LIVING IN GUANAJUATO

Guanajuato, Mexico -- Random Thoughts

noreply@blogger.com (Expat2003) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:13:00 +0000

Last night's network news showed Mexico's President announcing the end of the recession in Mexico...We shall see.

Also on the news: More than 45 thousand babies are kidnapped in Mexico each year and sold off in illegal adoptions. Many of these chidren disappear into the U.S. and Canada.

This week, we were walking downtown from our little barrio to happen upon a knock down drag out between two young women right in El Jardin. They were going at each other tooth and nail right in the center of town, touristlandia, beating each other have to death. Finally the cops showed up and put a stop to the tourist's entertainment.

The weather is nice. The rains seem to be elsewhere right now giving GTO a reprive. The rainy season really never got off the ground and, as it looks like now, is a bust. Too bad for farmers and food prices.

Federales, Mexico's Feds, are doing the extortion thing here in GTO. Isn't that grand?........Read Entire Article

SPANISH TO ENGLISH TRANSLATION

More on the Feds:

Federales golpean a campesino

Por: Esaú González, Viernes, 06 de Noviembre de 2009
El afectado denunció los hechos ante el Ministerio Público

PÉNJAMO

EVIDENCIAS

A raíz de la lesión que sufrió, el hombre camina apoyado en un bastón. Foto: Marco A. Ortega

Dos elementos de la Policía Federal Preventiva (PFP) fueron acusados de lesiones y abuso de autoridad ante el Ministerio Público, luego de que presuntamente golpearon a un campesino porque les reclamó que hayan metido una grúa a su propiedad sin su permiso.........Read Entire Article

SPANISH TO ENGLISH TRANSLATION

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Guanajuato, Mexico -- Cabs and Things

noreply@blogger.com (Expat2003) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 05:04:00 +0000

Today we had to get to the huge Mega Store we unfortunately have in town. This is a super market on steroids like exists in the States.

The day was beautiful for once. The temps were great allowing for short pants, short sleeves, and a healthy walk for a cab instead of calling for one. So, we struck out for the barrio, Embajadoras to flag a cab instead of calling for one.

Normally, we would call for one. This would cost us $30.00 pesos. If you flag one down on the street it is a mere $25.00 pesos.

The problem was that everyone on this beautiful, cloudless, crystal-blue sky day was on the streets wanting a cab.

With the advent of cell phones, trying to hail a cab in GTO is not as easy as it was when we moved here seven years ago. It was, in those days, so simple and so fast to raise your hand in the air and have one just appear. Sometimes, the cabbies would cruise by you out on a walk in the mountain air (now hopelessly polluted with car exhaust) and actually ask you if you needed a cab.

Not any more.

And not anymore when it is the end of the mammoth festival, Cervantino, and there are about 40,000 more bodies in the city wanting a cab and all using their cell phones to get one.

So, there we were, standing on the street and it looked hopeless.

Now, the strategy is to try and figure out who is actually waiting for cabs and then to out-position yourself from the other wannabee cab passengers.

For example, if you notice hordes standing around staring blankly down the road, looking longingly for something and you aren't sure what, then chances are they are looking for a cab.

We were in this dilemma this afternoon. So, what we did was the out-positioning maneuver: WE TRIED STANDING SOMEWHERE ALONG THE ROAD THE CABS FREQUENT SO WE COULD HAIL SOME CABBIE FIRST.

If three hundred people are standing at point "A", waiting for cabs, then you walk down the street from them to point "L" or "M".

And, there were hordes of people wanting cabs. Extend families of 15 or more, were loitering around trying to pile all of themselves into the backseat of a cab.

I'm serious and not making that up.

One horde's mistress figured out our plan and tried to counter it. She began barking orders.

She sent runners, a common ploy, to try and out run us. Whenever we saw a cab coming from our position, the runners would try and out distance us and flag the cab before us. It wasn't working for them since all the cabs that were passing on the road had fares who waved their cell phones at us with toothy grins as they passed by.

Then an empty cab came zooming down the street. Of course, the runners out ran us since they were teens and we are old, wheezing geezers.

However, I pulled out my secret weapon--MONEY!

Cab drivers will tell you that Mexicans would rather die than ever pay more than the absolute bottom cab rate. They pay the minimum, $25.00 pesos, and will pile as many bodies as they can into the cab. They will even make Granny ride in the trunk if they have to.

So, when the cab came, the little catch-a-cab-before-the-fat-gringos runner stopped the cab but I whipped out $50.00 pesos (a little less than five bucks American) and waved it in the windscreen of the cab.

The taxista, the cabbbie, of course told the Mexicans where to go--AND IT WASN'T WITH HIM AND HIS CAB--and took us to our destination instead.

Now, lest you think this cruel let me say this. Mexicans will jump your cab faster than you can say "I want a taco." They will think you flagged the cab down for them and when you open the door, will jump into the cab and steal it from you.

When this happens, OUT BID them.

Depending on your desperation, offer what it takes to get the cab driver to take you and not the cheap Mexican that will NEVER tip, will NEVER pay a higher price for their extended family horde, and pay the very least amount required by law, a cheap $25.00 pesos, less than $2.50 USD, to go the ends of the Earth and back.

I rather think I had a great day out thinking, out maneuvering, and out paying the Guanajuatense.

Today, I won.

For once!!!

The Most Hated Gringo in the World -- 33

noreply@blogger.com (Expat2003) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:10:00 +0000

COME TO MEXICO AND NOT HAVE TO SEE MEXICANS

Gringolandia Candidates Questions & Answers

1) Gringo at SMA's bogus tour of homes which is really a Real Estate Scam to sell you something you cannot afford:

"Do I have to see or deal with any Mexicans if I buy the house you are trying to trick me into buying?"

Slick Real Estate Shyster: "Are you kidding? The only Mexicans you'll ever have to deal with are those who pay slave wages to to wait on you hand and foot."

2) Gringo asks while signing real estate contract and handing over a suitcase full of cash: "Do they love us here?"

Estate Scammer Shyster: "Are you kidding? They tell their children that their sole purpose in life is to wait on the Gringo hand and foot and if they don't like it, they are welcome to live elsewhere than SMA."

3) Gringo who just signed his or her life away in the Mexican real estate transaction: "Will there be mosquitoes there?"

Real Estate Scammer Shyster says now that he has mucho American Dollars: "Oh, they are as big as the SUV's you intend on driving down here and will devour your children as soon as you open a window in your new SMA home."

4) Gringo calls Real Estate Scammer Shyster while standing in new home: "Where are all the light fixtures, doors, window frames, the stove and refrigerator, and floor tiles?

