Social times

Excuses: 

The last two weeks were spent in non-Mexican stuff, so to speak. I had to do some taxes for my company, Simple Interface, and deal with my best customers to get them going for 2009 sales season. Both were demanding and reminding me that with the drop in stock prices and the value of the Canadian dollar, work was still a reality for me, and for Louise to some extent. But there is hope that will change... at least in our lifetime.

Medical stuff: 

As long as we can mix work and Mexican lifestyle, we should be fine. We also spent a bit of time dealing with the local medical system. A really different process compared to the system up north. The system is fantastic and very efficient. They have few lawyers here, and the medical personnel is somewhat not as worried about lawsuits compared to Canada or the US. There is a National Social Security insurance IMSS, which is graduated when you join to reduce the cost. We have been told that it is about CAN$350 per person per year. Our next week 'exploration'.

Social times:

Last Sunday, we were invited by Keith and Deborah, a couple from Victoria, B.C., who were camping here, waiting for their house in Ajijic to be vacated by its tenant. 

It was their first time in their new home, and we all enjoyed their warm hospitality, the view and the excellent Molletes prepared by the restaurant next door. 

Keith is an Information Consultant for the B.C. Government and we had a number of interesting discussions on our favorites techno topics. B.C. seems far away, especially when Keith treated us with a great pipes song. 

Mike and Terry Church, the renown authors of "Mexican Camping" joined us in Roca Azul earlier this week. A very nice couple, well travelled and really enjoyable as they talk about their various experiences in America and Europe. 

Their books are a mine of valuable information. We enjoyed a sunset and a bonfire with them, the camping group and Oscar and Ana, the young managers of Roca Azul. The evening was a treat.

To finish the social week, Jim and Myrna, from Ontario, asked the group to join them in their new "camping" location. The place is owned by Mario, an avant garde restauranteur in Ajijic, who prepared shrimps in mango sauce (not typically Mexican, but very tasty), chicken in green pepper sauce, excellent rice with vegetables.

This place is a unique combination of apartment and RV space(s). The apartment on the second floor is beautiful, with large rooms and magnificent red wood panelled closets. On the ground floor, there is a toilet, a large kitchen, ready for entertainment, and the terrace we had our party, with quite a few tables and chairs.

In the back-end, across the well manicured garden is the concrete pad for the RV. There are three spots, designed for van conversion or truck campers (Class B or smaller). Not for full size motorhomes!!!! We would not fit with our rig.

The entrance is narrow, with a nice deep ditch for water, just deep enough for Jim's motorhome to hit the very narrow street with the back of it. Then he had to negotiate a 90 degree turn in a space barely larger than his motorhome length. The grass had to be run over, for sure...

It took over three hours for Jim to park his 42 foot motorhome. The picture can best describe the challenge. The only access are from the concrete path in the foreground. 

Quite an interesting concept! We've never seen that before -- it is new and we will follow this to see if it becomes fashionable here.

Jim and Myrna bought a land last year and are building a house on part of it. The renters of the apartment, Paul and Marian, from Saskatchewan, just bought a new home and are looking for renters in April... we may consider.

Local life:

It is amazing how fast the weeks go by. We have been a month here and it feels like we 'belong' here. Of course, these people are all from Canada or the US, and it remains to be seen how long it will take to make Mexican friends.

To help in that process, Louise is giving French lessons to Ana, the wife of the RV Park manager here in Roca Azul, in exchange for Spanish lessons. She is very bright, and both Oscar and her remind us of our own children. They are very pleasant and attentive to their guest's needs, and we like it! This week-end (Jan 24/25), the camp was pretty full, with 25 big RVs from Quebec, and over 95 campers, 'Dads and children' spending bonding time together.