Living and Boondocking in Mexico

Goose Island State Park - Rockport - Fulton And When A Cash Sale Is Final

2026-10-16T15:57:23.883-07:00

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

Texas has some very nice state parks. We have the annual day pass, which helps reduce the cost. We arrived here in Goose Island or Rockport, TX. Spacious, very green, quite a bit of wildlife, and well-maintained grounds and restrooms (with air conditioning). Deer are everywhere! You just look out your window, and there they are. Fishing is within walking distanc,e and many of the renters and renters have boats. We took many hikes although it was humid and 32C. Mosquitoes abound but are now on the retreat with the cooler weather.

Many fun things are nearby outside of the park as well. This is one of them: the Fulton Mansion in Rockport. It sits on the water and was built back in 1877 by George Fulton, a newspaper journalist. He married into a wealthy family and when his father-in-law passed away the couple inherited 28,000 acres of land. George was many things in his life, and he acquired nine patents. He designed the mansion, and it included new inventions, two of which he took claim to. The mansion is four stories tall and had flush toilets, heating, and a station in the basement that pumped carbide gas made from gasoline stored on the grounds away from the house. The pump required the staff to take turns everyday to wind or pull up the balasts, similar to a grandfather clock. This provided the lighting while coal-burning furnaces worked to produce heat.

George became a cattleman. Interesting because there was, at the time, no way to ship meat long distances without refrigeration. He took care of that as well. His brother and a friend created carbon dioxide gas that kept the meat cool at the slaughterhouse located on the same property. Ships would use the refrigeration method, and meat was carried as far as England. I got to thinking that George didn't like fish or seafood. Why would you raise cattle along the ocean and spend so much time and energy inventing things when the seafood was pretty much at your feet?

The grounds in front of the house facing the ocean. You can see how close the property was to shipping and fishing.

Deer are everywhere, and you really do need to drive under the 20 mph speed limit. We saw many dead deer outside of the park.

As you walk by them, they just stare at you. You talk to them and they follow you with their eyes. Move too quickly and off they sprint.

We stopped by the Texas Maritime Museum. It's not a big place, but it is worth the visit. No charge for entrance. It tells the story of the indigenous Karankawa and how they fished and worked the land before foreigners arrived. Very ingenious people who were tall and muscular. They were eventually pushed into Mexico but have resurfaced after Enrique Gonzalez published an article in a local paper about the Karankawa people. Others read the article and realized they had commonality with Enrique. They formed a group and are now 100 strong, rewriting history. Why? They were considered long extinct but had really gone into hiding. They say their physical traits are still noticeable even after mixing with Mexicans and some settlers.

I learned what a binnacle was! It houses a compass and has two globes, one on each side, made of soft metal to counteract the effects of magnetis,m giving a true reading. The tank also protects the compass from mist and humidity. These devices are still required today on cruise ships.

This museum is a good break for kids and adults from the internet, cellphones and television. It's always good to learn new things. During WWI ship building was big thing along the Gulf coast. However, steel was in demand but production was almost nil. They turned to concrete to build cargo ships. Not light weight by any means but they did the job. The hull thickness was about 10 times that of a steel plate.

The Rockport Harbor in front of the museum. There is a pecan shop located there, a small shack up on stilts. I asked if they sold pecan pie by the slice and she showed me what looked like a brownie for $4! What? Maybe I have lived outside of the U.S. for too long.

On our way to see the sunset one evening we came across this beautiful great blue heron. I think its a nest as the bird wouldn't move.

Is this a sunset or what? Everyday we've seen some wonderful sunrises and sunsets. Today here in Mathis, TX (we're now at the Corpus Christi Lake State Park), we were talking to a couple of women at a thrift shop. They asked where we had been and where we were headed and one of them said that the sunsets at SPI are incredible. They are but what we've discovered is that all sunsets are amazing no matter where they appear.

Our site at Goose Island. The neighbor has the same make as ours, and just two feet longer. We are on the edge of a wooded area and the deer stroll through to graze and they look at us just like we look at them. It is very quiet here.

Before leaving Goose Island we had breakfast at Tequila Jalisco. It looks fancy and fairly new. Prices were reasonable, great Mexican food, and plenty of it. I wish we had found it earlier. It's a privately owned franchise of about six restaurants all in the south Texas Gulf area.

Our best breakfast deal is Laredo Taco Factory. They are in Stripes fuel stops and they are owned by 7-Eleven Corp. They always have good breakfast deals and all the salsa and topppings you want.

Like I mentioned, we are now at the lake in Corpus Christi and headed to the Shrimporee tomorrow for the day. The weather has taken a huge turn and it's chilly, cloudy and windy. My kind of weather.

South Padre Island - And The Cameron County Disaster (Isla Blanca County Park)

2026-10-12T17:01:49.550-07:00

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

I'm not sure how many pictures we have in front of this sign as you enter SPI, but there are many. We've been going to SPI since 1984. I watched Juan perform at the high school in Port Isabel with his dance troupe.

We made it to SPI in the early afternoon. We truly enjoyed our stay at the Casa Del Valle RV Park, but it was time to move on. I had made reservations for Isla Blanca, a massive 600-space RV park on the oceanfront way in advance. Their website is a mess, and you can't make out the site maps. On the phone, the desk clerk mentioned that the park was being renovated, so they were using the overflow section in front of the park. We could still walk into the park and have access to the waterfront and beaches.

Parked at the office and signing in.

We signed in, got our spot, and headed out only to find that the row they had put us on was flooded. I drove back to the office, trailer in tow, and explained the situation. The distance from the office to the overflow section is less than 500 feet, and yet no one had been out over the weekend to check things out. Well, I got them moving. When they told me that the other sites were reserved, I asked them what was going to happen when those rvers showed up and their sites were flooded? We ended up in a semi-dry site, and within minutes, six county pickups and two SUVs with big shots showed up. They then ordered backhoes, a topographer, generators with pumps and hoses, and began working.

It ended up to be a great evening, and it gave us plenty to talk about. We went for a beach walk, had a drink, and watched a great movie. The next day we headed to Port Isabel on the other side of the bridge for breakfast at the famous Isabel's Cafe. Still good food and a fun place, but all things change with time. We did some shopping looking for things we could use in the new trailer, took pics of the lighthouse, and scouted out some garage sales and Goodwill stores (there are none).

Back at our site, we went to see the work being done on the Isla Blanca RV Park. Last September, they kicked everyone out of the park. Those owners who lingered or weren't found and notified had their rigs demolished and hauled away. The park was supposed to be ready this month, but this is where it gets worse. SPI and Cameron County rely on Spring breakers and Winter Texans. They had no place to go last winter, and it will happen again this season.

Sunset on the bay side just steps behind our rig. We've seen sunsets at five-star resorts and even better ones parked in front of a fisherman's coop in Carboneras in Tamaulipas.

This is the Isla Blanca County Park as it sits today, abandoned.

Isla Blanca County Park before, when it was alive and vibrant and filled with Rvers.

Imagine, two small towns such as SPI and Port Isabel have been drained of their income due to poor government oversight. The park stands empty with mounds of sand, unfinished plumbing, electric, pavement, and pads. The four days we were there we saw zero activity, no workers, and abandoned machinery. The Winter Texans and the semi-permanent residents account for at least 1600 people. Lost revenues for the county park alone are upward of $12,000,000 per season.

North end of South Padre Island, no people, no vehicles, just us!

As we spent the weekend there, we asked all of the businesses we went to about the current status of the park and the effects it is having on their businesses. Many small businesses have closed; people are unemployed and have moved away. If you know SPI, you remember how vibrant the main strip was at night. It is no more. Big government says that revenues have risen, while the debates say "fewer bodies, higher prices". We walked through the Holiday Inn Resort and Hotel Magaritaville and saw little to no activity.

Maxan Street Festival next to the Port Isabel lighthouse. A big crowd, family fun, and good music.

Apart from some great beach walks, we also attended the Maxan Street Fair on Saturday night. It was a blast with free live music, food booths, amusement rides for kids, and more.

Out on the pier, people were catching mostly channel bass.

Waiting around to see what their take on the catch would be!

A huge tourist attraction is the Pirate's Landing pirate's ship that gives rides and fun out on the bay.

Fantastic sunsets on the bay!

That afternoon we scoped out our big meal out at the beach and decided on Pirate's Landing, which is on the big pier on the Port Isabel side of the bridge. Pretty cool place to walk around and watch people catch some really big fish. No alcohol is allowed on the piers, and it is a very family-oriented place. Everyone throwing in a line, chewing the fat in English and Spanish, tourists walking about and feeling the wonderful end-of-summer breezes.

Parked at our site on Goose Island. What a huge difference from an RV park. A lot of space, greenery, wildlife such as deer and javali walking past your site, and most of all, the peace and quiet. We had some good stargazing last night.

We left Sunday morning after our last walk on the beach and we are now at Goose Island State Park. As we rolled into Rockport and Fulton, we noticed one thing. A lot of RV parks look more like RV sales lots and parking lots. Here at the state park, it is a whole other world, and I am glad we made this decision to do some state parks.

First Stop - Laredo (Casa Blanca State Park)

2026-10-09T12:41:29.683-07:00

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

The best gas price at home when we left, only to find out the Fullok stations have now been suspended due to an investigation.

The trip to the border was not what we expected. We knew we would be in the rain, but it was nasty. There was fog, constant rain, and drizzle, much like winter. We saw one accident on the mountain crossing at Mamulique. A semi hit the brakes too hard and skidded to one side. No major damage, but they had the road blocked. Soon the rain came to an end, and we made our way to the Colombia Bridge via La Gloria. So far, that is one of the best roads in and out of Mexico.

At the bridge, there were four cars in front of us. The border agent asked for our passports and visas and then waved us through. We declared two bottles of vodka, but there is no tax audit building at that bridge. We got a break.

We headed for the RV. The lot owner met us and said there was no need for him to meet us anymore. He trusted us and gave us the pass to the lock box, and the key is inside. We just need to let him know of our comings and goings

Off we went to Casa Blanca State Park in Alamo, TX, for the night. It was pretty warm in the afternoon, but come nightfall, it cooled down to about 20C. Windows open, I had to cover up around 3 a.m. Glorious sleeping weather. The roof air, as always, is way too big, too cold, and too noisy. However, it's good to have in this weather.

Up at six this time, sleeping in for a change. We watched our usual news program from Mexico, picked up the taco meal deal at the Stripes Valero station, and headed out for McAllen. The drive was uneventful except for a few minor construction detours. We drove through the middle of nowhere via Oilton, Bruni, Hebbronville, and Falfurrias. We hit one inspection at Oilton, but the guys were very friendly. No one else around, so we chatted for a few minutes.

The railroad that runs through these towns was established in 1881. Oilton is so small now that they pulled out the last police officer just last week. An Italian immigrant, Antonio Mateo Bruni, established this route and later owned a large ranch in the area.

The fuel gauge on the SUV is much different, and I need to keep an eye on it. The computer serves us well and is chock full of information, but I need to study up on it a bit more. We were down to less than a quarter tank when we stopped just north of the RVG in Edinburg to fill up. New gauge creates a learning curve.

We pulled into Casa Del Valle in Alamo right on schedule. We set up, are enjoying a beer and a snack, and deciding what to fix for dinner. The park is still empty except for a few full-timers. Snowbirds may come, but I doubt many will arrive from Canada. We'll take advantage of the small gym, swimming pool, and jacuzzi before heading to South Padre Island or Mustang Island on Thursday.

