Drive to Playa from Dallas

So went back to Dallas for the swagger wagon.  Was going to hire a brother to do it, but his passport expired.  So I flew back and hit the road to Laredo, TX on Saturday.  Entered Mexico on Sunday early am as I didn't really know what to expect.  Talking to a few here, they didn't really say much, other than do everything during the day...

I didn't listen to that advice as I woke up early enough to get through inspection by 5:30 a.m.  Then I was off for vehicle registracion' ...easy, right?  Well the first guy told me to turn left out of the inspection, go a kilometer and then make a u-turn and drive "down to the beach under the bridge"... WHAT?  DOES HE THINK I'M THAT DUMB???  That's what I said to myself as I imagined being pillaged for everything I have under the bridge.

When I saw a sign, I felt better...until I came to the first stop sign (black as night in a city of 400k)...4 guys came towards my car and made me happy I wore my oops I cr____ my pants...I turned right as I just wanted out of there.  I went a couple blocks and thought, they wanted me to go this way, right?  I made a u-turn and went back to the border crossing (flying through the same stop sign area) and asked another for directions.  After 15 minutes, I found someone who spoke 1/2 English and to my surprise he told me the same as the other about the "under the bridge" thing, only a bit more info.

So I went flying through the stop sign area once again and found the place...who really puts those places under a bridge down by the "beach" (river)...I digress.

Got everything done; $300 deposit & $62 in fees and I was off.  The first day's drive, uneventful and desert driving to Queretaro, MX...got there by 5 or so...dog tired.  Slept and got up for the next day's drive to Villahermosa...10 hours away.

Volcano to the left

Way at the top, guys chipping away at rocks...

Parque Nacional Cañón del Río Blanco

TACOS!!

Taco maker...happy bunch.

Parking lot...for your horse, of course.

The drive was very nice scenery-wise.  Reminded me of California, then Hawaii.  Saw the 2nd highest peak in Mexico (also a volcano just southeast of Mexico City) and 3 total snow capped mountain peaks.  Drove through a park and down into a valley that was the highlight of the drive, very scenic.  Ate 2 tacos and on my way to Villahermosa.

Got checked in and splurged on a rib-eye dinner (which came with 5 other pcs of Mex-food) and a cerveza for 90 pesos ($7.20) and then walked around town and noticed lots of barbers on the street and with my limit of 1 beer, I got kind of crazy and went for one.  I wasn't sure of the cost, but the worst it would be 50 pesos ($4)...30 minutes and a razor shaven neck and sideburns (new blade, I saw him unwrap it), he said 30 pesos...wow, I had dinner, a beer and a haircut for under $10!

So off to my last day of driving and it was a long one, but again, very scenic.  Mexico never touts their natural beauty, but its here for sure.  I'm back home, but very glad I took the trip.

$100 in tolls and 2,200 miles later, I'm back home with Lisa and went to our Special Day Assembly yesterday...read on for that one.

Patience is a virtue, right?

So I've been away for a while...We have had our first week here and so far, so good.  The only 2 things we are missing the most, the car and high speed internet (in our home).  We're working on getting the car down.  We met a brother from Canada who does this for a little extra cash and has done it many times and knows the ropes...he just forgot to renew his visa, so that's out for at least 4 weeks...we'll likely have to do it ourselves, which I kinda wanted to anyhow.

If there is anyone who'd like to join me in the drive, let me know and we'll talk.  It will likely take 5 days total, so its not a weekend kind of  trip...

The internet, well, lets just say "later rather than sooner" is their motto down here.  We have a couple helping us steer the waters down here, so it probably could be worse (although, I don't think so)...We have now a mobile stick for surfing until we get a DSL line (up to 2mb down...so much for 20mb days).  The stick is actually fast enough for video play on HULU, but not conducive to "all you can eat" surfing / streaming.

We'll survive for another couple weeks per our friends to get the DSL...

We've spent a few days in service and it is different, but good for building congregation relationships / friends. You see the same 10-15 peep when you go and everyone is so focused; pretty nice.  Been on 2 studies already and I hear the snow birds and Europeans are coming soon, so the congregation should swell to 100 on Public Talk day (Saturday here).