Real Estate Scammer Shyster: "Oh, I took those for my cousin Rickie. But I can sell you something different for cheap if you like. And, it's legal so don't bother getting an abogado."

5) Gringo talking to Estate Scammer Shyster standing over wife's body who died of a heart attack in her new SMA home that is just an empty shell: "How could you do this to us?"

Real Estate Scammer Shyster after hysterical laughing fit: "What's wrong with you, you Stupid Gabacho? It was all in the contract you signed willing and ready."

6) Gringo now telling paramedics and Mexican police why his wife is dead on the floor: "But, the contract was all in Spanish and I don't read or speak a word of Spanish."

Real Estate Scammer Shyster: "¡Qué tonto!"

The Most Hated Gringo in the World -- 32

noreply@blogger.com (Expat2003) — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 15:19:00 +0000

My wife and I go to SMA two or three times a year for writing fodder. We never return without something to write about.

Recently, we went and to our surprise and delight, we saw and heard more Gabachos using Spanish, and rather well at that, in their transactions with the locals. This was grand and never before had we experienced so many Gringos speaking Spanish in SMA.

Now, I wouldn't hold my breathe waiting for a Spanish craze to take over the town, but it was pleasant to hear.

The majority may be characterized with this story my wife found online for me to use:

"Well, I just returned from a 2-week stay at XYZ Resort in Nuevo Vallarta. I couldn't believe that they actually let some Mexican people stay there!! These people were so stupid that they couldn't even talk English!! All they did was talk Mexican all day long!! Couldn't believe that the resort permitted them to swim in the pool and frolic on the beach. Their kids ran wild and had the nerve to try to play with our kids. To top it off, they were even allowed to eat in the dining room with us; I couldn't believe it!! The resort was nice, the food was good and we enjoyed the nightly entertainment, but our trip was pretty much ruined by these outsiders being at our favorite resort. We sure won't be going back there!!!!"

Is this something isolated to Nuevo Vallarta? No, I think not. We've heard it before in SMA but found this that was usable to stress a point.

These characters end up moving to Mexico to buy second homes and change the culture.

Later.........

The Most Hated Gringo in the World -- 31

noreply@blogger.com (Expat2003) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 16:40:00 +0000

I thought I would begin my re-entry to my blogging with a good old "The Most Hated Gringo in the World" story. Now, if you don't know about my title, the Gringos of San Miguel de Allende and Guanajuato, have dubbed me The Most Hated Gringo in the World.

The primary reason they hate me and have universally titled me The Most Hated Gringo in the World is that I have the ganas to suggest that they are nothing more than a bunch of Cultural Imperialist who do not flock to Gringolandias to learn Spanish and assimilate into the culture, but rather to conquer and rule.

They fit the definition of CULTURAL IMPERIALIST I would say rather perfectly.

So, there you go if you want to know why they hate me.

Hate is a funny thing, really. Sane people tend to associate those who hate with the mentally ill. That is, of course, where I lump them. While a mentally balanced person may hate very passionately the behavior of the criminal there is nothing wrong with loving the person while hating their criminal tendencies.

This escapes the Gringolandians. They choose to Hate, no matter the behavior.

It makes me wonder if this is the bent of liberalism. Liberals, politically, theologically, religiously, mentally, is what makes up the vast majority of the Gringolandias throughout Mexico. Rarely will you find a conservative in the bunch. The conservative could never survive. He or she would be run down in the street with the Liberal's SUV's and lynched.

By the way: They hate conservatives right along with everyone else who dares to express a different opinion than their LORD OF THE FLIES gangs.

Some points proving the absolute lawlessness of the Gringolandians. They not only are amoral they are immoral. It is, beyond a doubt, immoral to tolerate the breaking of law and I mean laws that should count in the common everyday moral consciousness's...

1. I am still waiting for someone to come forward and call evil, evil for the attempt on the life of my wife and I on June 4, 2007. Most of you have written me telling me I was making it all up. And yet, if any of you could manage to muster enough Spanish beyond, "si" and "no", you could come and read about the fire with the Guanajuato police department report. But, have any of you Liberal Gringolandians bothered. No, you haven't. Immoral!

2. Last Spring one of San Miguel's finest in that nest of Gabachos decided to print a letter to the editor of your little joke of a newspaper, telling how he was going to obtain a rocket launcher and shoot out of the sky the airplane banner advertising plane which obviously annoyed him. Did any of you SMA liberals call and ace an ace? You didn't. And, that's most certainly immoral.

3. My wife and gets "Happy Death Wish" emails telling her to hope along with the rest of your SMA gals and pals that Doug dies soon. I have been seriously ill, the word got out, and SMA has had a hay day with that.

4. The hard core Gringolandians in GTO know of a Gringo who has, for years I have been told, manufactured--counterfeiting--visas for the wiling and ready to pay Gringos. Does anyone stand up to this guy and turn him in? I didn't because I believe he is the one who had motive and opportunity to make the attempt on our lives. I received threats from him on more than one ocassion. I fear for our safety if I went forward.

I mean, you have got to call it what it is: A mass of lawless insanity--mental illness--that seems to rule the hearts and minds the Gringolandians showing how they've lost the ability to discern between good and evil...the definition of a Reprobate, if you must know.

And, if you want to know why the SMA gringos/gabachos want to see me dead, go the this link and read the articles I've written. For having an opinion and attacking a concept, Gringolandia, I am very much wanted dead by the SMA Imperialists. I've never singled any one person out. But, boy howdy how I watch my backside.

So, dear ones, that is why I am "The Most Hated Gringo in the World"...

Stay tuned, there is more, much more, to come.

Guanajuato, Mexico -- It's Cold

noreply@blogger.com (Expat2003) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 13:46:00 +0000

Just like everything in this world, the Guanajuato weather is all screwed up. Our rainy season never got off the ground which is trouble with a captial 'T'.

I think we must be getting post hurricane clouds and cold fronts because it has turned cold. Not freezing mind you, but cold enough for those of us with chronic illnnesses sensitive to the cold to suffer.

The state still is very short of needed rainfall. And, frustratingly predicted rain seldom lives up to its prediction.

More on that lazy, morally hazy online bookstore: Amazon.com -- CLICK HERE.

The wife and I have been working on novels. Cindi's is a romantic fiction whereas mine is Sci-Fi.

Later.

