To speak, or not to speak.... Spanish that is...

I can't tell you how many times I have been asked the question "Do you speak Spanish", and every time I say the exact same thing " yes, and no" LOL.

What I mean by that is yes, to some people I would say I speak Spanish, but to others I would have to say no. My hubby and mi maestra tell me I don't give myself enough credit, but really? When I can understand and translate ALL the words in a song - that is when you will hear me admit "Yes, I speak Spanish". Said with conviction. The only problem, is I sometimes can barely understand the words in English!!! LOL!!!

Anyways, this topic came about as we had the pleasure of my Maestra visiting from Los Mochis, Sinaloa - she moved there about 6 months ago and is teaching. She actually hasn't' been my maestra for almost 2 years now, and I am just so embarrassed at the level of my Spanish after losing her :(

Sooooo I spoke with hubby and maestra over the weekend and have decided I am finally going to be taking some classes!!!

So far I have found 2 schools of interest here that offer "group" lessons. Amerispan, and Berlitz.

http://www.amerispan.com/language_schools/Mexico/Cancun/3501

http://www.berlitzcancun.com/

Apparently they offer group classes of no more than 6 students. However, I have a hard time believing they actually fill these "group" classes every week? At this point I am assuming I will need/want about 6 weeks of classes, 5 days per week. I certainly hope I won't need more than that.

As I continue looking into these classes - I will let you know how my search goes. I am hoping to register before summer! Here's hoping!!!!

If any of you have had the chance to attend one of these, or can recommend another school I haven't looked at - I'd LOVE to hear about it!!!

Wish me luck amigos as this is one of my '09 resolutions!!





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To buy or not to buy?

It is time for me/us to face the inevitable and decide what we are going to do about buying our next vehicle? Or spending the money..... Last time we bought a vehicle (a few months ago) we got screwed by the dealer in MC and ended up having to pay the tenencias (taxes) for 2 years. I was not happy, and I know you can say you live and learn, but he showed us the paper work that he suggested had been paid. Crooks will be crooks I guess. There's no way to avoid them all...

My problem is there are just so many choices, and we've been looking on-line at the two websites that we are aware of, and here in Q. Roo and the Yucatan there isn't much we want in our price range..... Are we being too picky? Are we looking for too much?

FYI - the 2 websites we use are :

http://www.autos-usados.autoplaza.com.mx/

http://www.soloautos.com.mx/

If any one knows of some better/comparable ones - please let me know!!!

Anyways, it's still remarkable at the price differences between vehicles here, and back in Canada. I know in Canada vehicles are more expensive than in the USA. However, here in Mexico it really just depends on the vehicle. Should I buy a SUV as hubby and I think about starting a family? Or should I wait until that happens, and just buy a sedan?? Hmmmm... soo many decisions ..... Maybe I should just stick with the good ol' faithful of Mexico - Volkswagen!!! LOL!!

I'll keep you posted as I struggle with this decision, and dread spending the money! Okay, I'm being a little dramatic, but I don't know what to do!


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Quieres comer??!!!

I was thinking today, what should I blog about? Then it popped into my head, a little hidden treasure we have here in Cancun. Now a girl from Alberta Canada would not be bragging about beef in Mexico, if she really didn’t find it THAT good. It’s THAT good J

I don’t know what the name of the restaurant is, and yes, we are frequent visitors – take out, and sit down. As a matter of fact, when hubby took me there a few years ago for my first time there were only 3 or 4 tables to be had. Today, they have expanded to about 25 tables on the first floor alone. In the evenings, they even have outdoor seating on some nights!!! Hubby and I have always called it the “Uruguayan restaurant”– I think that’s why we have never bothered paying attention to the actual name. All of our friends call it that as well. Why would we need to bother learning the name? Anyways, it’s close ITLA (Instituto Tecnologico de Las Americas), and near Las Torres.

Next time I’m there I’ll be sure to take a photo of the food. It’s very simple, and yet tastes sooooo good. I usually order a steak – this is served with a HUGE piece of meat seasoned to perfection, and a salad that has a “secret” dressing on it (always order extra) – all served on a wooden cutting board. YUUUMMMMY. Now they don’t have a huge wine selection, but it’s good enough for this chicita. Also, they like many restaurants here in Cancun take cash only. My meal is about 120 pesos, and it’s about 150 for a bottle of a Santa Rita Cab. Not bad if you ask me!!!!

So again, for a great meal, at a FANTASTIC price – check this place out if and when you get a chance!!!!

OUT FRONT

INSIDE :)

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It scared the "croc" out of me!

Okay, so first I must admit - these pics were not from a golf trip I took.... However, they are on MY camera, so I can use them, right?? Hubby and his friend (cdn on vacation) were golfing last week at the Hilton Golf Club here in Cancun.... Only to stumble across not 1, but 3 crocs on the course!!!! When I say on the course, I mean literally ON THE COURSE!!!

Yes, this is our friend staying far away - hubby is taking the pic!!! Some of you may not think this is scary, but I'm terrified!!!!

I have been assured the crocs are fed - I must admit they do look rather lean and thick. I'm still not taking any chances. I'm hoping I can just keep on pretending that I don't know they are there.....

Nice little fella, Nice little fella.....