A lot of empty spaces, although it is still very early for the winter season. Many come after Thanksgiving.

The RV park is suffering the effects of the issues with the U.S. and Canada. They had fewer Canadians last year, and this year more have canceled. The RGV is feeling the effects of fewer Winter Texans and fuel prices as well. The park is now under new ownership. We've stayed here many times in the past,t and we like it. They maintain it and keep doing updates. I can see why so many older people prefer a place like this. It's very safe; they have group activities and a lot of amenities. For less than $500 a month in space rent, you can't beat that versus a residential-style retirement home with your own apartment, three meals a day, etc. And that can run over $4000 a month.

Two interesting stories coming up in the next post. One is about the disaster here at the Isla Blanca County Park (we're in South Padre Island now), and the other is about the RV dealer and what happens when you have a cash deal. So stay tuned. We are enjoying the beach here and our old stomping grounds, but are looking forward to getting into the state parks on our route.

Gulf of Mexico Here We Come

2026-10-03T08:00:57.133-07:00

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

The time is finally here. For me, it is a long-awaited trip. We'll be heading out for the Gulf Coast on Monday. First stop will be Laredo, Texas, to pick up theRVv and spend the night at Casa Blanca State Park. This will probably be our ritual every time we want to RV in the U.S. A stop at our mailbox first to pick up some things we have ordered and then a rest for the night.

We'll be heading to South Padre Island and then hitting state parks along the coast. We may have to backtrack to Port Aransas for the Annual Shimperee Fest in October. I purchased the state park pass so that we have full hookups. We'll be shopping for our power station or solar setup. We're still undecided on which to choose. If anyone is using a power station such as a Jackery, Bluetti, or a Pecron, drop some information in the comments section.

We've had quite a bit of good news the last couple of weeks. As you know, we finished the tiling on the roof terrace in San Miguel de Allende. While we were gone, we noticed via cameras that the pool was losing a considerable amount of water. We have had leaks over the years (don't ever have a pool; they all leak eventually). Over the years, we have had the pool plumbing replaced; the light was suspect at one time, etc.

We hired a company that specifically looks for pool leaks. I was a bit skeptical but decided that we needed to do something. It's a father and son team, and they really put on a show. Scuba gear, pressure tanks, gauges, and all the extras. After thre hours, they showed us the two spots where it was leaking. He did a temporary patch that he guarantees for one year. From there, we will decide what t do. In the end, each morning it is refreshing (no pun intended) to wake up to see no movement in the water level.

A little Mexican news update that will likely be in the history books soon:

The intersection of skyrocketing cartel violence in Quintana Roo and the severe allegations regarding former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s (AMLO) relationship with organized crime represents one of the most volatile and heavily debated aspects of recent Mexican history.

AMLO frequently criticized business groups, labeling them as part of a "neoliberal" establishment that concentrated wealth while neglecting workers. He made the decision to create what we call "faroanic" projects that to this day have yet to yield any profitability; Tren Maya, AIFA (new airport or what we refer to as a warehouse), Tren Interoceanico (built to compete with the Panama Canal), Dos Bocas (refinery that has constant explosions and fires and produces very little), his IMSSBienestar that has drained the national healthcare system leaving it without cancer treatments for children, medicines, and supplies.

To build and manage these projects he bypassed local civilian police (who are highly susceptible to cartel bribery) and handing the airport, the railway, and their respective security perimeters exclusively over to the Mexican Military (SEDENA), AMLO effectively insulated his crown-jewel infrastructure projects. Whether that military footprint was intended to genuinely suppress cartel violence or simply to guarantee that federal/military revenue streams went undisturbed remains the ultimate debate surrounding his leg.acy

While he publicly justified infrastructure projects as "national security," his broader security strategy, famously dubbed "Abrazos, no balazos" (Hugs, not bullets), drew heavy criticism as a non-confrontational policy that let cartels expand their territorial control unchecked.

Hundreds of videos and reels are popping up all over the country of checkpoints along Mexico's highways. Fake police, cloned patrol vehicles, government officials working along side them, are robbing people of their goods and money. They are checking people's wallets and purses and taking half or more of the cash they have. At the checkpoint in San Robert, along highway 57 south of Saltillo, if you don't pay they begin to dismantle your vehicle. No pay, you can reassemble it yourself. There are now small shops popping up there to help people do the work. Talk about full circle.

A Great Hike - Project Completed

2026-09-21T17:05:44.000-07:00

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

We finally had a free day on Sunday. The worker comes late but always shows up and works his butt off. Saturday, he said he would arrive on Monday to finish up and be here by 8:30. Well, he showed up after 10:30. In the north, guys like to make money, and when they say 8:30, they are there. They may have tacos firs,t but they always show up on time. Anyway, some odds and ends tomorr,ow and we can say mission completed.

Here are a few pics of before and after. We still need a perg,ola and we have some solar guys coming for an estimate for the solar roof. BTW, I went to the CFE (electric company) and filed a claim for the refrigerator. I still need some docum,entslet's lets see how that goes.

I was checking on a site cAllTrailsTrails. It has maps and "directions". I've used it before but end up complefrustratedrated. It's good for getting an idea about what is ,around but that's about it. In other words, it's a starting point. I found a hike in Alcocer, a small town about 10 km from our house. It's behind the telesecundaria. What is a telesecundaria? It is a small school in a rural area where classes are transmittsatellite,atelite and instead of a teacher, a local person or a student teacher acts as a tutor.

We found it via Google Maps and parked on the side of the school. It's rated as a moderate hike, but we found it to be a bit more difficul,t at least in the initial climb. Wcompareded the first part with Cerro de la Silla in Monterre,y which we have climbed three times.

This is a stock photo of Cerro de la Silla.

We started off and up. A steep climb considering we are already at 6200 feet. It takes some good lungs to do it. It was early morni,ng and the air was crisp and the skies clear and clean.

Cardo Azul or Sea Holly

Níspero or Loquat

San Miguel off in the distance

Project complete, and no,w when we return for Christmas we can enjoy morning coffee and great sunrises over San Miguel de Allende and a view of the famous Parroquia. We're ready to head back home to Monterrey to prepare for our Gulf Coast RV trip. Can't wait!!!

Festivities Prep - October Trip Planning

2026-09-13T15:33:18.335-07:00

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

Dinner with friends Carol and Michael at Señor Godzilla's

It took a week to get things back in order. We've been living out of an ice chest. We finally agreed to have Samsung repair the fridge. They were supposed to be here on Monday after ordering parts. We had to pay up front for the parts, which is pretty standard here.

Monday went by, and they couldn't make it. Tuesday, the tech had a minor fender bender. Wednesday, rescheduled for Thursday. Thursday, the tech took a course. Today is Friday, and they should be here as we speak. UPDATE: The technician just left, and the fridge is humming away. So much we take for granted.

There are three websites for Samsung in Querétaro. I was afraid we might have been scammed. We paid for the parts and then faced constant delays. I decided to dig deeper. The bank account number was on the work order sheet but a guy's name on the bank account when I went to Banamex. I deposited the money at an ATM, very common here. I did a search for the guy's name on the bank account, and he has a YouTube video promoting Samsung service. Whew! Legit. Of the three Samsung locations in Querétaro, there is a Samsung factory, Samsung offices, and then this independent factory authorized Samsung repair facility.

We took a break on Sunday and had breakfast with our neighbor and friend Cheryl. We went to the Fábrica Aurora art gallery. We spent a few hours there looking at all the art we'd love to have but can't afford! I did see a new carpet for the living room here, but it was still a bit overpriced.

The tile man is finishing the roof terrace, and he is a real whiz at laying tile. He'll be doing some other things here when he's done. Nice to find a guy who wants to work and shows up everyday and wants to work into the night.

San Miguel de Allende is growing more and more. There is a new Autozone being built not far from the house. That will be number two unless it is a relocation. Home Depot will be starting their location here as well. New restaurants are coming, and others are going. That's a constant here. The more expensive, the less likely they are to survive. Expats here jump on the bandwagon every time something new comes along. With new stores opening, especially franchises, there will be the group that says, "we're not doing that, we support local business". Well, good for them. Don Pedro is a small hardware chain here that gringos run to. What they don't take into account is that Home Depot will hire more Mexicans, pay better benefits, and provide a much broader selection of goods.

We're still undecided which way we're going on our rv maiden voyage. I've been doing a lot of research, and there is very little boondocking in east and southeast Texas. The Gulf Coast has the beaches for free, but we don't have 4X4, to risky.

Texas state parks, America the Beautiful, have passes. The America The Beautiful pass seems to be a better one but has a lot of caveats.

Since I paused in writing this, we have decided on the Gulf Coast using Texas State Parks. We won't have solar, I don't think so we will have hookups, and there are two parks with primitive sites we can try out and see what the lead-acid batteries can do in the meantime.

More to come this week as we celebrate Mexican Independence Day and watch the fireworks from our soon-to-be-finished rooftop.

If you are wondering why fuel prices were high in Mexico before the gas crunch in the U.S., this is the reason. Paying off PEMEX debt to keep the company afloat. In U.S. dollars, the amounts below total 88 billion dollars. Regular gas in Mexico is $5.40 USD, and Premium is $6.75. I remember the days when people would cross into Mexico with 55-gallon drums to buy gas because it was so cheap.

The PISA exam results are out. PISA (Program for International Student Assessment) show that Mexico continues in decline over the last eight years, or since Morena took power. There is a good reason for that. The primary and secondary textbooks were revised to reflect the aim is to foster social consciousness through the explicit inclusion of topics such as violence, oppression, classism, racism, and social movements in Mexico. Events such as the 1968 Tlatelolco massacre, the Dirty War, and the disappearance of the 43 Ayotzinapa students form an active part of its historical narrative.

De-commodification and Anti-neoliberalismo: Arriaga advocates for a public education system that rejects neliberalism model, firmly opposing the commercial logic of private publishers and the pedagogical dictates of international bodies such as UNESCO, UNICEF, and OECD.

The textbooks were revised by Max Arriaga, a known communist. The same party that the president and her mother fought for and did activism in the 80s. In mathematics, the number of pages have been reduced from 201 to only 20 pages. This is the result of those changes in the last eight years:

We Stayed Away Too Long - Back In San Miguel de Allende

2026-09-04T16:04:53.496-07:00

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

Mes de la Patria 2026

Preparing for the September national celebrations.

It's been months since we were in San Miguel de Allende. We take a lot of precautions to make sure the house is secure. We clean before leaving, change the linens, take any food from the fridge home with us in a cooler, and set timers around the house.

We had a great trip coming down; in fact, it was record time. Great weather, no major construction glitches, and we weren't stopped or interrogated at any checkpoints. There are many false checkpoints now, or they are official but have organized crime members working with the officials.

Getting to the house all looked well. We opened the door to the first of a series of issues. Although we had taken precautions to prevent water damage, water made its way under the corner of the front door. San Miguel de Allende has had many torrential rains since our last visit. Our 45-year-old Chinese wool carpet had been soaked, and carpet moths made their way in and literally ate it up.

Our Samsung refrigerator was DOA. Fortunately, we had little to nothing in terms of perishables, and cleanup was easy. We attempted the 24-hour reset, and no go. There have been excessive power failures and power surges in the last year. I have mentioned the state-owned power grid and the lack of foreign investment since the last administration. We are seeing the results now.