Guanajuato, Mexico . Books, Critics, and MORE!

noreply@blogger.com (Expat2003) — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 18:17:00 +0000

What Americans seem to want is a book that tells them what to do. Not what they want to know, but what to do. I am convinced of this. When I wrote the book, THE PLAIN TRUTH ABOUT LIVING IN MEXICO, what absolutely caught me off guard was the plethora of accusations by Americans that the book was for "the I hate America crowd." These people, did not "get it" at all.

I wrote about what Americans tend to do when they move to Mexico. Under the guise of "retirement" they move to Mexico and ended up hating it. What they did, and this was in the early days of the "South-of-the-Border Exodus to Mexico, was "change what they did not like by conforming it to their American tastes and images.

You see, the vast majority of Americans especially, do not move to Mexico to learn Spanish and absorb and assimilate into the culture. No! They do not! They move here to change culture and in some cases, as in San Miguel de Allende, they have totally changed the culture into something unrecognizable.

I wrote THE PLAIN TRUTH ABOUT LIVING IN MEXICO in an attempt to try and convince Americans not to move here unless they plan on becoming fluent in Spanish, live in the culture, and for all practical purposes, BE MEXICAN WHEN LIVING HERE.

That is not what Americans do.

To support my thesis, an attempt I already know is doomed to fail, I quote from two sources:

1) Sheila Croucher professor of political science at Miami University in Ohio and author, most recently, of Globalization and Belonging: The Politics of Identity in a Changing World, says is her article: THEY LOVE US HERE :

Here are some of this professor’s conclusions about the American gringo population in San Miguel de Allende:

· San Miguel de Allende attracts one of the largest foreign populations in Mexico.

· Most do not learn the local language and reside and socialize within an isolated cultural enclave. These immigrants practice their own cultural traditions and celebrate their national holidays. Grocery stores are stocked with locally unfamiliar products that hail from their homeland.

· American professionals largely work illegally in San Miguel and pay no taxes.

· They typically do not pay their servants the Social Security taxes required by law.

· The illegal businesses run by the American gringo community rips off the local San Miguel de Allende government in excess of more than four million pesos a year in unpaid taxes.

· Some Americans are actually illegal aliens and do not bother with proper documentation.

· Some are even involved in the Illegal Drug Trade and take drugs across the different Mexican state lines.

And...make careful note of this. I have written more than 100 articles mentioning and quoting from Professor Croucher liberally and never once...NOT EVEN ONCE...have the San Miguel de Allende Cultural Imperialist taken me to task over issues. Rather, universally and without exception, I receive the most vile hate mail from the most screwed up lunatics whose email content range from profane name calling to death threats. I might mention for the sake of argument that Guanajuato, where I live, has their share of loony bird Gringos that also have actually sent emails telling me that they want to kill me.

There's got to be at least one gringo in the Cultural Imperialist's Colonies who is not addicted to drugs and alcohol who can engage in a decently constructed argument.

Read Professor's Croucher's article for yourself.

2) Another source which I have used over and over again and to which the SMA Imperialists NEVER are able to make a response worth reading is Why We Left San Miguel de Allende, by Bill Davies/Karen Harding

"We came to San Miguel de Allende in order to experience Mexican culture and Mexican life. Instead, we found ourselves surrounded by the aspects of American culture and American life which we had always managed to avoid in the States, and which we went to Mexico to avoid. In the States, the self-centered, arrogant, entitled, consumerist people--the “Ugly Americans”-- are scattered and have little effect on us. In San Miguel, one can't ignore them--they're concentrated in a small area, twirling and meddling, always in one’s face, always acting so, um, American. Ironically, we saw more of the worst aspects of American behavior and values in SMA than we did in the States. As someone from another part of Mexico once remarked to us, “Oh, yes, San Miguel--that’s the place where the people iron their jeans.”

Read Bill Davies/Karen Harding's entire story here. It is impressive and also supports what I have been trying to do in my writing.

What most Americans tend to do when coming to Mexico is to engage in the practice Cultural Imperialism.

That is what THE PLAIN TRUTH ABOUT LIVING IN AMERICA is all about. That was my motive. And, amazingly my detractors think it is a book for THE I HATE AMERICA CROWD.

You see what I mean about American Gringos?

GUANAJUATO, MEXICO - Aguas Frescas – Refreshing Water-Based Drinks

noreply@blogger.com (Expat2003) — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 15:47:00 +0000

by

Cindi Bower

During the Dog Days of Summer, people always seem to be looking for refreshing drinks to cool them down and replenish fluids. Soft drinks are popular, but are often too sweet to be refreshing. Plus, the carbonation tends to bloat the stomach, which makes one feel too full to drink enough liquid to replenish fluids lost from sweating. Water will replenish necessary fluids but is not always refreshing.

The Aztecs, who lived in the area that is modern-day Mexico City, devised the perfect refreshing drink – agua fresca, literally “fresh water.” The drink has survived through the centuries in Mexico and its fame has spread through Central America, the Caribbean, and into the United States of America.

Just about any fruit can be used to make agua fresca. If you have some fruit that is a little too ripe, it is perfect to use in your agua fresca because the fruit is pureed in a blender before being mixed with water. Some aguas frescas include cucumber, tamarind pods, hibiscus flowers, spices, nuts, seeds, and even rice.

Very little sugar is used to make the drinks, so they aren’t cloyingly sweet like soft drinks often are. They are also high in vitamins and minerals, which give you a nutritional boost.

Aguas frescas are easy to make. You can use one type of fruit or use a combination of fruits.

Recipe (makes about 2 ½ quarts)

3 cups coarsely chopped fresh fruit
6 to 8 cups of water
½ to ¾ cup sugar (to taste...use less if the fruit is sweet; use more if you are using citrus or sour fruits)
¼ cup lime juice (optional)

Put the fruit and about 2 cups of water into a blender. Puree until smooth. Pour the puree through a sieve into a large pitcher. Add the rest of the water, the sugar, and the lime juice. Stir well and add more water and sugar if needed. Serve well chilled.

Some of my favorite aguas frescas are pineapple, strawberry, cantaloupe and watermelon.

Next time, I’ll share recipes for aguas frescas made with hibiscus flowers (agua de Jamaica), tamarind pods (agua de tamarindo) and horchata (made with rice). These three aguas frescas are the three most common aguas frescas in Mexico.

Until then, cool off with a tall glass or two of agua fresca made with your favorite fruit. Enjoy!

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A Walk Through Mexico's Crown Jewel A Guanajuato Travelogue

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Guanajuato, Mexico - ¡Se Habla español, solo!

noreply@blogger.com (Expat2003) — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 04:05:00 +0000

If the Great Gabacho Genie would grant me one wish it would be this:

I WOULD HAVE ALL GRINOS REMOVED FROM THE FACE OF MEXICO (AND ALL SPANISH SPEAKING COUNTRIES) UNLESS THEY HAD, AT A BARE MINIMUM, AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD'S SPANISH SPEAKING, READING, WRITING FLUENCY LEVEL.