I honestly havent' seen one yet - I think it could be I so badly don't want to believe they are frequent visitors to the area that I just don't see them!!! Now I can't pretend anymore.

Carnaval Merida!!!!

Okay, so since everyone is blogging about the Carnavals in their cities.... I thought I could share a few pics of my experience at the world famous Carnaval Merida in 2008. Yes, I said 2008. Unfortunately, as much as I swore I`d be back this year -it just didn`t happen. This is sad for me for 2 reasons. 1) Merida is one of my favourite cities in the world; 2) It`s a Carnaval!!!!



Merida`s Carnaval is probably one of the biggest in Latin America!! Carnaval is full of fun, music, dancing, parades and of course bee56r!!!! It`s a time for families, jovenes, etc... to get together! It truly is a fantastic experience.



One night in particular we sat outside a restaurant on Calle 60 and watched the parade go by, a bottle of wine later, and they were just coming to an end.... It really was nice to watch all the people involved.... Especially the children - so cute and talented!!



These pics are just from the evening festivities, but I assure you there is plenty to do during the day!!!! I`ll have to post those later!!! Heck, this is just making me even more upset I didn`t get there this year!!! LOL - well, there will always be next year! For now, I hope you enjoy the photos!!!






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Let us handle it; Yourè on vacation!

Weekend Getaway!!!

One of the greatest things about living in Cancun (INMO) is the fact that you are SO close to the Riviera Maya, and there certainly aren't any shortages of wonderful places to visit and stay. Just south of Cancun we have Puerto Morelos, Puerto Aventuras, Playa del Carmen, and just a bit further you have Tulum.

Ohhh how we loove the beach!!!

One of our (hubby and I) favourite things to do for a quick getaway is to spend a weekend at a resort. We usually end up bringing mis suegros, but sometimes go by ourselves as well. Being a local we can usually get a discounted rate as well, but not so much anymore. Tourism in the Riviera Maya is at an all time high! Who would have known - with the state of the world economy and all!!! This is however, great news for our transportation company!!!!

View from the front door to your room!!! Balcony looks at the ocean and beach!

We almost always spend our visits at the Bahia Principe - it is by far one of our favourites!!!! We usually prefer to stay at Club Tulum, but we'll stay at either of the resorts!!!! The food at the resort is awesome, especially for an all inclusive. They have a snack bar that serves some of the best tacitos!!! LOL. Yes, I know how sad that sounds, but they are delicious!!!!

The entertainment in the evening is amazing. Every night in the Tulum lobby they have a live band that plays, and if you ask - you can sip Don Julio while listening to the music! Afterwards, they move the show outdoors to the Hacienda Dona Isabel!!!! Again, you listen to the wonderful music and you can even walk around and shop!!!!

One of the lobby's!!!! Ohhh look how happy I am!

Hanging out with the family!!!!

Of course there is just SO much I am leaving out, and I promise to write a more indepth diary of a day at the Bahia Principe, but for now I will just post some pics!!!!! I hope you enjoy!



(hubby and I dancing to the music)

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Casa en renta en Villas del Arte / House for rent in Villas del Arte Cancun!!!!

One of the biggest questions an expat receives is " How much does it cost to live in Mexico", and people are often curious as to just what you can get here for a certain dollar.

Well, that brings me to this post. Mi cunada recently purchased a property here in Cancun, and is renting it. Sooooo - I think some ppl are going to be shocked at what you can get for 7000 MXP /month!!!! (obviously if youre' interested let me know and I can get you in touch, and it's not a vacation rental!!)

This post will be half english, and half spanish!!

Villas del Arte is a new development here in Cancun. It's at the end of Avenida La Luna, and across from Santa Fe Plus.

So for 7000 MXP per month you can get a brand new, never lived in house with : 2 full bathrooms, 2 bedrooms, 2 parking stalls, kitchen w/ gas, laundry area, a/c outlets, garden, and outside wall surrounding the house. I've included some pics for your viewing pleasure!!!

La casa es nueva, nunca ha sido habitada y nos la entregaron hace apenas 2 meses. Les adjunto fotos para que la vean...

ubicación aprox. La casa se encuentra dentro del Fraccionamiento Villas del Arte, en la avenida principal. El fraccionamiento está ubicado al final de Av la Luna atrás de Residencial Santa Fe.

m2 de construcción tiene 126 m2 de terreno y 98 m2 de construcción

no. de baños Tiene 2 baños completos uno en la planta baja y uno arriba

no. de recamaras Tiene 2 recamaras

no. de estacionamiento Tiene 2 lugares de estacionamiento

que servicios tiene tinaco y calentador, instalación de gas preparado para centro de lavado, preparaciones para aire acondicionado, mosquiteros deslizables en ventanas y puertas, protecciones en la ventana principal, además de dimmer en las luces principales de la casa, jardín y barda posterior

tiene aires? no

tiene cocina integral? Si tiene cocina con parrilla de gas

Okay, well that is it folks!!!! I hope that this gives some people a better perspective of just what you can get for about 7000 MXP / month. Of course I'm not getting into the nitty gritty, groceries, gas, water, electricity, car, etc.... I just thought it would be neat for some of you to get an idea!!

Adios!!!

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