Okay, we're limping along now, two down, what else? We decided to wait until the next day to do the cleanup, and I laid down for a nap after the long drive. I couldn't sleep and jumped up and got to work. We cleaned out the fridge, took the carpet out, and cleaned up the mess. The next morning, we turned on the water heater, and it was kaput. That was an easy fix, and our plumber came right away and fixed it.

As of today, a week later, we are still living out of an ice chest. No biggie, we like camping and boondocking, so we're not that affected. Less opportunity for me to rummage around during the day, or what we call in Spanish, "gusgeando".

Warning to anyone living in Mexico. Do not buy appliances with inverters. Why? Technicians are not prepared or trained to fix them. This is not a warning just based on my personal experience. I've asked around, and we have found no one who will even touch the inverter products. We had three repairmen come out, and no go. My nephew is an HVAC installer and repairman, and he said the same. Once they are affected, they are difficult to repair. We are now waiting for Samsung to send a qualified repairman to diagnose (hahaha) and recommend a solution.

The purpose of this trip is to tile our rooftop and prepare it for a palapa. We've ordered and have all the materials and the tile. We're looking to check this off our list of things to do. It's been a few years coming. The installers promise a one-week job, so we'll plan on two.

In the meantime, at least for the next week, we will be tied to the house while the trapse up and down the staircase. It can't be avoided, and all the material, such as the sand, is in costales or heavy flour-type bags, and those same bags will be used to bring down any residual materials and scrap tile pieces. We thought about scaffolding, and it is relatively inexpensive. But we are waiting to see what the workers say today. I'm now just thinking about a winch to use as a hoist. All the homes in this neighborhood are townhouse style, so there are no side aisles.

Nothing like taking your duck for a walk in the main square! Since the Mundial and the appearance of Merlin the Duck, everyone wants one now!

Not sure what happened to Spider-Man, and I hope he is okay. It must have been one hell of a fight. Do superheroes regenerate limbs? I found his leg, and maybe this was a memorial to Spider!

We've done the usual SMA kind of things: Sunday market, daily exercise walks taking us to about 12,000 steps a day, and seeing all the changes that are taking place. Quite interesting how a city that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Conde Nast's number one destination is allowing so much construction in the "protected" part of the city.

Now on to my favorite topic, Mexican politics. As of today, these are the number of politicians by party who have had their U.S. visas revoked:

Morena 51 (ruling party)

PRI 3

PAN 0

I think that sums it up!

The cellphone registration debacle continues. Each month now more lines are being canceled. We're at 50%, and as the months tick by, so will the number of cancellations. They have Mexicans by the balls because most Mexicans now use their cellphones for mobile banking and other work apps. Lose your line, and you are disconnected from everything. As we all knew from the get-go, the extortion has not been reduced but has actually increased. With the cancellations, many of those lines are being intercepted and renewed using fake identification but still tied to the original owner's name. If an extortion attempt is identified, the original owner will be the one to go to the bote (jail). What a shit show.

The state of Sinaloa and the cartel war in Culiacan go on, taking more than 3000 lives, 2000 in the city of Culiacan, and 3600 missing persons presumed dead but not added to the homicide rate. This turf war has made its way to Mazatlan, and yesterday 6000 troops were sent to provide assistance. We keep hearing about the lower homicide rates and all of the other statistics, but reality is definitely something else.

Wow! What A Week

2026-08-24T11:09:08.622-07:00

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

As I said in the last post, we arrived home safely with no issues. After that, there was some downtime to recover from a lot of stress. Since then, my mind has been going in circles figuring out how to add solar to the small travel trailer.

When we did this the last time, it was installed on the Funfinder. We had a gathering at Hacienda Contreras in Valle de Juarez, Jalisco. Those were the best times of our RVing in Mexico.

Here, Croft, Jerry, Pete, and I were mounting the solar panel. We ran the cables, attached the charge controller, and the inverter. It was fun and seemed so much easier.

That was a good group. We had good times and made some excellent memories. A lot of RVing in Mexico going on then.

Now, the new travel trailer has built-in cabling for solar, and that makes it a bit easier and yet more complicated. There is a sticker on the inside wall with a perforated line around it. You cut that out, and you find the wiring from the roof that is looped to the battery. Sounds pretty simple,e but it appears more complicated than what we did years ago. I need to find a place for the inverter. A 200amp lithium will fit in the current battery space.

The issue with the charge controller is that the cutout is meant for a PWM controller, which is flush-mount and easily fits inside the wall. The MTTP requires wiring that will put the controller on the wall, and it will stick out about an inc,h and the wires will be seen. I could put a box cover similar to this:

I've also considered portable panels with a built-in charge controller. You then rely on the SUV to maintain charge of the battery while driving. Also, the panels would need to be set up at each stop, and the risk of theft. Hmm. I'm open to suggestions. We're also considering an electric generator such as a Jackery or Bluetti. Throw a couple of portable panels in the sun and hook up the 30 amp. It comes with everything, including the inverter. Several boondockers we watch regularly on YouTube swear by them.

I am a lucky guy. Juan got me a new HP laptop for my birthday! This marks the last year of my sixth decade of life—it sure goes fast. This new machine is much faster and more powerful, which will give me the capability to upload more videos to YouTube. I'm still bummed that Microsoft eliminated their video app; it was incredibly easy to use, and I was just getting the hang of it.

I’ve also become completely hooked on AI. I haven’t named her yet, but Norma would probably say she's my imaginary friend. While I always double-check the facts, it makes starting a new project incredibly easy. AI was actually instrumental in gathering all the data for our recent travel trailer purchase!

On a heavier note, Mexican politics has turned into a massive clusterf---. It is hard to keep up with the scandals breaking out right now. The governor of Sinaloa suddenly returned to his office on Friday after disappearing for two months. He didn't say a word to anyone. On Saturday, his own party (Morena) asked him to step down. The fallout is so severe that the president canceled her morning mañanera, which has only happened two times before. Word is the U.S. will request his extradition any day now. This follows his two cronies turning themselves in two months ago, walking across the border under Mexican military escort.

The huachicol fiscal (fuel-tax fraud) debacle continues to explode. A Mexican Navy contraalmirante—the nephew of the retired Naval Admiral—was successfully extradited from Argentina. His brother, also a contraalmirante, turned himself in right when the governor's cronies crossed the border.

The international pressure is clear. As of last week, AMLO's son had his U.S. tourist visa canceled without explanation. He joins a list of 50 Morena party members who have had their U.S. visas stripped.

There is definitely fire behind all this smoke. It's not just gossip or lies!

We Have A New Travel Friend

2026-08-16T13:48:37.285-07:00

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

It took us a while to get things going. We got it all straightened out, and we are sitting in Casa Blanca State Park. We did the PDI with the RV dealer on Wednesday but had some decisions to make. We ended up with the model with the roof air conditioner and worked out a good deal. We received an additional $1000 off the price. I know MSRP is a lot of bunk. Jayco listed it at $24,990, the dealer at $19,999, and we purchased it for $14,500 including tax, title, and license. We told them under no circumstance would we pay more and didn't want any surprises, and no extended warranties, insurance, or add-ons. Although they agreed, they turned a bit sour on us. Our ally was the worker who did the cleaning and PDI, and became a good friend.

We finally drove off yesterday and headed for Lake Calaveras, about an hour away to give it a good workout of systems. The CURT Bluetooth brake controller works great and no installation required. Everything has checked out. Today we drove 175 miles without a hitch (we actually had the hitch attached to the back of the SUV, hahaha). I drove 60 mph all the way. No sway issues (I did purchase a sway bar, but no WDH, and I may return it). The VW has some sway control built in, but honestly, it was a bit windy, and many semis were passing us, and we felt nothing. No bouncing, no ball rattling, nothing. So far, knock on wood, we are very impressed and happy considering it is an entry-level trailer.

The dealer overall was very nice. The salesperson was all gung-ho over the email exchanges, but when we arrived she was very nonchalant. After the papers were signed, she moved on to bigger and better things. A lot of sales talk. I'm not going to send any emails to corporate or rant and rave, but it's the typical "come on strong," and then when it's over, it's over.

Our stay in San Antonio was uneventful, going to the dealer every day and picking up a few things that we don't have at home for the trailer. We had to laugh after shopping at various stores for sheets and blankets. We ended up at Goodwill and found the following with a senior-day discount:

Two very good quality white towels

Two twin bed sheets, both with the double elastic corners

A new Mr. Coffee coffeemaker

Silverware

Two cocktail glasses

Two coffee mugs

Total was $30, including the laundermat and soap to wash the towels and sheets.

It's been a long week, so I will end this here. Mission completed, and tomorrow we will put the trailer in storage until October for our first big trip, destination unknown at this time. We head home in the afternoon.

This Might Just Happen!

2026-08-07T11:40:32.963-07:00

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

I'm not sure how the situation could change; I've done all our homework. The only thing that could change is if we changed our minds and walked away. That's still a possibility.

We're leaving next week to see our new travel trailer. We found another that is identical to the one we put the deposit on, except that it has a corrugated aluminum skin, a window-unit A/C, and a smaller fridge. We really only need the freezer section for ice. 😁

The nice thing is that it is the exact same floorplan, weighs 225 lbs less, with a few pounds more on the hitch weight. We can't wait to take off. We'll be driving to the Colombia Bridge via the new La Gloria roadway built for the World Cup to create a safe route for road travel. With La Gloria, it bypasses the state of Tamaulipas and takes you directly to the Colombia Bridge. We'll see how well that works and if we don't get held up.

I believe we've done our due diligence with only one thing pending. I put a small deposit on the travel trailer, transferred funds to San Antonio, ordered the Curt Bluetooth brake controller, and the sway control arm for the hitch.

It has been very, very difficult to find a storage space in Laredo. I called each one, and only two had a parking spot, both outdoors with no cover but secured inside the storage facility for $160 a month. What? I was about ready to say the whole deal was off when I came across a site called Neighbors.com. Individuals who are not a storage facility can list a spot they may have to rent, such as a garage at their home or a large enclosed and fenced area. I found a company that will rent us a spot with cameras, gates, and fencing for less than half of the others. We will verify it on Monday. Whew, that was a hard one.

Much smaller but lighter and uses less electricity naturally.

The window unit style A/C is more adequate for the size of the trailer. They usually plop a 13.5 BTU on the roof of any A/C. Too big, too noisy, and too much vibration. The window unit we had before in an 18ft travel trailer proved to be the best. It would run for 12 hours on 1.1 gallons of gas in our Honda 2000.

So it will be one step at a time on this trip, getting to the border, picking up our parts, and purchasing a U.S. cellphone. We'll check out the parking space and then head north to San Antonio, where we'll spend the night. Tuesday, it will be a visit to the dealer, although we have the appointment until Wednesday. I haven't told the rep yet that we may change our mind on the model. We need to see it in person, although I said it is the same in terms of the floor plan. Also, to let them know that the inspection has to be done with some water in the tanks, a fresh battery I can check, and the refrigerator running to check the temperature. LP needs to have some in it to check the furnace, water heater, and the stove top.

A little Mexico news and politics:

The breakdown of the 230+ political assassinations (which include candidates, ex-mayors, and municipal councilors/regidores) during the AMLO sexenio (2018–2024) reveals that political violence heavily targets local opposition parties, though members of the ruling coalition are also severely affected.

