fruits, beef, churros, etc... ALL available. You name it, they most likely got it!! Where else do you get to go and not have to pay an admission fee?? I can't think of one!!!


(mmm.... churrrrrrooossss)
Okay, well that is all I'm going to talk about for now as it's still a couple months away.... I'll have to re post once the date gets closer!! Maybe I'll entice you to attend!!

Monday, December 1, 2008

Building una casa en Mexico

Okay, so I FINALLY have pictures of our land that we are building on here in Cancun.... Literally, it's just a piece of land. Actually, more like a jungle. I think some of my friends in Canada thought I was joking, or simply exaggerating about the jungle part... Well wonder no more. Pictures speak louder than words!! Hahaha.



One of my friends, who has only been to Mexico once (stayed at a resort in P.V) asked me if I was going to be okay living in the "ghetto". Hahahahahahahaha!!! He took one look at the pics of the "jungle" and the unfinished streets automatically assuming it's the ghetto. Hilarious to an expat!!! So of course I start explaining to him that since we are building, it is up to our neighbours and ourselves to get a street put in. It was up to ourselves to have the jungle torn down, security wall put up, etc... He was more shocked to hear it absolutely was NOT the "ghetto" - rather an up and coming neighbourhood. Hahahahaha.



(of course this is the ghetto calle my friend was referring to,hehe)

(of course I showed my friend this photo of a "finished" street around the corner)
Now, of course if you buy through a builder, or a developer - they take care of all of this for you!!


(school for the kids)
Anyways, I plan on keeping you all up to date, and posting photos as the construction will be ongoing for quite some time!!!



(our lot is somewhere around one of the trees, jajajaja)
Soon I'll finally be able to say "Mi casa es su casa"