If you want to know what can get my goat faster than anything is the Cultural Imperialist Arrogance of a Gabacho making the claim that he or she knows Mexico so well by virtue of the fact she or he has visited Mexico (a tourist, mind you) since 1991 making he or she an expert in Mexico Cultural.

I know these authors who have written books on expatriation issues to Mexico. A woman, Mary Rassmussen, from Minnesota, writes of one of the books of these authors:

If you are part of the "I hate America crowd", this book is for you.

She goes on to say:

He is so obviously biased against America and Americans, I figure this point of view must affect everything he writes about, and therefore I don't trust he has any objectivity.

As for the proof of her arguement that the authors are so obviously biased is:

I have travelled to Mexico many times since 1991, and I have seen an American behave badly once.

This is in reference, I can only assume, to the chapter of one of the author's books that speaks to the horror that has been wrought upon San Miguel de Allende.

To read an excellent article by Sheila Croucher a professor of political science at Miami University in Ohio which speaks to the Gringo disaster Americans wreak upon Mexico click here.

Mary Rassmussen's judgement call is that:

1. Anyone who has bought this book is in the "I HATE AMERICA CROWD."

2. Anyone who is thinking of buying this book in the "I HATE AMERICA CROWD."

3. Anyone who will at anytime in the future buy this book in in the "I HATE AMERICA CROWD."

The things written in THE PLAIN TRUTH ABOUT LIVING IN MEXICO are mild and affectionate compared to Professor Croucher's article.

And for a "slap you in the face" shocking yet honest review of what Americans do when moving to Mexico click here for an article by Bill Davies and Karen Harding, long time residents of San Miguel de Allende--GRINGOLANDIA CAPITAL OF THE WORLD..

Even more deplorable is how Amazon.com allows such comments on their so-called "Reader's Reviews."

Under some Pollyana delusion that all of their "readers" must be granted the opportunity to write "a review" people who have never read the book, maybe partially insane, or whatever, can write the most vile and contemptous things about authors. All authors get it from the least of us to the greatest and yet, Amazon.com feeds into a device (a forum structure) that more often than not brings out the very worst in people.

Yahoo had to learn that the hard way. They used to let unfettered comments flow from Americans with an internet connection to make comments on the news. It devolved into anarchy and Yahoo finally took off this nonsense!

If you are interested in sharing your feelings with Amazon.com on this issue you can do so by clicking here.

The point is that as long as the American, and it mostly Americans, come to Mexico for retirement and refuse to become fluent in Spanish, then culture is forever beyong their grasp. Language, learning Spanish, is the portal to the culture and apart from that portal, you can never in a million years begine to know culture no matter how many times you've visited Mexico.

And that, dear Mary Rassmussen, from Minnesota, is written about you!

Guanajuato, Mexico - GUEST BLOGGER

noreply@blogger.com (Expat2003) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 00:47:00 +0000

Permission was granted to print this blog entry of Linda Watson Lauer

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Why Would I Want to Learn Spanish?

View Linda Watson Lauer's blog

Posted by Linda Watson Lauer on July 2, 2009 at 4:31pm

Reading George Puckett's blog re "How"s Your Spanish, led me to ask another question. Why would I even WANT to learn Spanish?

Now that is the question I really want to answer. Consider how we in Canada and the US feel when "foreigners" make no effort to adapt. Communication is what brings people together. Try to speak Spanish to a local and notice the friendliness in their eyes. Although my sentences may not be grammatically correct, my Mexican friends get an idea of what I am saying and are thrilled that I am willing to try. It shows my honest desire to be part of their culture. Speaking even a little Spanish creates an open door to the hearts of my new neighbors. Even they are proud of me.

Spanish is a beautiful language. I love listening to the young women as they have so much feeling in their spoken words. There are certain phrases and inflections that I long to copy for I recognize these as being characteristic of Spanish speaking people. Someday I will know how to use the word "mira" just as they do.

Of course I will make mistakes as I learn. I learned my Spanish on the street as I searched for a house. I spoke to every Mexican person I came across as I walked up and down the dusty roads. They welcomed me as I struggled with "Lo se una casa por renta o vende." It was my way of asking do you know of a house for rent or sale. The question led to meeting uncles, cousins, whole families as they all worked to help me find my little house. A single phone call would bring someone to pick us up and take us to look at a tiny casa in the Mexican area of Bucerias, or down the arroyo, or out near the jungle. No one spoke English, but they safely transported me to their home for sale, showed me around and deposited me back where I had come from. What amazing experiences I enjoyed while on that search. Even my poor Spanish was welcomed by these good people.

Today I use my Spanish a little as I teach the children English at the Bucerias Bilingual Community Centre. This year I also took a wonderful Spanish course there and it appears that its a good thing I did. To my chagrin, I learned two important new words... or more importantly, two "proper" words. I learned that calor and caliente did not mean the same things and that I had in fact been walking around telling people I was "hot" in a not very nice way. I wouldn't have wanted other people using that word about me and here I thought I was merely commenting on the weather. Apparently I wasn't! Only a certain "kind of woman" is that kind of hot!

And my second mistake... after two years I finally learned that crayons were colors and not "couleres" as I had been saying to my preschoolers. Fortnately none of them noticed that teacher was saying to use their a#@ho#@ instead of their crayons. Was my face red!

So yes, I'll make mistakes, but in the long run I will learn. I will have had the joy of challenging my brain and learning a new language; communicating with my neighbors and earning their respect; and finally, knowing that I am not a tourist who just stepped into Mexico for a short time. I'm a community member who will do whatever she can to be part of this wonderful Mexican culture.

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LEARN HOW TO LEARN SPANISH

Guanajuato, Mexico -- Sustainable Expatriatism (book)

noreply@blogger.com (Expat2003) — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 17:38:00 +0000

PREVIEW THIS BOOK HERE

Sustainable Expatriatism (book)

This book is publicly offered contingent on the reader’s prior understanding that the reader should always independently confirm with other qualified sources the information presented in this text. The author(s) and publisher(s) accept no responsibility of any kind for conclusions or perceptions reached by readers of this book. The perceptions you have and the conclusions you draw from the unique opinions of these authors, are your own and you accept total responsibility for them. Though written in the context of the authors' life in Mexico, this book is absolutely applicable to any potential expat who will be moving to a country where their native tongue is not the dominate language. This book reflects the unique philosophy of expatriation held by the authors.