Local-Level Focus: Over 80% of all political executions during the six-year term targeted individuals running for or holding municipal-level office (mayors, ex-mayors, and town councilors) rather than federal or state-level positions.

The cell phone registration via biometrics is currently at 91 million not registered.

Still waiting for the extradition of the Sinaloan governor and his nine cronies. El Mayo was sentenced to life in prison and a $15 billion fine.

43C (110F) An Exhumation And A Party

2026-07-22T11:59:27.711-07:00

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

This is officially the worst time of year to be in northern Mexico.

I just got back from a quick run to the VW dealer and a stop at Costco, and the car's digital thermometer read a staggering 43°C (109.7°F). It is pretty dang hot out there.

You might be wondering why on earth we are sticking around in this baking heat when we could be relaxing in San Miguel de Allende. Today's high in SMA was a beautiful 28°C (82.4°F), dropping to a crisp 13°C (55°F) tonight. Trust me, we want to be there! But we have a mountain of projects and life events that absolutely must get done before our departure date on August 4th.

We currently have two albañiles (construction workers) at the house doing repair work. Honestly, I can’t believe they pushed through the heat today. They arrived at 9:00 AM, stopped for a couple of morning tacos at 10:00, and just kept hammering away.

Later, I ran out to Santiago for supplies. When I returned, they were taking a break, so I asked if they could shift their schedule—maybe work from 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Most areas of our yard are beautifully shaded and cool in the early morning.

Their response? Nope. They just don’t roll like that!

Right now, they are patching cracks on the interior side of the front street wall and on the back wall that abuts our rear neighbor. They also tore down the old remaining chainlink fence from our side neighbor's border. It was completely hidden behind a row of ficus trees and had become a massive trap for dead leaves over the years. Our gardener should be thrilled; he can finally clear that area out. Next up on their list: caulking around the base of the house, painting the front well, and tackling a few other lingering details.

We had a wonderful visit last weekend with guests who were our neighbors over 40 years ago. They were the ones who warmly embraced us when we first moved into the neighborhood. We were all so young then—none of us even had kids yet!

Fast forward to today: their oldest is now 40, and she actually came along with her parents. We enjoyed a fantastic breakfast in Santiago and spent the afternoon catching up at the house. They live about 65 km away now, so we don't see each other often enough, but it was a beautiful day, and we hope to do it again soon.

Next weekend will look entirely different. We will be serving as official witnesses for an exhumation.

Juan’s brother-in-law passed away seven years ago (his wife, Juan's sister, had passed away several years before him). We are going to cremate his remains to make room in the family plot and put the cremated remains in the church niche where his mother and one of his nieces rest. The niece was tragically hit by a car in Dallas several years ago—a truly heartbreaking event.

In Mexico, embalming is typically only for three days and there are no concrete crypts, so the law permits exhumation after seven years. Even so, you never quite know what you will find. It depends heavily on water intrusion, humidity, and changing weather conditions over the years. It will be a very small, quiet group of us witnessing the process.

On August 1st, we are hosting a reunion party for the ex-members of our folkloric dance group. This gathering used to be a lively pool party for the kids. Well, those kids are all grown up now and have kids of their own! We aren't entirely sure how many people will show up, but it's nice to get the house in order for it.

Right after that, we are officially escaping to San Miguel de Allende. We will be spending several weeks there until our roof terrace is fully tiled. Absolutely NO exceptions this time!

In the middle of all this coordination, we are waiting for a response from RVShare (the private RV rental site). The rig I chose is very close in length and weight to the trailer we eventually want to buy. I really hope the rental goes through so we can test the waters before making a massive purchase.

For the towing setup, I’ve decided on a Curt Bluetooth brake controller. It plugs directly into the vehicle's 7-pin connector, the trailer plugs into the unit, and you use your phone app to calibrate it. The VW Atlas seems to really like the Curt brand.

I've read quite a bit about it; while some users report minor glitches, the unit securely holds your last programmed setting if you lose the Bluetooth signal. A lot of people shy away from the Bluetooth version because they hate dealing with app tech, opting instead for the old-fashioned, dash-mounted controllers that plug straight into the VW connector under the dash. But for this trip, I'm leaning toward the wireless route.

One good thing this week is the sentencing of El Mayo. Life in prison and he has accepted that. Now they've got to extradite the governors that are accused of acting alongside of them. The president insists that the U.S. has no proof.

The president also has denied help to the madres buscadores who are looking for bodies buried throughout the country. At one point, the secretary of the interior said that the opposition parties were secretly aiding the madres buscadores in forming marches and demonstrations by paying for transportation, meals, and housing.

She should know all about that. The Morena party is well-known for acarreados (moving masses of people via private transport for demonstrations). However, for the massive groups in Mexico City, they provide the free transport, tortas, a Frutsy, and 500 pesos, although they publicly admit it. People will sell their soul for so little.

That's it for now but if the forecast above is real, we will have a nice rain on Friday. Keep cool wherever you are.

What Is The Approach To Find The 130,000 Missing Or Dead

2026-07-05T11:06:12.212-07:00

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

I have been following the many groups of madres buscadoras (groups of women looking for their missing and dead children and spouses). There are currently 230 groups working in Mexico. That should give you an idea of how big this problem is.

How many of you have children or grandchildren who are graduating in the last weeks of June or the beginning of July? I ask because from Thursday to today (Saturday) there have been six unrelated kidnappings of graduates on vacation or in their cities. The situation has become desperate. Organized crime is looking for younger, healthier, and educated recruits to do their dirty work, sex trafficking, and organ harvesting.

There are 40 people in this photograph holding a picture of their missing family member. Multiply this picture times 3250, and that gives the magnitude of this tragedy.

Imagine if this were to happen in your family? I put AI to work regarding the madres buscadoras, and this is what I found. It is concurrent with my own research, albeit more in-depth. My issue is that the government's methods for searching and returning bodies or remains, in most cases, have had little to no results. In fact, the madres buscadoras were invited to work around the area that encompasses the investigation into the kidnapping and death of Nancy Guthrie because they have become very good at finding bodies.

The government conducts field searches, but they operate differently than the collectives of "searching mothers." While families often head into the field motivated by anonymous tips and using their own resources, authorities follow a legal and inter-institutional protocol. The work of the National Search Commission (CNB) and local commissions in the field is structured around the following dynamics: coordinated field searches and use of specialists, unlike families who use improvised tools like "T-rods". Official brigades include archaeologists, forensic anthropologists, forensic experts, and geologists who utilize technology such as drones or ground-penetrating radar.

Official searches are carried out with the deployment of security forces—such as the National Guard, the Secretariat of National Defense (SEDENA), and local police—to secure the perimeter in high-risk areas. Often, the CNB and local prosecutor's offices organize field search operations alongside the mothers' collectives, focusing on locations previously mapped out by the families.

Despite the existence of these government brigades, organizations like Amnesty International and media outlets report that institutional capacity is often overwhelmed by the country's forensic crisis. There are currently 72,000 cadavers or parts thereof, sitting in morgues around the country awaiting identification. Frequently, it is civil collectives that first locate clandestine graves and subsequently notify the government so that the relevant prosecutor's office can arrive to officially recover and secure the human remains.

The Guardia Nacional and the Mexican Army (SEDENA) act primarily as a militarized security shield for local forensic experts and state prosecutors during exhumations. For example, in massive recent joint sweeps by State Prosecutors and the Guardia Nacional in northern regions like Chihuahua, security forces successfully protected forensic teams extracting 73 bodies from clandestine graves in a single month. The government has prioritized creating structural forensic hubs. They have completed specialized regional centers for human identification and temporary body storage units in heavily impacted states like Tamaulipas, Jalisco, Sinaloa, and Coahuila to process the high volume of human remains recovered during Guardia-escorted operations. Independent monitoring platforms like the Plataforma Ciudadana de Fosas(mass graves) and human rights entities like Amnesty International highlight serious discrepancies in the government's claimed results.

While state-level prosecutors report thousands of graves, federal tracking often undercounts them. Civil tracking platforms frequently note that the government's official numbers are much lower than the actual totals published daily by independent media and civilian searchers. Most of the graves officially "recovered" under the protection of the Guardia Nacional were actually first discovered and physically excavated by the mothers' collectives. Family organizations heavily criticize the state for taking statistical credit for discoveries that civilians achieved through their own dangerous fieldwork.

As of today, over 30 madres buscadoras and other participants have been murdered by organized crime upon discovery of mass graves. This issue is not being taken seriously. Comments include the comparative aspect of the issue. For example, someone will quote the high number of missing persons in the U.S., not knowing that 85 to 91% of those missing are actually found. Most of those cases are family-related, where one spouse takes off with the child or a runaway case.

How does this affect you? Probably not much at all. Why is it so important to all of us? Because as RVers, tourists, and expats, we are supporting a country and a regime that has done little to nothing to end the tragedy. I find it interesting that some tourists who regularly visit Mexico have decided to make the trip by air to avoid travel through the U.S. during the North American political conflict. I guess that doesn't compare or measure up to the war that is being waged in Mexico, including the disappearance of our children. I'm not pointing fingers but solely making a point of how desperate the situation has become and how little attention it is receiving from Canada, the U.S., and the United Nations.

Send letters or emails to your embassy and to Mexican consulates, letting them know how you may feel about this.

And We Wonder Why Things Are The Way They Are

2026-06-28T16:56:32.302-07:00

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

We made it back home safely. The Monterrey airport was packed with fans arriving to see the World Cup. Via television interviews and news reports, they are very happy to see Mexico for the first time. The Japanese players are getting the red carpet treatment. I went to HEB yesterday to pick up a few things, and as I left the parking lot, I saw traffic heading south. There was a line of more than 25 police vehicles with lights and sirens. They were escorting the team in buses to the Rayados camp for practice sessions. Quite the show.

I have been hearing how food prices are increasing and I may have posted some charts over the last year. When I started to write this post I thought that I should look up the charts for the last few years or whatever was available on the internet.

Meat, proteins, and dairy: Vegetable oil, canned tuna, beef, pork, chicken, eggs, milk, and canned sardines.

Fruits and vegetables: White onion, jalapeño pepper, tomato, lime/lemon, apple, orange, potato, and banana.

Grains, seeds, and others: Rice, standard sugar, dried beans, corn flour, sliced bread, pasta, and corn tortillas.

One item not on the list that is always controversial is eggs. Looking back through reports, a flat (30 pieces) still hovers around 78 pesos. I have seen it as low as 55 pesos, but that would require a drive to downtown Monterrey, pay for parking, and then fight the crowds. Juan's SIL goes every week but she also purchases fruit and supplies for her daughter's waffle smoothie shop. She started from her house and has had her store for two years. Growing fast and now she does events.

Things are the way they are because people are always looking for the easy route to get things done. While we were in San Antonio, the storms in Monterrey took down the grid. In some places, it has been two weeks and people in the metro area still do not have electricity. In our case, we could see via the cameras at home that the power was out. We contacted a neighbor who confirmed it was the street, not just our house. We attempted to place a report but we couldn't dial from the U.S.

Two days later, the power was back on, but I knew we had lost everything in our refrigerator. Once home, we asked the worker what had happened and how they got the power back on. One of our neighbors is the owner/CEO of a plastics company. He had a party that day and sent his worker to the CFE office in our town to pay them 1500 pesos to come immediately to remedy the situation. And they did! Corruption is so embedded in the culture and taught to children who carry it through life. Why wait? Why worry? Why fight the bureaucracy?

