Adventures in Mexico: Daily adventures in Mexico as an american

Adventures in Mexico: Daily adventures in Mexico as an american

Daily adventures in Mexico as an american

As an American who recently moved to Mexico, I encounter small adventures on a daily basis.  Tasks that were once mundane in my hometown are now full of newness.  Each day when I drive to work, I learn rules and norms about driving in Mexico.  For instance, topes are everywhere.  They are basically speed bumps.  Small towns have them to prohibit cars from speeding through their village and  I’ve learned from experience to keep it slow on highways that have lots of small towns.  Trust me, its much better to have plenty of time to reduce speed when approaching a tope than to be surprised by it, your suspension will thank you.  There are many topes throughout large cities as well, used to keep traffic speeds at a minimum and to slow velocity when approaching a glorietta. 

Which moves us to our next topic, gloriettas are basically roundabouts.  These took some getting used to as we have none in my hometown.  From trial and error I learned that you always yield to cars in the roundabout, the inside lane is for going around and the outside lane is for exiting.  I have to admit they are probably more efficient than stoplights but much more nerve-wracking and intimidating. 

Visiting the supermarket is another treat.  For the most part the same foods are available here and at a reduced price to boot.  However, there are some conveniences I’ve had to live without such as canned diced tomatoes, velveta cheese and fresh milk.  One can make due as there are a myriad of wonderful cuisines here that are unavailable in the states. 

One surprising realization was the costliness of various items.  Once my husband and I arrived, we planned on buying a car.  Little did we know that vehicles, particularly SUV’s, are around a third more expensive here than in the US.  The same goes for electronics.  The saying “everything is cheaper in Mexico” does not apply to mass produced goods such as electronics, vehicles, furniture and even clothing.  I buy a lot of these products online and even though there is the added cost of shipping, it is still usually cheaper than buying these goods locally. 

   

Although I love living in Mexico, there are a few things that I just don’t understand that drive me crazy.  One of these is the dialing of cellular phones.  Depending on if you’re calling on the same network, i.e Telcel phone to Telcel phone, you do not need the area code.  Unless you’re calling a number in a different state, in that case you DO need the area code.  However if you call from Nextel to Telcel, you need the area code no matter what.   I’m pretty sure something else happens when you call Nextel to Telmext and you’re in a different state.  Rules change for Nextel to Nextel, home phone to cellular and so on.  I’ve been here over two months and I still don’t understand which labyrinth of numbers to use when dialing.  I recently found a spreadsheet over a page long with instructions 

for each configuration possible which has helped.

Overall, my husband and I love living in Mexico.  The people are truly amazing here, always willing to help and most importantly they love to have a good time!  We live in the Yucatan which is very safe; the murder rate here is comparable with Montana and Wyoming and is 15 times lower than Washington, D.C.  There are a plethora of things to do such as museums, beaches and wonderful ruins.  If you avoid large tourist areas, food and accommodations are very reasonable making weekend trips easy and cheap.  Although I get homesick sometimes, I feel like I belong here and that Mexico is my home for now.

Magic Village in Mexico, Taxco

Taxco is a small but beautiful city located in Guerrero in southwest Mexico. It is a small city located in the mountains and is well known for silver, both mining and crafting. Tourism is one of the main activity due to the silver mine and picturesque views of this small town. There are small, winding, coble stone streets which give the city part of its beauty. You also will find murals as well as beautiful, colonial architecture around every turn. Holy week in Taxco has become an international sensation and there are processions up to two and a half kilometers long. We know you will enjoy a visit to this historic town, and we know just the tips to help plan your trip!


What to see and do in Taxco:

The Santa Prisca Cathedral – Built in the 1700s and has stunning views of Taxco and the surrounding areas from the top.

Silver Mines – There are various silver mines open to the public which are very interesting.
Silver Museum – Here you’ll see amazing silver objects and works of art.
Buy Silver – Yes, it is everywhere here and you are in a great position to purchase a lot of wonderful silver!

Jumiles – Stinkbugs that are collected for making various salsa or sauces in Mexico and are also used as taco filling. Some people even eat them alive!

Grutas de Cacahuamilpa – Cacahuamilpa caverns are ideal for cave diving and adventure.

Alejandro Huimboldt National Park – Wonderful forest for hiking and nature.

Mexican Cuisine... Cultural treasure

Since Mexican food was recently declared a cultural treasure by the UN and given UNESCO status

http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/11/17/1930893/un-agency-designates-mexican-food.html

I thought I would list some of my favorite and not so favorite things to eat in The Yucatan.  While Yucatecan food is of course Mexican food, there are many differences in ingredients and preparation here in the Yucatan in comparison to central Mexico.  One of the reasons Mexican food was chosen as a cultural treasure is the diversity.  Contrary to what is served in Mexican restaurants in other countries, Mexican food is very different depending on the region.  In the states we eat a lot of Mexican food with flour tortillas.   Here, corn is the leader. Most of my American friends scoff at the idea of corn tortillas but they have never had handmade, fresh corn tortillas which are truly delicious. They don’t break or crack, they’re soft and they have great flavor. I could go on all day about various foods found in the Yucatan, but I’ve complied a list below with highlights:

Cochinita Pibil – Very popular Yucatan dish of slow roasted pork with citrus and herbs.  Traditionally cooked in the ground but now just slow roasted in the oven while covered in banana leaves.  Served as a sandwich or taco.

Salbutes – Fried, crisp little handheld corn tortillas topped with shredded turkey, avocado, pickled onions, and cabbage or lettuce.  Served in the Yucatan as a snack or small meal.

Panucho – The same thing as Salbutes but Panuchos have refried beans inside the tortilla.

Chaya – Delicious blended drink with Chaya (mayan spinach) Jugo de Naranja (orange juice) and Jugo de Pina (pineapple juice). 

Potage de frijol blanco - Soup with lentils, vegetables, beans and pork. 

Frijol con Puerco - Cubed pork in black bean sauce.  Served with rice and corn tortillas. 

Mondongo – Dish of low-cooked shredded or diced tripe (the cleaned stomach of a cow).  Not my favorite dish but it is popular with locals in the Yucatan.

Pechugas de Pollo a la Plancha - Marinated and grilled chicken breast served with rice, beans and tortillas. Not too traditional but I love the Mexican take on grilled chicken by putting it in a corn tortilla with rice and dipping it in black bean sauce.  Delicious.

Sopa de Albondigas - Yucatecan dish of meatball soup with rice or pasta and vegetables.

Most people think that Mexican food is full of unhealthy, greasy, fried foods when in reality it is very healthy.  There are a lot of vegetables and sauces with herbs that are very good for you and have a ton of flavor.  Now that I have experienced true Mexican and Yucatecan dishes I realized how beneficial and delicious Mexican food can be!  I’ve already learned to make a few of these dishes myself because I know I will be missing them very much when we leave this great country. 


I invite you to check out our cooking tour and learn some delicious Yucatan recipes! 


Also leave you the Yucatan cook book!