Print: $12.66 Download: $7.44

Click Here for Purchasing Info

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Guanajuato, Mexico: Spitting

noreply@blogger.com (Expat2003) — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 21:02:00 +0000

"Mexicans know how to treat their fellow man better..."

I absolutely love that quote. I found it years ago on one of those gringo websites on which the owner is trying to sell the gringo something and to do so she goes the Mexico is Heaven On Earth route in trying to persuade potential buyers to buy her book.

Let's examine a fresh example of just how "Mexicans know how to treat their fellow man better..." that happened to me less than an hour from this writing .

The wife and I were walking home from downtown Guanajuato. We were heading to the Pastita Street via an elevated sidewalk. We walked past the bakery and the other stores and shops leading to the stairway. We reached the stairs, directly across from a small grocery store, that takes you to the street level. We attempted the descent when a man about 60 years of age charged me.

My wife, thank God, was already midway down the stairs. I was on the first step heading down. The man ran up to me growling like a wild animal. He held on to the railing with his left hand while swiping at my head with his right. I ducked and when I did he began spitting on my head. The madman then walked into the store, bought and coke, and then left going the way he had just come.

Now, could someone explain that to me? Could someone tell me how "Mexicans know how to treat their fellow man better..." in that instance?

I know this does not happen all the time. However, try living in this town for a few years and walk the streets daily and you will see just how "Mexicans know how to treat their fellow man better...".

But, that it "does not happen all the time" really is quite meaningless when it happens at all. It doesn't matter that it "does not happen all the time" when it happens to you.

I was in such shock that I took the better route and did not confront the ass. My wife and I stood at a distance and observed.

So, that's my Shangri-La, Nirvana, Heaven on Earth Guanajuato, Mexico report.

And, remember this: That this happened is not at all what is so upsetting. What galls me through and through are the gringos who not only deny this sort of thing ever happens, but they do so so as to get you to buy or rent something they have to offer. They don't want the truth to be known that Guanajuato is like anywhere else on the face of the earth--you have you be vigilant, on your toes always to what could happen to you day or night.

This event happened at approximately 3:30pm on July 29th, 2009.

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Check Out My New Travelogue and the Free Offer

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Guanajuato: Twilight Zone Strikes Again

noreply@blogger.com (Expat2003) — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 15:34:00 +0000

Here I am. I haven't added a blog for almost an eternity and thought I would take the time this morning to get back into the blogging groove.

This month has been a total drag. I haven't had the energy to do anything at all, much less write, and feel ashamed of myself for that.

I did uncover some hard evidence that the Gabachos in Guanajuato have every intention to recreate another San Miguel de Allende here in Guanajuato. I suspected this years ago but never had anything substantial other than anecdotal evidence. I read a few days ago, on a Guanajuato forum, an outline of things these "Cultural Imperialists" want to get going here. They want another San Miguel and, I believe, are setting out to make Guanajuato into that imagine. A bilingual Mexican asked the question, and rightfully so, just what these people are going to do to get Mexicans involved in their re- engineering of Guanajuato's Mexican culture. I think she was being sarcastic.

Truly, Americans simply do not get it.

Another thing Americans simply do not get and I believe will never get, is that language is the key to the door of culture.

Why on earth would an American who really expatriated to any country and not learn the language I cannot begin to fathom. But it us what they do routinely.

My wife get scores of emails each month from Expat Wannabees who are selling hearth and home to move to Guanajuato and they don't speak a word of Spanish.

How do they do it?

They are coming in droves with not a thought in their willy-nilly heads that they will drive up the cost of living beyond imagination. To put it in the words of my pal, Roberto, "When they see the gabacho coming, they see American dollars, and the prices go up!"

Nor do they know that to get along in Guanajuato, that is, have a real life here, you have to know Spanish! Either they don't know it or they refuse to believe it.

San Miguel de Allende, according to one fakepat, is like living on a cruise ship with lots and lots of events--in English--scheduled. You never get bored.

In Guanajuato you have to live in the culture. That is, you have to be able to interact with the Mexicans in order to say you have a real life. Guanajuato is a thriving society only it is entirely in Spanish. The locals do not live to serve the gabacho.

A gringo in SMA wrote me once and said that for generations Mexican parents have taught their young in San Miguel that their existence is to serve the Americans. And, said this gringo, if they didn't like it they were welcome to live elsewhere.

The unmitigated arrogance!

The Twilight Zone moment I wanted to write about is that while there are some Americans who try to learn Spanish, most fail. They fail because they attempt to learn speech as though it was an academic pursuit.

It isn't!

Rather than engage in the process of second language acquisition and develop spoken fluency first, they take grammar courses. They learn something about the language but cannot speak enough to go to a Spanish only doctor when they are sick.

In becoming fluent in any language it is a "cart before the horse" issue. One leads to the other.

But, no matter how much I preach this in the highways and byways of Expat life, no one listens.

And, they remain monolingual.

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Check Out My New Travelogue and the Free Offer

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Guanajuato, Mexico - Darkside 2

noreply@blogger.com (Expat2003) — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 02:04:00 +0000

In Mexico,there are little to no animal cruelty laws, however, it has been suggested that animal cruelty laws are slowly being implemented. The country's current policy usually condemns physical harm to animals as property damage to the owners of the abused animal. The Law of Animal Protection of the Federal District is wide-ranging, based on banning 'unnecessary suffering.' Similar laws now exist in most states. However, this is disregarded by much of the public and authorities. - (Wikipedia)

Animal cruelty is evident in Guanajuato on a daily basis. Whenever one sees Guanajuatenses walking dogs you are bound to see just what I mean.

First of all, Guanajuatenses, as a whole, will turn their dogs loose on the street. Packs of dogs can be seen running the streets anytime night or day. The consequence of this, breeding on a massive scale, results in more and more puppies that grow up only to repeat the process some six months later.

If that wasn't bad enough, you can see roof dogs that are staked out on their owner's roofs sometimes with no water or food nor shade.

Puppies are abandoned routinely at garbage dumpsters or thrown into them as though they were cardboard boxes.

Those who have pets can be seen kicking them on the streets as we saw today.

A male child (future serial killer in the making) was chasing down two very tiny Chihuahuas, running to keep up with their owner, and kicking them if the dogs lagged behind. One puppy tried stopping to make pee-pee and the 8 year old kicked it viciously. The boy, now get this, was associated with the dog's owners.

The parents or caretakers see this happening and rarely do anything to stop the child.

Just a few minutes afterward, we saw at the bus stop where we were waiting, a child with a small puppy throwing it in the air as though it as a rag doll.