We are also battling the biometric registration of cell phones. For those of you who are not aware, if you don't have a monthly paid plan and you are not registered biometrically, you will lose your service. Paid plans that are older and were not registered, meeting all the requirements, will also be suspended. It's been a year, and the deadline is in the next four days. Now, they have extended it by using the last digit of your cell number.

Your specific deadline depends on the last digit of your telephone number:

Ending in 0: August 15
Ending in 1: August 31
Ending in 2: September 15
Ending in 3: September 30
Ending in 4: October 15
Ending in 5: October 31
Ending in 6: November 15
Ending in 7: November 30
Ending in 8: December 15
Ending in 9: December 31

Some people have filed a class action lawsuit, individual stays of protection, and many say they will just wait and see. There are 160 million cellphones most of which are pay as you go. I can't imagine this will take place but we will still have service at home and can use Whatsapp.

Stayed tuned for more on this. We are also nearing the deadline for the extradition of the Sinaloan governor and his gang of nine. Now according to the NYT, AMLo is next on the list as Mayo Zambada has squealed.

I'm Slowly Losing My Identity - Rv Dealers (Ughh)

2026-06-17T05:38:10.780-07:00

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

This trip didn't start out so well. I had made all the reservations in advance: air, hotel, rental car, and RV dealer appointments. No issues were getting to the airport or parking the car. Check-in and immigration were smooth. The flight was only 40 minutes, and it beat driving in the Mexico/Texas heat for eight hours. U.S. immigration was a breeze, and we were both out in less than a minute. There is nothing in the system that says I live in another country. They always say, "welcome home". You would think that social security and border crossings, along with immigration, talked to each other.

Then reality set in. We arrived at the car rental counter all smiles. I pulled out our reservation, my passport, and my driver's license. She looked at me and said, "Your passport and driver's license don't match. The new rule, the Real ID Act, is in full force. My passport is U.S. and my driver's license is Mexican. No match, no rental car. She cancelled the reservation and refunded my money. All the car rentals said the same. We had to sit down and make a new reservation with another company under Juan's name. Why? His Mexican passport and driver's license match. We found a very nice Avis agent who is from Mexico (30 years ago) and who understood the situation. She gave us a very good deal. The line behind us was long, but she didn't want to stop chatting. I asked about the cost for an additional driver, and she said that as spouses, there was no charge.

This is the model we seem to like the best. It's roomy for 16ft, has two twin beds or king, and makes into great sofas for daytime use. It has a full-size fridge, and a smaller air conditioner. It weighs less than 2800 lbs. Perfect for us.

We've been out every day checking dealers around San Antonio. I should have retired here in the U.S. and become an RV salesman. These guys know nothing. The small units we are looking at mostly have a small 5000 BTU window air conditioner in a cabinet that works much better than roof air. All the ones that do have roof air have a 13.5 BTU air conditioner, the same one they slap on all RVs from 12ft to 32 ft or more. I asked a salesman, and he said, "Oh, they stopped doing the small air conditioner years ago". Oh really! I showed him how the Murphy bed worked in one RV, and that the sofa conversion had built-in recliners. He didn't know. Out of five dealer visits, we had one that said, "I used to work for the phone company, and after 30 years, I got tired of climbing poles. I've been selling RVs for three months, and I have learned more from you in the last hour than my company". And believe me, I am no expert. I told one old fart he needed to get out of the office and go sit in the RVs and check them out, see how all the bells and whistles work. This is a highly unregulated business.

We have run into a hitch in the works. I am no longer a U.S. resident. When I went to renew my Texas driver's license, I had no proof of residence, which requires a passport, an official Texas ID card, a physical address (our Laredo mailbox doesn't count and the feds are on to mailbox companies), a utility bill, and bank statements that match. I was greatly concerned about how I would purchase and plate an RV in Texas. That's our plan to leave it in a Laredo storage and use it in the U.S. Leave it up to companies that want to sell something. Three of the dealers said to pay cash, they will issue the physical plates and send the documents to the mailbox, leaving the state paperwork blank with just my social security number. Now, can we use a Mexican-plate tow vehicle with a U.S.-plated travel trailer? That's up next.

We had a fun day with our friend Giovanna. We picked her up and went to Costco. We buy our vitamins there. Costco Mexico doesn't sell vitamin C. In fact, good luck finding high-dose, high-volume packs of vitamin C in Mexico. At GNC they sell the 1000mg tablets but charge a fortune. Smaller, expensive bottles can be had at pharmacies, including Similares, but expensive as well. We had a small brunch at Costco, walking around and sampling foods. She wasn't that familiar with RVs and was fascinated with one of the visits we made.

We still have a couple more visits this week, but we have pretty much made a decision on what we would like to buy.

Part One Of The Project Complete - Now On To Part Two

2026-06-13T16:18:51.609-07:00

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

It takes us quite a bit of time to make decisions. We've lost out on many deals by doing our due diligence but we feel it was worth the wait. If we lose the deal, well, there will always be another one.

The Durango continues to run well, but at 20 years old, I wouldn't want a breakdown in the middle of nowhere. It is a hard sell as well because of the 500,000 kms on the odometer. Apart from that, it has the largest Chrysler engine for an SUV. With gas prices in Mexico above $5 US a gallon, it is not a favorite. We need to lower the price; I propose $ 3,000 US.

We searched for six months for a new SUV and finally found one we like. It is a 2022 VW Teramont (Atlas in the U.S.) with a 3.6L V6 engine and tows just over 5000 lbs. Enough for a very small travel trailer. Mileage is 67,000 km.

The original owners have a small child. The wife uses the SUV as a mom's soccer car (if that's a good description). It's not at home yet. We will pick it up on the 22nd. It was in for its maintenance at the dealer. They did a 42-point inspection. We took it to another VW dealer who did a more intense inspection. We found some very minor things we used as negotiation; a cracked mirror shell, and we want new tires. The engine is in superb shape with excellent compression on all cylinders. It has a factory tow package that includes a Class III hitch, wiring harness with seven-pin connector, enhanced transmission and cooling package, along with a trailer sway control.

We leave tomorrow for San Antonio on Viva Aerobus. Early morning flight, we pick up a car and head for the hotel. I have arranged visits with five different RV dealers in the area to look at trailers that will fit our needs. I am still trying to figure out the license and plates for the trailer. Neither one of us is a U.S. (state) resident anymore and Texas is very strict about that. South Dakota may or may not work out as a nomad resident state not having a current U.S. driver's license.

The Monterrey airport has not had any incidences so far. No groups have blocked the roads and the parking says they have room and haven't experienced anything out of the norm. However, the first World Cup game in Monterrey starts tomorrow and that could be reason enough for protesters to block highways around Monterrey and the airport.

The Truth Isn't Always Pleasant

2026-06-06T17:54:18.698-07:00

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

A lot is happening right now, and we are still wrapping up a few loose ends from our Mexico City trip. At the same time, we have been planning a trip to Texas to look for a new travel trailer. We want something small, but highly functional for our travels around the U.S.

Logistically, getting to San Antonio was our main hurdle. To solve this, we decided to fly and rent a car. Crossing the border itself won't be an issue; Juan has everything he needs, including his Mexican passport, U.S. travel visa, and six months' worth of pension and bank statements. Flying also completely eliminates our biggest worry: driving around small Texas towns with Mexican license plates, which could attract unwanted attention from highway patrol or immigration checkpoints.

We booked a centrally located hotel that includes a full breakfast and a manager's happy hour with snacks, wine, and beer. It feels like we are finally biting the bullet—if we don't just do it, it will never get done.

Since June is Pride Month, the topic has been on our minds, though we don't know much about it. We are fairly conservative and prefer to keep to ourselves. We have certainly faced our share of discrimination over the years, though we don't equate it to the discrimination people face based on color, race, religion, or disability. Many people have tried to school us over the years, claiming that the discrimination we experience is "self-inflicted," saying, "Well, it is your choice".

I'm glad to think that heterosexuals made such a great choice! We aren't paranoid, nor do we really care what people say. Even though our families are very accepting, they still introduce us as a "friend of the family." Other times, people will introduce us and explicitly add, "they're gay." It always makes us laugh to think about reversing it—imagine introducing our friends Harold and Maude (what a great movie!) and adding, "and they’re straight." It sounds absurd, doesn't it?

We notice this dynamic most when we are on the road. People see our Mexico plates, get curious about our travels, and strike up a great conversation. But the moment we use the pronoun “we,” they often literally turn around and walk off.

Well, we are used to it by now. We just count our blessings and keep things in perspective. Imagine being Black, gay, Jewish, disabled, and LGBTQ? Now that would be a real humdinger, wouldn't it? In the end, we find it amusing.

A follow-up on our subway experience in Mexico City. Here are a few pictures of what we encountered.

They've made a mess and spent a fortune, including the purchase of wall sconces in some stations. Really?

If you don't know, major forces are doing what they can to stop the World Cup in Mexico. Agro groups with their tractors, semidrivers with their trailers, and thousands of teachers are set to block airports. It is getting pretty fierce as these groups are retaliating against the police and Guardia Nacional.

In the case of Monterrey, our illustrious state governor had promised many projects that would facilitate the aficionados flocking to the city. The new metro line to the airport, city parks, a new water park, public transport direct to the stadium, including a monorail valued at 1 billion USD, all of which are not going to be completed by this week. A tragic waste of public funds and use of tax pesos. Getting to the airport now is complete chaos, and with the supposed blockades by protesters,s we may have chosen a not-so-good time to go on our travel trailer hunt.

Going back to Tlateloco, I forgot one important point about the location. The Massacre of 196,8 where government troops and military entered the square with army tanks. They rolled into the square via a major overpass, plowing under parts of the ruins which had been excavated and researched. The Mexican government's official death toll was 32. However, families have documents showing up to 300 killed.

The causes were the same around the world at the time. In the U.S., it was the Ohio State killings. In Mexico, students began gathering and rioting as they felt the Mexican Revolution had never fulfilled its purpose of socialist democracy. Levels of poverty were at an all-time high, roughly 72%.

The summer Olympic Games were to take place that year. Just months before, ex-president Diaz Ordaz gave the order to put an end to it and clear the streets of squatters and demonstrators. In classified and declassified documents, Diaz Ordaz gave the order to kill if necessary. You can see the apartment buildings that were built to make way for a new era of socialism, but to really clean up the squalor that had been built around Tlalteloco. Soldiers took to the roofs and shot down on the crowds.

While in Mexico City, we watched a movie, Rojo Amanecer, a Mexican movie that details the life of a family living in one of the buildings. Their teenagers were caught by the secret police, beaten, and the whole family was killed.

Are we in for another round with the World Cup in the next couple of weeks?

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Three Days, 600 State Troops And Police, They Wouldn't Let Us In

2026-05-30T12:08:12.038-07:00

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

Before I get into the trip to the Zocalo, I want to go back a bit to the ruins at Tlateloco. We returned to find a portion that had been closed when we went. It is by appointment only. It is called the Caja de Agua.

The Caja de Agua was a two-tank water cistern system built at the base of the convent in 1536. It brought water to the area for use by the indigenous people, the clerics, and the monks. It had a settling tank where the incoming water would settle. The fresh water on top would pass to the "potable" tank. The water source came from three areas: Azcapotzalco, Tacuba, and Chapultepec. The water system was made from clay pipe, some from the prehispanic period.