Had our first few over for dinner; a single bro and a couple from the states.  Enjoyed the evening...

Raining a bit as we have the remnants of a Pacific hurricane passing by us...makes you read more.  Walking like 2-3 miles a day; need to after all the tortillas and empinadas...food is still coming in by half or less, btw.  A bag of Giro's (Mexican Oreos) are 10 pesos or $.80 and most meals we're getting by on $3-6 for the 2 of us eating at home or $4-8 on the streets.  We had enchilada dinner and chicken fajitas & 2 jamaicas juice for 90 pesos...$8.50 USD including tip.  For break / lunch in service we stopped and had an egg, ham & cheese torta and coffee for 30 pesos ($2.50)...

We found out Wednesday is "cheap" day at the theater...25 pesos or so...2 bucks for first run in English.  More to come soon...
Scott

Moving day...

So today is moving day...

Yesterday, we did a few hours in service; casual dress & meeting at 8:30...ughh!  Finished up by noon and went to the beach with our car group.  Looking for English speakers is different...but fruitful per everyone's comments.  The congregations are 40-45 pubs and we have our first public talk meeting today (Saturday) at 6:30...
Breakfast - $6
Lunch - 38 pesos ($2.75)
2 drinks @ beach $6.50
Dinner - 119 pizza + 20 beer / agua ($10)
Gas - $3.50
Day - $28.75

From CA to TX to MX

So here I go; this will be mostly about what to expect (as we experience them) of  moving to Playa del Carmen, Mexico...

Never really documented my times before, so forgive my lack of or too much detail.

We arrived on October 4, 2011 - picked up by friends from the local congregation, David & Kelly.  They immediately took us to see 6 or so places to stay and this was a great thing to have done!  We saw what you could get from 2,500 pesos to 11,000 pesos per month; $200 to $850 USD.

Our hotel, Casa Ejido, (more like a home with a pool and common kitchen area) was really nice.  Lisa got it for $30 / night and breakfast was an additional $3 ea (coffee, fruit, homemade bread & various jams).  Room has a king bed, large comfy couch, desk, sink, fridge, 2 burner cook-top and water dispenser.  All in all, nice place and very "Mexico" feeling.

We found a great place 100 yards from the Caribbean and is hitting us for 10,000 pesos per month.  The owner, Don, is Canadian and has been here for 16 years; nice to have good communication with the landlord, aye, hoser?

This is appx. $750 for a 2 br / 1 ba that is newly furnished (we got to pick out some of the furnishings) and also includes water, gas, electric & drinking water.  The only thing we needed was bedding & towels...

We (4 of us) ate at a taco hut (brought our own beer from the local grocery) and all ate for 78 pesos ($5.75, I think the beer cost more than the food)...had dinner with them and 2 other couples; one from Canada and another from London / Italy and had a really good evening (dinner w/drinks on the beach for 300 pesos later or $21).

10/5 - Went out to look at furniture; found some we liked and told Don...kind of got some foot time in around town and had lunch for a whopping 41 pesos ($3) and went to the meeting that evening; small congregation, but very welcoming.  Had 45 at the meeting & much opportunity to comment.  Had a great visit afterwards, meeting some there.  They come from everywhere...Argentina, UK, Italy, Sweden, Canada, Mexico & US.  Maybe more, we just haven't met them yet.

10/6 - Signed up for the condo; biked there in 10-15 minutes from where we're staying.  We had lunch for 22 pesos and then an early dinner for 90 (we splurged at $6.50).
Here's some things we'll be paying additional for (all monthly):
Internet - 2mb speed - $35 ish
Cable - would be $50, but I got Hulu working...using download speeds of less than 1mb...
Local cell - $10-20 / month
Use air conditioning - $75 ish
Transport - don't know, but budgeting $100 or thinking of bringing the car down.
Laundry service - $30 ish
Cleaning every 2 weeks (maybe) - $25 per visit