I would love to tell you that small kids are the only ones doing this but I would be lying. Last fall, we saw a twenty something young woman carrying a chihuahua on her back like it was a parrot perched on her shoulder. This 5´7 tall adult dropped the puppy where it promptly fell on its back.

The thing is, is that dogs and cats, companion pets, are treated badly here. The locals seem to think that these are pieces of cardboard, or whatever, that can be thrown away more easily than trash.

My poor wife is getting to the point where she can barely stand to be out in public. She will plug her ears and close her eyes when she sees small children given charge over some helpless puppy for the child to toss it around, hold it upside down by one leg, or kick it around for not keeping up.

This is truly one of the most hideous dark sides of Guanajuato.

Not all Mexicans, mind you, do this.

Our upstairs neighbor has a small, purebred dog. He never lets this dog run loose to breed anything that crosses its path, he always walks this dog on leash, he feeds it a high quality premium dog food, and has it impeccably trained. And, in fact, just this week he took in a stray to clean it up and try to find it a home. We chatted and he too is angered at his fellow Mexicans for their irresponsibility.

Can you guess what I will say as to my neighbor's place of birth?

Mexico City and NOT Guanajuato.

This is just one reason why I say Guanajuato is TERMINALLY PROVINCIAL!

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A Walk Through Mexico's Crown Jewel: A Guanajuato Travelogue

Guanajuato, Mexico - Again, NO AGUA!

noreply@blogger.com (Expat2003) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 21:34:00 +0000

The water is off again. The last time it was off, the end of June 2009, it was off for almost three days with the water company promising it would be on at the end of those three days.

This brings up an issue of Mexican culture. Mexicans tend to tell you anything they think you want to hear. Rarely, if ever, will they tell you they don't know something. Nor do you get the truth most of the time.

A good example is when tourists make hotel reservations. The American tourists routinely report in travel forums that they called the hotel, spoke with someone claiming to speak English, and was assured the room would be ready and the tourist would be welcomed with open arms upon arrival.

Well, upon arrival no one at said hotel has ever heard of them, from them, and there is "No Room at the Inn..."

The offended and Royally Pissed off American tourist will swear someone told them "uh-huh" at each and every junction of the hotel reservation process but there was no room or open arms waiting for them.

And, the American would be right -- They would have been told yes, yes, yes, yes we got it, and yet nothing!

It is absolutely comical to read through the travel and expat forums and see just how void Americans are regarding Mexico. To put it into the words of a Mexican pal who conducts tours for Americans, "They expect each and every thing to be just like the States."

Just the other day my wife, who is a destination expert for one of the online travel sites, received a private message from someone moving to Guanajuato and was asked how she could find housing. Now, get this, she is arriving in September and has not a clue how to find a house or apartment. She is actually closing down her life in America and moving to a place where finding a place to call her own is as foreign to her as can be.

Just what are people thinking?

Are they even thinking?

Just what will she tell the cab driver when she gets to Guanajuato from the airport in Silao? Drop me off at .......... ?

And the icing on the cake is that she doesn't speak enough words in Spanish to order a meal much less find an apartment.

I truly do not get this at all and furthermore never will.

My wife tells her, and the multitude like her, to check out San Miguel de Allende where she doesn't need to speak a word of Spanish.

Oh my, have I digressed?

So, the water is off, we are told we will have it on this afternoon, it is now afternoon! It is 4:50pm and counting.

Were we told the same ole Mexican Song and Dance by the lady at the water company?

¡Por Supesto Que Sí!

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A Walk Through Mexico's Crown Jewel: A Guanajuato Travelogue

GUANAJUATO - Escamoles (ant eggs) and other Mexican delicacies

noreply@blogger.com (Expat2003) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 20:57:00 +0000

By

Cindi Bower

###

The other day as I was flipping through the six channels we are able to receive in Guanajuato without cable, I saw an announcement for an upcoming cooking show on the educational channel. As I'm interested in Mexican cuisine and love watching cooking shows, I made a point to tune in. Was I in for a surprise! The subject of that day's program was "Insectos y salsas" (insects and sauces).

I knew that grasshoppers (chapulines), ants (hormigas) and ant eggs (escamoles) were just of few of the more exotic foods eaten by the Aztecs and Mayans from my research into Mexican cuisine. Before moving to Mexico six years ago, I happened to catch Anthony Bourdain's show, "A Cook's Tour," on the Food Channel. One of the episodes featured a trip to a restaurant in Tlaxcala where he tried escamoles and gusanos de maguey (worms that burrow into the maguey cactus).

Of the escamoles, he said, “They’re perfectly good, with a slightly aromatic, woody background, almost fungal.” (http://www.gourmet.com/magazine/2000s/2001/08/kitchen_cowboy). His driver, Martin, said the worms give men lots of power with the women and taste “Very special. They fry the worms golden brown and when you first bite in it’s crispy, like pork skin. Then you chew and…” (http://www.gourmet.com/magazine/2000s/2001/08/kitchen_cowboy).

A Mexican friend here in Guanajuato was telling me about a trip he and his family made to Mexico City. One of the foods they sampled were chapulines colorados, red grasshoppers. His five-year-old son described how they pinched the heads off, then chomped down the body, legs and all. He and his father claimed they were delicious, but his mother and sister could not bring themselves to try them. His sister said she wanted to vomit when she saw her brother and father eating grasshoppers with evident delight. They all drew the line at gusanos, though.

These descriptions did not make me want to sample any of these "delicacies," but I was interested in watching the show just to see how they were prepared. Also, I wanted to watch the cook sample the finished products so I could watch her face to see if she really enjoyed eating worms and bugs as appetizers. Alas, she merely presented the final results, but did not pop any into her mouth.

First, the chef demonstrated how to make various salsas…pico de gallo, verde, roja and guacamole. All looked simple to make and looked delicious. I'll be sharing recipes for these salsas in future Blog postings.

Then, she moved on to the protein part of the appetizers. She went to the local market to buy the gusanos and chapulines. However, the escamoles required a trip to a field of cactus plants with the farmer. He looked for ants, followed a line of them back to the nest at the base of a cactus plant, and dug up about two cups of ant eggs. After he stood up with his prize, he was covered with ants, which I've read viciously sting whoever or whatever disturbs the nest. He didn't act like the ants bothered him, though.

Back at the studio, the cook washed the dirt off the escamoles. She commented that sometimes one finds a few larvae mixed in with the eggs. Don't discard them, she said, as they are high in protein and quite delicious. Yeah, right I thought! Yuck!