The day we went, they told us we could only enter by appointment and that there was a tour set for the students from the American School in Puerto Vallarta. We pretty much begged, saying we were leaving the next day. After a few phone calls, the tour guides agreed to let us join the school group. The students were not interested, and the teacher cut the tour short. The two archaeologist guides were very interested in showing us around. Wow, a private tour.

This drawing depicts Ahuizotl, the god and protector of Tlaloc, the god of water. It is an otter-type animal and has a hand on the end of the tail.

Around the perimeter are pieces of the later mural or moulding that have a 16th-century style. Because the walls collapsed over the centuries, the pieces fell to the bottom and sides of the crumbling walls.

I was wrong in stating that the Amantes de Tlateloco were not there. On the way out of the tour, we walked through the ruins, and we asked about the lovers. At that moment, one of the guides said, "Look down," and there it was.

We attempted to visit the Zocalo and the cathedral on three occasions. Each time, we were met by blockades on 12 different avenues. Teachers have been striking for months and are now planning marches against the National Palace. They have camped out on the streets for over six months and have created chaos for all around them, mostly those who rely on the streets for the delivery of goods, including taxis.

This is just one street. The teachers are taking turns living there. They cook, clean, and do their laundry as well.

The national palace was blocked off and barricaded.

On the third attempt, or our last day in Mexico City, Juan decided he would find a way in. We begged, pleaded, and tried at every possible street entrance to no avail. We finally convinced one policeman that we were just tourists on our last day and would go directly to the cathedral. We got past the blockade and acted as if we were going to a jewellery store on the Zocalo perimeter. We then passed through a construction site and made our way into a side entrance of the cathedral. We have been there many times, but each time is something new. This trip, we were able to take a short tour of the organ room, which is situated in the middle front of the cathedral.

The construction of the cathedral took over 240 years, beginning in 1573. It is the largest and oldest cathedral in all of Latin America. The site was almost abandoned in the 1600s due to a massive flood. It was completed in 1813. A fire consumed a great part of the organ room in 1967. The organ room contains twin organs with pipes which were restored to near original condition.

The cabinets that house the organs measure 52ft by 31 ft. There are 3350 metal organ pipes.

Two rows of seats determine which row the choir members will sit. The ones with permanent positions sit up above, and the new members below. Above and around the choir seats are wood-carved sculptures of Christian saints, apostles and bishops.

Overall, it was a great week with furkid time. The cat was really a lover and would sit on our laps whenever we were home. I think she doesn't get a lot of personal attention.

I'm a realist and not an optimist, so I don't think we'll be going back soon. The city is changing, and the neighbourhoods are in slow decay. We were in a building that took up one city block, 7 floors, with 300 apartments. The noise from the streets reverberates between the buildings, and everyone has a dog, so barking is constant. Most of the places we have stayed in the past have dual or triple-pane windows, which block out the sound. This building didn't.

The biggest enemy you'll face in Mexico City neighbourhoods is dog poop everywhere. Our building has signs that ask you not to let your dog pee on the walls. All of them do, and a cleaning lady is out there all week scrubbing the walls.

After our first day, we found out that all public transport is free for those over 65 if you are a Mexican or a permanent resident. That was a good thing. We needed to show our INAPAM (Instituto Nacional de las Personas Adultos Mayores) cards to get on at no charge.

Except for tourist areas and museums, the city is overcrowded, difficult to walk in, and the sidewalks are in deplorable condition. Trash looms on every corner in large piles. Street people empty the trash bags and take off with the bags. A lot of old furniture and old cars line the streets.

It's worth the visit along major avenues such as Reforma, Eje Central, the Zocalo and upper-scale neighbourhoods; Roma, Condesa, Nápoles and the ultra-rich areas for a peek at how Mexico's wealthy live.

Next up is our trip to Texas. I'm not sure if we'll drive or fly like last year. I have several rv dealers to visit on our search for a small travel trailer. Nothing definite yet, just checking.

It Is Right Around The Corner - Tlatelolco Pyramids

2026-05-26T07:47:29.083-07:00

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

Sunday, we decided to go for a walk. We knew it was going to rain,n but it said late afternoon. Never trust the weather in Mexico City; it can change on a dime. We headed out looking for a bazaar that was in the neighborhood with antique sellers. We left the apartment, turned the corner, and walked two blocks, and there it was. Tlatelolco! The lesser Great Pyramid.

The main pyramid was discovered by an American archeologist whose only job at the time was to dig a pit similar to a well to see what layers, if any,y were under this part of the city. He hit the jackpot.

This is a sacrificial pit where children were sacrificed to the gods. Hmm, great religion, I must say.

The Mexica left the central part of Mexico, Tenochtitlan, and decided to form their own society. They moved to this area where there was less swamp and more sand, better for building structures and growing food. The material in the area, tezontle or porous volcanic rock, also used as a lawn decoration today, was easily chiseled and cut into pieces.

When first discovered, there were two very small tunnels that led underneath the pyramid. From there, they began to discover human remains and artifacts. You can see the modern buildings around this area. This was a very controversial project in 1968, creating a huge rift between citizens and government,t where over 200 people were killed, mostly students. The clash took place during the opening of the 68 Olympics. Student unrest was suppressed by the government. Government records say that 32 people were killed. The buildings replaced older homes and shacks where people had squatted over the years. This was all for the Olympics and,d of course, modernization.

Back to the history of the Mexica, these pyramids were built in the 13th century, not long before the Spanish arrived. Life continued as normal until they arrived in 1521. The emperor Cuahtemoc fled Tenochtitlan and headed for Tlatelolco and hid during the 80-day siege. That was the final stand as the Spaniards were now taking over. Between Tehotehuacan and Tlateloloc, these were the largest markets in Latin America at the time, and indigenous groups from all over came to trade goods.

Under this area, during excavation, 210 skeletal remains were discovered. It is believed that it was once a sacred burial place for those members of the government and hierarchy at the time. Of those 210, because of the position and way in which they were buried, it is believed that many were Spanish soldiers killed in clashes.

One particularly famous burial site on these grounds was that of the Amantes de Tlatelolco, or Lovers of Tlatelolco, found buried together in a loving embrace. This is not my picture.

The church in the background was built in 1610 on top of the ruins. A very common practice over the millennium with all people around the world and all religions. The structure is huge and made out of some of the tenzontle from the buildings and pyramids that were destroyed.

It turned out to be an interesting day followed by a great lunch at the Casa de Toño. A Mexican chain of very affordable restaurants. The place was packed, and we had a short wait of 20 minutes. My concuña, or Juan's sister-in-law to me, told us about it.

A bit of Mexican news. It was decided just tw weeksagog that the school calendar year would be reduced to accommodate the World Cup. The decision was made at the last minute, leaving parents and teachers in an uproar. A three-week reduction in the school year would require at least one year to schedule. The next day it was cancelled. Imagine the embarrassment on the part of the government. In Monterrey,y where some of the games will be played, the game schedule was after 7 p.m. and on weekends, ds so there wouldn't have been any interference with school schedules.

You are aware of the Mexican governor from the state of Sinaloa stepping down and being indicted in the U.S. for his participation with the narcos. Also, the governor of the state of Chihuahua, who used CIA operatives without federal authorization to shut down the largest fentanyl lab ever. The president made a comparison saying that there was no difference between the two, and the Chihuahuan governor is being investigated by the FGR (federal attorney general). Comparision? Are you nuts? One is involved with the cartels, and the other is trying to eliminate them. So much for attempting to do good.

We're off to the Zocalo.

Castle Chapultepec - What A Difference

2026-05-23T14:39:51.601-07:00

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

The night our housesit left, it was quite late. We had been dragged through the mill getting to the apartment during rush hour traffic. The next day, we walked to the market and through the neighborhood.

When we arrived at the airport on Wednesday, we bought a MetroCard. The card costs 15 pesos, and each trip depends on the type of transport. Metro is 5 pesos, bus is 6 pesos and trolleybus is 7 pesos. We hopped on the bus below. At major stations, there are ATMs to buy more trips and check your balance.

Rested up on Friday, we decided it was time to take advantage of the Big Tamal and head down to the center of the city and visit the Chapultepec Castle.

The buses are very nice and a good ride. The double-deckers make for great photos of the city. More of those later. There are security cameras on board, a list of all the stops on the route, and screens that announce the upcoming stop. We asked a couple of people questions about the best stop to get off, the cost of the ride, and general information regarding the card and its use. Everyone is very helpful and friendly. Why not? After all, this is Mexico.

This is the standard daytime traffic. The roundabouts are a real trip to watch. I drove in Mexico City in 2007 on and off for a year. That was enough. Stopped once for an illegal turn, the cop wouldn't let me go without a bribe. I insisted on the ticket, but no go. I had a company car with all of my equipment, and I couldn't afford to have it taken away and impounded. So, he came back a couple of times to talk to me,e and the last time I said, "No hablo Español" and rolled up my window. I crossed my arms and sat there. After half an hour, they took off.

Getting off the bus at the Chapultepec stop, we walked over to the Bosque de Chapultepec (forest surrounding the palace). We passed many stands opening up to sell their souvenirs, snacks, and drinks.

The entrance to the bosque and castle.

The temperature was rising,g and the sun was getting hot. Walking through the forest up to the castle, we were in the shade. There were long lines to get in,n and we resigned ourselves to wait. However, a guard came down along the line and said anyone with an INAMPAM card and over 60 could enter free via another line. Regular admission is 210 pesos ($11.50). That was a real deal. Of course, we got to the metal detector,s and they said that this was only for seniors. We had to whip out our IDs. I don't get it, I think we look in our 70s.

The palace is enormous and very overwhelming. I felt like we were about to enter the El Prado museum in Madrid. When Mexicans want to do something grand, nd they are very, very good at it.

A very small preview of the city skyline. I would have had to videotape it all the way around the palace.

Quite a long yet short history. The original castle was built by a virrey (the head delegate representing the King of Spain) in 1785. There were 62 virreyes in power during the 3300-year Spanish rule. However, not all of the virreyes were from Spain. Several were from South America, such as Peru, and also from Cuba. Since that time, it has been a mansion, an imperial palace, a military base,e and now a museum. During those 250 years, it has suffered from earthquakes. The first occurred in 181,9 leaving the palace in ruins, ns only to be rebuilt within a few years. The big hit of 1985 did some damage, but it was easily remodeled.

1785-1787 Beginning of the construction under a virrey. Started but not completed due to his death.

1838-1841 The existing part of the new construction came under the control of the Colegio Militar, and a Caballero Alto (tower) was built for lookout and warning of attacks.

1864-1867 French intervention and the monarch Maximiliano of Habsburg and his wife Carlota brought a major remodel using a European style. They were both executed in 1867.

1872-1910 Porfirio Diaz and his30-yearr dictatorship. He added the cupola to the observatory. He also installed the first telephone line in 1887 and had phone lines installed from the castle to the center of the city's government offices. He used the castle as a summer retreat. Porfirio is an interesting story. He was responsible for modernizing the country with railroads, telegraph, telephone, and electrification. Too bad they kicked him out, but after the thirty-year dictatorship, it was time to go. He was a smart man who laid the foundations for a modern Mexico. Of course, the revolution brought an end to that.

Many presidents used the palace, but Los Pinos (white house) was built in the city center,r and the palace was turned into a museum in 1940 by Lazaro Cardenas. He was responsible for the 90 years of destruction by nationalizing PEMEX (now with a $125 billion debt).

It was quite a day. We did just over 12,000 steps, amazing considering we took the bus to the center and back. We stopped for a sincronizado, small pasta dish, and coffee for 150 pesos. Not bad, filling, and enough to get us back home. Tons more photos to share, but we are off again to the Zocalo. I have some great antique clock pics I took. I know I always mention the fact that I was a clockmaker's apprentice,e so they still fascinate me.

Mexico City - Nothing Is Perfect

2026-05-22T18:49:16.540-07:00

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

Nothing is perfect in this world including mine. We took off from the house for the airport around 12:30. Taxis are super expensive now. From our house the price has gone up to 2000 pesos. We can take the bus from our house to Walmart and then take an Uber for 700 pesos That said, we can park at the airport for the week and it is 1400 pesos.

Can you take an Uber from the airport in Monterrey to the city? Sure you can. There is a caveat. Get this, straight from the horse's mouth. Ubers are not allowed to exit the airport. Many won't even take you to the airport. So how does it work? The Uber driver has to pay the Guardia Nacional partrol 600 pesos per week and the driver will receive a password. The Uber driver will get stopped for sure. The Guardia Nacional make it very clear it will happen. What next? The Uber driver says he has a password which he gives to the GN. The GN calls it in to his coworkers and he is cleared to go.

Corruption is worse now than ever. Unbelievable. Blantant and more open than in my previous 40 years.

At the airport we left the car and boarded the shuttle. Our driver was an Uber driver up until three months ago. He told us the story about the corruption, pay off, and the reasons he quit and took the shuttle job.

Aeromexico is very easy to use. We weren't happy with their inflight service to London but the business side of the airline works well. You don't need to show any identification, you don't have your carry on weighed or measured. 30 seconds at the ticket counter only because we don't pay for seats. She put us together in row 39. We're happy with that. Aeromexico does seem to cheat a bit on their on time records. The flight was scheduled for 1 hour and 40 minutes. Please. It's an hour and 5 minutes and we always get there five minutes early. The capitan announced, "as always, on time or we arrive early!".

The metro is a nightmare. We hit rush hour and there is construction throughout the system. The floors are broken up for retiling which makes it hard to walk. No signage on rail changes and the air is thick with dust. They do have a policeman at each station but not enough to handle the thousands of people moving around the city. We missed one station because people wouldn't let us off even though we pushed and shoved and were called some pretty rotten names. The city has changed quite a bit over the last seven years. A lot of very unhappy people. It took us over two hours to get to our housesit in Cuatehmoc Delegation 10 minutes from the Garibaldi Square. We taking an Uber back to the airport when we go home. We can do it and we can handle it but life is too short to go through all that bullshit for $10.

Our housesit is very nice. It turns out she's Canadian and has lived in Mexico City for 12 years. She has a nice apartment but the neighborhood is a bit shady. We had only been there about 30 minutes when across the street there was a fight in a house. They kicked the guy out, put all his furniture on the street, and beat the bloody pulp out of him. The guards in our buiding called the police and they arrived right away.

We spent yesterday walking the neighborhood and we did a tour of the Guerrero Market. Very nice. From the outside it looks shady, I'll be using that word a lot it seems. Inside, very clean, good produce, which we bought what we need for the week. A lot of the small restaurant stalls have remodeled their space fronts so that they look very fashional and modern. We'll be going there for breakfast on Sunday. We bought some chicken to make a salad for dinner last night. The butcher cut out a breast, cut it into small trozos (pieces) and charged us 63 pesos for half a kilo or one pound.

The walk was a bit depressing. A lot of drug addicts selling used things on the street, old and broken furniture and trash and graffiti everywhere. Sad to see this happening. Friends who live here in CDMX say it's changing for the worst and quickly.

The garbage truck comes by daily. They collect the containers and bring them to the truck where they take everything apart and separate into recyclables. The materials they recycle become their income. You can see that they collect quite a bit. I'm sure they also receive a small salary as well. We need to treat them better. Spain is a good example. After the trash truck passes another comes by and washes the barrels and containers.

Well, tomorrow's post will be better. We had a great day riding trolley buses up and down the Reforma. We visited the Chapultepec Castle and it was amazing.

We're Not Finished Yet - Let's See If This Is Going To Work

2026-05-16T16:39:40.598-07:00

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

A few years back. our neighbor across the street dumped a couple of truckloads of cement blocks onto the road. He had them semi-crushed with a bulldozer. It just never worked out well. It actually made it worse. Yesterday we got together, ordered five truckloads of material, and had a guy come and spread it out. It's still not the best, but it is better than it was. We'll probably have to make some adjustments as time goes by.

After we were home from the U.K., we went right back to our daily routines. Back to the gym, work around the quinta, running errands, and more. After a week of that, we decided to go to San Miguel de Allende. Leaving the house alone for such a long time worries me a bit. We did absolutely nothing for a week but visit friends and veg out. In fact, it's one day for the drive, so the next day we actually napped twice, guessing we had never recovered from our near six-week trip.

Back at the ranch, Texas trip preparations ground to a sudden, unexpected halt. I got a wild hair, and I said to Juan, "Where to next?" We had tossed around house sitting, and I was checking. Every house-sitting platform charges fees now, and I think that stinks. After looking at five sites, I gave up. Then the FB and internet algorithm kicks in, and house sitting is popping up everywhere. As I was scrolling on FB, I saw a post that said HouseSit In Mexico. A woman in Mexico City was looking for someone to take care of her cat. I posted a comment, and we started chatting. I was preparing our references when a message popped up saying she knew someone who knew us. Done deal. Next week we will spend a week in Big Tamal.

We'll get back on the 28th, and I have some RV dealers lined up to visit in Texas.

As you may know, Mexico is in hot water with the U.S. CIA agents were killed in Chihuahua. The state governor is being charged with a covert operation without federal authorization, although they closed down one of the largest mega-labs in history. OTOH, the governor of Sinaloa, along with his nine cronies, has now been indicted in the U.S. courts, and the U.S. is asking for extradition for narcotrafficking. This is a huge hit to the governing political party. It has been said for the last seven years that they were in bed together and not just those few, but many, many more. The huitlacoche is hitting the fan.

The president's approval rating has changed considerably from March 2025 to May 2026.

Success or Failure: With seniors, she's a hit. Each person 65 and over receives 3200 pesos per month. From the top down:

Help for senior citizens

Better salaries

Higher employment

A good relationship with the United States

Resolve the lack of medicines for all Mexicans (4000 children have died of cancer for lack of drugs since 2019). Medicine is free for Mexicans in IMSS, ISSSTE, and Bienestar.

Fighting corruption.

Fighting organized crime.

Reducing crime in general: robberies and assaults

What is best for the country?

Should MORENA continue governing?

Should Mexico have a change of party in the government?

Is it true or false that MORENA politicians have received money from narcos (organized crime)?

In all the mess with the kingpins captured last year and taken to the U.S. in a clandestine operation, and an additional 92 extraditions from Mexico to the U.S., many of those people have agreed to share information, and the truth is coming out. 17 members of the Guzman family crossed the border voluntarily as part of a negotiated plea agreement in the U.S.

The ex-president may be next, including many of those who are governors from other states that belong to the same party.

Stay tuned and we will be sharing our trip to Mexico City on the 20th.

End Of The U.K. Trip - Some Interesting Things

2026-04-29T13:18:00.000-07:00

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

Back to the green, green grass of home! It's hot, 37C and that is quite a change from the last five weeks. We experienced most cold weather from 2C to 16C, one day it was 24C, sunny and clear skies. The next day we found ourselves in a snow flurry. It rained off and on but never anything more than a few drops. It appears it rained at night and we were never aware of it always waking up to wet streets, sidewalks, and cars.

It nice to be back home but I'm ready to do something else. We will go to SMA for a week. We have two events early in May and then we will head to San Antonio. The purpose of that trip is to search for a very small travel trailer we will store in Laredo in a covered storage. There is a lot logistics involved. I don't have any U.S. identification other than expired Texas driver's license and expired ID card. Texas won't issue me any of those two without proof of residency and they are on to those of us who maintain a private P.O. Now they require a utility bill of some kind; electric, water, gas, cable, telephone.

We are looking into the South Dakota residency system that you can obtain in just one day. However, we would have to find the rv, register for a temporary state move permit from Texas. Why Texas? We want to buy it in Texas for warranty issues in the first year. South Dakota will provide a state ID card and registration for the rv. For now, we don't want to import the rv into Mexico. Our goal is to travel the U.S. which we never really had a chance to do except for Texas and our trip to Quartzite. So, it's a lot to figure out and coordinate but first to see what we want to buy and go from there.

Okay, back to parking in the U.K. As I said, there is no free parking except at home. Monthly rates are available and daily rates are sky high.

Most expensive yearly parking permits by city in the U.K. The permit is only good for the council area where you have purchased the permit. Outside of that council area you pay for parking on an hourly or daily basis. In London, there is a more expensive permit for multi-councils because of the size of the city.

With a monthly permit, you will still need to pay when you go to another council. If you want to visit friends, relatives, or take a trip, you will have to pay the daily rate. When we registered at the hotel in Edinburgh, they had a tablet at registration where you enter your plate number and it is good from check-in to check-out time only. They warned us that after check-out we would have to pay or risk being fined.

This is a chart of the pricing in Lincoln. Each city can be different. We got ripped off our last day. I know I covered this but for those that may have not read it. We chose the early bird rate. Enter before 9 a.m. and exit before 23:59 (to the minute). The parking in front of the building has 12 spaces free overnight. I'd move the car before 8 a.m., move it to the paid car park around the corner, pay for the early bird rate and then move the car back to the free overnight parking after 6 p.m. What a mess people have to live with. The only other free parking is the park and ride areas for trams and buses. The supermarkets have warning signs that parking is limited to X number of hours and that abusers (non-shoppers) will be fined.

The last day I went to pay. You enter your plate number, choose the number of hours or specials, and tap with a debit/credit card. You receive a ticket for the dashboard and a receipt. I didn't get one. It appeared that it didn't take the card. I did it again and check my bank online. Charged twice. There is no recourse that is easy. It takes two weeks minimum. When we were ready to leave two hours later, there were others trying to figure it all out because there was no paper in the machine. The machine doesn't give you a message of "out of paper", it just takes you back to start. Rip off.

Another interesting U.K. thing we found was the Tesco Meal Deal. Tescos are everywhere and come in all shapes and sizes from a corner store you can barely turn around in to a super mega Walmart style store. All of them are freezing inside.

The shelves are lined with sandwiches, fruit cups, bangers and mash, pickle and cheese sandwiches and many, many more. To get the meal deal price of 3.85 you need to have a Tesco club discount card. Wherever you see the yellow sign, that is the club price. Most items have it and you earn points for what you spend along with price discounts.

They sell a ton of these combinations which are a sandwich, chips, and a drink or a dessert. Business people, construction workers, retirees, students, everyone gets the deal. They are so reduce the food prices depending on expiration dates. We took advantage of the deals as well but we would split between the two of us.

Here is a single serving of lasagna. We opted for the 2-3 person serving taking a chance on what it would be like. £3.50 and it weighed at least a kilo.

This is how our dinner turned out. We popped it in the microwave for five minutes and added some veggies and we had a great dinner with a glass of wine.

We've all seen the newer hand washing stations in airports. We found this one in Tesco. Not much to it other than you stick your hands under the sensor and the rest is done for you other than rubbing your hands. Soap, rinse, and dry!