She melted some butter in a skillet, added some chopped garlic, and cooked it until it was brown. She added the escamoles to the skillet and cooked for about a minute. She added a little epazote (a common herb used in Mexican cooking) and allowed the mixture to cool a bit. To serve, she spread some guacamole on a small, crisp corn tortilla about the size of Ritz cracker and topped it with a spoonful of the escamoles.

The gusanos de maguey and the chapulines colorados were fried in oil (in separate skillets) with a little chopped parsley until they were browned. The cook drained them on paper towels to remove the excess oil. She spread pico de gallo on one crispy tortilla round and topped it with a few of the fried gusanos. On another tortilla round, she spread a little salsa verde and topped it with a few fried chapulines.

To me, it was a waste of tortillas and salsa to top the appetizers with worms, ant eggs (and larvae!) and grasshoppers, but that's just me. Many people love these delicacies and rave about how wonderful they are.

I'll take their word for it, but no insect or worm or ant egg will ever enter my mouth by my hand. I'll eat grass or flowers or leaves first (of course, only after being carefully examined for creepy crawlies!).

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A Walk Through Mexico's Crown Jewel: A Guanajuato Travelogue

In GTO and In My Right Mind?

noreply@blogger.com (Expat2003) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 04:00:00 +0000

Ok, so I was in a bit of a temper when I wrote my last blog entry. I didn't really mean (or did I?) that all of Mexico is a Third World Country. In some ways it is very much a developing country but I would be hard pressed to say just how so, so don't ask.

The water is back on, the Internet people, after four months and thousands of complaints, finally showed up and fixed my online connection, and here I am writing once again of my unfailing love of living in Mexico.

I was talking to my dentist's wife (they are right across the callejon from us) about our water and internet woes and her response was to shrug her shoulders and say, "This is Mexico. What do you expect?" -- From the mouth of a Mexicana, I hope you take note.

We were in the Mega Super Store the other day. The roof was leaking from the rain. I might add that this has been happening, the rain leaks, from the very first rainy season this relatively new store found itself encountering. I want to also make the observation that these roof leaks seem to the very same ones from two years ago. I know this because you can see the round outline of the plastic garbage cans they put under the leaks the first time. Mexican craftsmanship, what can I say?

And, if you are wondering why they haven't fixed the very same "old" roof leaks that began two years ago, all I can do is echo the words of our Mexican neighbor, "This is Mexico. What do you expect?"

We are in the process of trying to cut costs here in Guanajuato. The prices for Gringos are rising at an unstoppable rate. Though there exists a worldwide financial crisis, Guanajuato vendors of everything from donuts to renting or buying a place to live, don't seem to think this applies to the Gabacho.

I don't what it is, exactly. I don't know if it is the unsophistication of this area of Provincial Mexico in which the locals think "Untold Riches Abounding" when they see the Gringo walking down the street or what?

Whatever it is, prices for a rental are insane!

Just the other day I read two descriptions of relatively small houses in GTO that were renting for $750 - $1,250 a month -- and that was in dollars and NOT pesos.

Gringos will pay it so why not? The thing is that it makes it virtually impossible for the rest of us to live.

There are places in central Mexico where three to four bedroom houses, unfurnished, rent for $70.00 dollars a month. I have no intention of telling you where that is because I wouldn't want to wish a San Miguelian Invasion on these towns. And besides, you would have to be fairly fluent in Spanish to live in these towns and we all know that for the majority of Gringos that is never going to happen.

Anyway, I feel a soapbox session coming on me so I'd best go!

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Don't forget to check out my new book, A WALK THROUGH MEXICO'S CROWN JEWEL: A GUANAJUATO TRAVELOGUE, on Amazon.com

Guanajuato: Water Rationing Hoedown Song

noreply@blogger.com (Expat2003) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:40:00 +0000

This is day three of going without running water in our house in what is definitely NOT a Developing Country but is ever bit a THIRD WORLD COUNTRY!!

We woke us up one morning
And much to our surprise
We had no running water
Just how will we survive?

Our landlady came by
And offered us the chance
To walk next door, strip off our clothes
Bathe in the yard and then
to do us a dance.

We're thinking of other options
Other things that we can do.
We thought of committing murder
But didn't to who.

We would like to tell you
And don't you take offense
That living in this Mexico
Can be really pretty tense.

No matter what you believe
No matter what they say
There is no way around this
There is no other way

When you move to GTO
You're taking a big chance
That there will be no water anywhere
To clean your dirty underpants

Guanajuato, Mexico - Dumping Culture

noreply@blogger.com (Expat2003) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:55:00 +0000

Culture can be a funny thing. Americans do not tend to know their own culture, much less someone else's, so it is a bit difficult for Americans to come to grips with the fact that not all you encounter in Guanajuato, or any where else for that matter, is a sweet expression of a wonderfully kind and patient people.

The word "culture" is most commonly used in three basic senses:

* the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution, organization or group.

* an integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behavior that depends upon the capacity for symbolic thought and social learning

* excellence of taste in the fine arts and humanities, also known as high culture

Culture is something that should be embraced and shared with the rest of the world, in my view. However, depending on whose culture it is, there are things within the culture that should indeed be embraced and made timeless, treasure it!

There are also things within culture that a society should very seriously consider eradicating from the face of the earth and never to be thought of again.

Guanajuato is a trash-dumping-where-ever-they-please culture.

At the beginning of June 2009, was the nationally celebrated "Let's all pitch in and clean up Mexico" day. Dressed in their cute little green smocks and with their green hats, volunteers swarmed into the Guanajuato river (cesspool) to pickup their fellow Mexican's garbage.

Admittedly, the river looked pretty decent when they got done. This valiant effort, by the precious few Mexicans in this country who are ecologically minded, allegedly took place all over Mexico.

Today, June 18, 2009, were you to come to my neighborhood in Guanajuato you would see little of the cleaning effort that took place at the beginning of the month.

It is as filthy as ever. The only thing I was unable to see was the discarded tire that sat in the brown mucky water for the past year.

Plastic pop bottles, plastic grocery store bags, shoes, complete bags of households of trash, toys, plastic plates, and God only knows whatever else, is in the river as it was before. The stench turned my stomach.

It was as though the litter thugs thought, "We'll show those neat-nicks and their ecology activism a thing or two," and just re-trashed the river to get even.

And, mind you, it isn't just children who throw their trash into the river when there are trash dumpsters no more than a crossing of the street to take advantage of! Children learn it from their parents and we've seen plenty adults dumping loads of garbage into the river or just on the street itself.