The subway is truly a marvel. Millions of riders everyday throughout the U.K. It takes a lot of abuse and requires constant maintenance. However, it's very old and some of the routes date back to the mid 1800s. It's very noisy and shakes and sways a lot especially on curves. Here's a short clip.

I started to write this blog post yesterday. Big surprise this morning when I opened my email. I received notice of a traffic violation in the council of Cardiff! Too funny. Everything is on camera. Apparently, I entered a bus lane. It happened a couple of times as the GPS says take the left lane to exit.

There were a lot of things that were new to us and most involved language and terms that are used. It takes some getting used to but context always helps. Everyone is very friendly and there is so much history that one could travel there for years. We are considering doing some house sitting and the U.K. looks like a good second to Spain.

Return To London For Our Last Four Days

2026-04-23T17:42:00.000-07:00

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

Note of interest:

The "accident" and killing involving two CIA agents coincides with a post I made on "April 21" 2008. I wrote: "As for Guachochí, it wasn't until three weeks ago that we found out that our boondocker's sixth sense had paid off. On the front page of our local paper, El Norte, was an article about Goachochí and the invasion by the Mara Salvatrucha gang. They are there helping the drug traffickers. Go figure". The situation hasn't changed in over 18 years and has only gotten worse. Such a tragedy. I remember very well that day we drove into Guachochí. We parked, walked to their park with a lake, and were pretty much told we weren't welcome and that it would be best to move on. The place was a hornet's nest.

Back to the trip. We returned the car on Thursday. It was a three-hour drive from Lincoln to Heathrow. Our hotel was down the street, a few blocks. We booked a room at the Ibis. Well, my bad. There are two Ibis on Bath Rd. They are two different franchises, although one is Ibis Styles. A very nice room at an affordable price.

The next day, we headed into London near the Norbury Station. Our Airbnb was just a block off Norbury and four blocks from the train station. However, when we got to Victoria station to transfer to Norbury, the system was down, or at least that's what they said. There was a transportation strike underway. We took a city bus that was about 30 minutes longer, but it dropped us off right on the corner of the Airbnb.

For the most part, the underground is old and rundown. Millions of passengers each day take their toll on the system. It's fairly clean and has little to no graffiti. People are pushy but friendly, and you need to move or get run over. It's an experience for sure. The oldest operating station is the Baker line, which was built in 1863, and you can see some stations, just by the type of construction, that are from the 1800s. The tunnels are narrower, and the rail cars are also the same. The subway is very noisy when you are in the cars, and you can hear the squealing of the tracks. It can be very hard to talk to someone without yelling.

Victoria Station is a huge terminal and hub for the system. It is within a few blocks of Buckingham Palace and has shops and restaurants. In the last segment of this trip blog, I will show you how most people eat and what they eat. Very different.

Saturday, we took off for Camden on the northwest side of the city. Everyone told us we needed to go there. Each has a reason, and mine was a bit different. It's basically a New Orleans-style street area filled with shopping, eating, drinking, street art, and music venues. Thousands of people were walking around as if it were some type of fairgrounds. But there is so much more to the place.

First is the Georgian charm architecture. Beautiful old buildings line the streets. Camden was developed in the late 1700s into a residential and industrial area thanks to the waterway and the railroad. The town is located on what was once the Earl of Camden's manor and grounds.

Camden Town's main drag is roughly 1/2 mile long and filled with some pretty interesting shops and stores. There are side mini-malls filled with stalls of all kinds, selling name-brand clothing, souvenirs, and food. The food stall employees hawk samples as a way to sell their products, most of which you can carry and eat while you walk.

We have seen locks in Canada, Panama, and now the Camden Lock. It was constructed in 1820 and used to transport goods from the Midlands to the docks. The architect, John Nash, was also responsible for the massive extension added to Buckingham Palace under King Edward IV.

Today, the canal boats take tourists through the locks. We watched the "captain" check the engine compartment, the exterior, and prepare the deck for the passengers.

I'm not attracted to these tourist places, but I do enjoy watching all the people. They come from all over and speak many different languages. There are even punk guys who hang out on the bridge, and you can pay to have your picture taken with them.

It amazes me how much stuff people can sell and equally how much stuff people can buy. The world is filled with so much of the same these days. The same souvenirs are sold by all of the shops, and people are lured in with promises of an even better price than the guy next door.

Before we headed home, we had one last stop. Juan wanted to cross the street at Abbey Road. Several of his friends had been urging him to go. We had walked quite a bit that day and took the underground to St. John's Wood station. What a great escape from the people and noise at Camden. The neighborhood is very upper-class and very quiet. It was similar to walking in the La Condesa neighborhood in Mexico City.

Beautiful homes line the streets along with some apartment buildings. One thing about England is that most of the housing is townhouse style. Supposedly, the style came from the industrial era when large groups of workers were needed. Building townhouses was part of the solution, along with limited land and high prices. We really marvel at the homes in the U.K., where many or most are built with exterior brick and slate roofs.

Back at the apartment, we had a drink, had some leftover pizza, and watched a movie. Waking up on Monday, we fixed breakfast, cleaning up what food we had left. It was a few sausages and eggs with toast.

We headed back to Heathrow to the other Ibis hotel. Pretty much the same except for the fact that we arrived an hour early and they wanted to charge us 20GBP for an early check-in. We waited in the lobby and used the internet. I walked to the store nearby to get a sandwich and a cup of noodles for our dinner.

Up at 5:00 a.m., we watched our Mexican news program, showered, and took the bus to the terminal.

This really worked out well for us. The hotel is five minutes from the Heathrow bus terminal, which is at the airport. We walked across the street, hopped on the bus, and there we were. The moving sidewalks do the rest and before we knew it, we were in the airport. We used the check-in kiosk, and it gave us our seat assignments, but wouldn't print Juan's because he needed to scan his U.S. visa, and it wouldn't seem to do it. We asked for assistance, and the woman asked if we wanted to sit together. We didn't pay for seats, so it was a good thing. We ended up in row 52 at the back of the plane. We both had side-by-side aisle seats and no one on either side of us.

The in-flight service was the best ever. Very good food and snacks. The flight left at 9:26 a.m., and we arrived in Atlanta around 2:30 p.m. A two-hour layover, and off we went on AeroMexico to Monterrey. I watched Sarah's Oil, a very good movie. Juan was disappointed with Anaconda.

Back home at the ranch, everything is green and back to normal. Our gardener did a good job of keeping the place up. Of course, our cameras helped us to keep things in check.

I still have another post or two about how things worked out for us on this trip. It was expensive, but we knew that going into it. We may have given up boondocking in Mexico but our rving days may be far from over. More on that later.

Fixed - Lincoln and Old Town

2026-04-21T19:44:00.000-07:00

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

I'm writing this as we fly over Halifax on our way to Atlanta and then Monterrey. More on that in the next post.

After stopping in Nottingham for a few hours, we left Robin Hood behind and headed for Lincoln. Pretty beat from all the travel we were glad we booked four days.

Our stay was another good one. It takes a lot of time to find what you are looking foe. It appeared hat Loncoln was a relatively inexpensive city but choices were limited. I do most of the planning and I asked Juan to do some research. Right off the bat he found a place called SimplyStay. The lowest price yet per night.

Turns out the place is in the center of Old Town. The castle is three blocks up the hill along with the cathedral.

I may have explained about the parking but I'll do a bit of it again. There is very little to no free parking in the U.K. This stay is located in front of 12 spaces. Charges during thr day and free all night after six.

Out the door at 7:45 to move the car before 8 a.m., drive around the building to the NCP parking lot. Early bird is in before 9 a.m. and you can stay until 23:59 p.m. all for 6.25 GBP. Stay one minute more and get caught and you pay 60GBP. So, at 5:45 p.m., to receive my happy hour cocktail, I would move the car back to free parking. I'd get there, put on the emergency flashers and wait.

This is a real game and people play it. First come first serve. I'd wait foe someone leaving and as they pull out the vultures attempt to circle. I actually had a near bumper to bumper getting a space one night. 🤣🤣🤣

Anyhow, the Airbnb was very, very well equipped. There was nothing we didn't have.

Thw cathedral was built in 1092. After a devastating earthquake in 1185 the new construction began. It was the tallest building in the world for over 200 years.

Walking up the hill through Old Town.

Many small shops and restaurants in buildings from 500 years ago.

This was the view from our stay. You couldn't get any better.

The architecture way leading to the cathedral grounds. This also were people came to pay their land, house, and tax payments.

Queen Eleanor's is buried here.

The cathedral has quite a bit of security. Any room we entered alone a volunteer, priest, or nun would appear. Here we are on the CCTV.

All.the weeks in the U.K. and we still hadn't gone to a pub and we couldn't go home without doing that. We went to Katie O'Brien's Pub about a block away.

We didn't tour the inside of the castle. Some reviews weren't so good. We walked around the wall and perimeter. The walls are 8 to 10 feet thick. Even though, thw castle saw several battles in the 13th and 14th centuries and the Parlamentarian Civil War of 1644.

A walk along the Witham River. Canal houseboat line the river and some are well-equipped with solar panels and comfortable decks.

Revitalization projects are going on to revise the economy. We met a guy from Shri Lanka who was opening a GDK German franchise.

The oldest medieval style bridge house in existence today. Named the "I can't say" it was built in 1550.

The Harliquin House, also known around town as the Wonky House, is just down the hill two blocks from the cathedral. Made of timber and built in the 1500s, it has been a pub, public house and antique shop.

The oldest surviving cemetery in Lincoln. We weren't able to enter. It would be have been cool to check out some of the people buried there.

The water tower that still supplies some of the towns water is over 125 years old. It also has a keeper's house next door.

Getting older but a lot more travel to go!

I apologize for any errors but I wrote this on my cellphone. 😅

Four Days In Lincoln But First A Visit To Robin Hood

2026-04-19T00:04:00.000-07:00

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

Entering Lincoln through the only known Roman gate, built in 200 AD, and still used by modern-day traffic. It was hit by an oversized moving truck in the 1950s, but all of the pieces were salvaged and returned to their original position. The truck involved was too tall for the arch. Fortunately, all of the pieces landed in place on top of the moving truck.

After we left York, we headed down the highway to Lincoln. We stopped in Nottingham for a few hours. We found the park and ride for the metro or tram that goes into the city. Again, free parking and the ticket round-trip was $2.68. It was a quick ride that dropped us off in the city center. Three blocks up the hill we found Nottingham Castle.

The original Nottingham Castle and fortress were built out of wood in 1079. Henry II built the stone structure that exists today in the 1200s. In 1476, Edward IV added apartments to the castle for his personal use. The existing castle underwent a makeover in the 15th century. There really wasn't much to see, and reviews were not very good. The interior is now a museum. We decided to walk around the area and then head to Lincoln.

But not before finding Robin Hood and having a picture taken with him. Behind him, along the wall, are plaques for all of his merry men!

The Mortimer House across the street from the castle is now called the Castle Pub. They say it gets very busy there at night and on weekends.

What's interesting about this building (a law office built in 1910) is that just about every building in the U.K. is preserved to some extent, if not the original, and cataloged by a heritage organization, council, or local restoration society.

We headed back to the tram and the park-and-ride. Lincoln was still about an hour and a half away. We were surprised to see that our Airbnb was three blocks from the Lincoln Castle, the cathedral, the gate above, and more. It was one of our best stays. Easy to find, and one of the most reasonable yet.