If success of anything is based on results, it does not take a genius to see what the: "the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution, organization or group" regarding trashing one's environment is in this city.

How Mexicans deal with their environment is a culture of dumping and it is a horror to the world.

It is grafted (infected) in their cultural mindset and does not look to be excised from their culture anytime soon.

Guanajuato, Mexico: Two Price System

noreply@blogger.com (Expat2003) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:09:00 +0000

"Many Mexican shopkeepers and others along the border treat Americans like suckers who deserve to be taken. They try to get as much out of them as possible because they presume they will never come back." (There's a Word for It in Mexico The Complete Guide to Mexican Thought and Culture; NTC Publishing Group, Lincolnwood, Illinois; Boyé Lafayette De Mente; 1996; Page 298)

I haven't visited this subject in a while and thought I would again. I recently had lunch with a gringo visiting from the States and this was one of his question: "Is there really a two-price system in Mexico in general and in Guanajuato specifically."

My answer to him was, of course, yes.

There is a two-price system that affects everything. We discovered this long ago in our personal experience and from stories from other gringos as well as Mexicans in town.

Where we live, the Mexicans pay about 100 dollars less for their apartment rent than we do. Our landlady was upfront about this citing that Americans use more water and electricity than Mexicans.

When our Spanish began improving, this was one of the hot topics I wanted to ask Mexicans in the city about for various articles I've written.

Our retired friend, Roberto, born and bred in Guanajuato, was particularly enlightening about this subject. I asked him, "Why does the price for anything in this town automatically increase when a Guanajuantense sees the gringo face coming?"

Roberto didn't hesitate a bit: "Dollars. They see American dollars and they want to charge as much as they can get out of the Rich Americans."

It is a cultural expectation (false stereotype) that all Americans are rich and can afford to pay more for whatever it is the Mexican is selling.

I might add that never once have I gotten any other response from the Mexicans I've asked this question. Roberto's reply is the universal answer.

Some Mexicans take offense at this notion that Americans are targeted. In fact a friend of ours said this regarding a forum post about this very subject:

I find that first statement really insulting to Mexicans. I have lots of "gringo" friends who live here in Mexico City and I don't think a single one of them has ever expressed this thought to me, or had this experience..........

This person is from Mexico City and perhaps the two-price system has faded into some kind of cultural obscurity. Who can say?

All one has to do, that is if you have Spanish fluency, is walk through a festival's food kiosks and listen to the vendors. My wife recently overheard a taco-selling woman talking with a lady friend sitting with her, telling her friend that she charged "that gabacho" three times more for the tacos than she did the Mexicans before him.

Mexicans here in Guanajuato, just like in the quote at the beginning of this blog, will assume you are a tourist, too stupid to know the difference, can't understand Spanish, and will never return. The same goes for just about any open market in this town. This makes it so hard for Spanish-speaking expats who live here and want to be treated on an equal playing field.

I have this taxi driver pal who told us that he charges English speaking gabachos twice the normal fare if they won't speak Spanish to him.

My poor wife would have to be on her toes constantly in the local markets to listen to what the vendor would charge the person ahead of her. When it came her turn, she would end up having to haggle with the vendor pointing out that he charged two to three times less to the Mexicans. He would, of course, deny this.

For this very reason we no longer shop at the Mercado Hidalgo. We go to the local markets in our barrio who know us and who do not rip us off. And, what we can't find in the barrio's markets, we go to the Super. It is sad, in my view.

I do not see this abating in the near future. What will happen is the more gringos who come for visiting or living, the higher and higher the prices will go. This is why you spend twice to four times more in San Miguel de Allende for a lunch than you would elsewhere. The Mexicans charge whatever the market will bear and the rich folks in San Miguel will gladly be taken for a ride, apparently, and pay more.

That's what's coming to Guanajuato.

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My newest book: A WALK THROUGH MEXICO'S CROWN JEWEL

A Walk Through Mexico's Crown Jewel Review

noreply@blogger.com (Expat2003) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 04:52:00 +0000

Guanajuato Understood!, June 11, 2009

By

S. Faulkner "ESLTeacher" (North Carolina, USA) -

If you have travel plans to Guanajuato, Mexico, are considering a visit to Guanajuato, or only dream of going there, this book is a must read. We recently completed a two week visit to Querétaro, Bernal, San Miguel de Allende, and Tlaquepaque/Guadalajara. Without a doubt, Guanajuato, while knock down gorgeous, was also the most intriguing stay on our trip. However, the city is, in my opinion, the most incredibly perplexing, confusing, and often frustrating destinations in all of Mexico. To make "sense" of Guanajuato, Mr. Bower's book is more than very handy; it is essential.

Before our visit, I read Mr. Bower's book twice. It's not that his writing is difficult to follow; in fact, his descriptions and organization are very straight forward. On the first read, I was so caught up with his wonderful, colorful descriptions and fall down laughing sense of humor, I failed to get my bearings for Guanajuato. On the second read, I concentrated on his very descriptive walking tour of the thirty something plazas/plazuelas of Guanajuato. (Guanajuato was not named a UNESCO World Heritage site by accident). By the way, Guanajuato has no "city block system". It is built on a dry river bed and creeps up the hills that surround it.

I'm now on my third read of Mr. Bower's book, comparing his vivid descriptions to the over 150 photos I shot in our four days in Guanajuato. Mr. Bower truly makes Guanajuato come alive!

Mr. Bower is an excellent, knowledgeable, and prolific author. I also highly recommend his other books about living and working in Mexico.

Finally, if you plan to visit Guanajuato, don't be part of the "deer in the headlights" crowd that "hang out " in the Jardín Unión. They are so confused about the city that they never venture far from this tourist spot. We saw many during our visit there. It was part very funny and, at the same time, kind of sad. Mr. Bower's book will give you step by step instructions to discover the true beauty and intrigue of Guanajuato.

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A WALK THROUGH MEXICO'S CROWN JEWEL...Click Here for More Info

Guanajuato, Mexico - Clever Eating

noreply@blogger.com (Expat2003) — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 20:12:00 +0000

Vegetarian Sloppy Joes

by

Cindi Bower

When I was growing up in Ohio, my mom served Sloppy Joes on a regular basis. On nights when she was late coming home from work or just didn't feel like making an elaborate meal, these were a quick, easy and filling choice. She usually added a packaged seasoning mix to tomato sauce and ground beef instead of making the mixture from scratch. When canned Sloppy Joe sauce came on the market, the meal was even easier…just brown ground beef, add the sauce, heat and serve. Quick, easy and delicious.

Making Sloppy Joes from scratch is not much more time-consuming than using a mix or canned sauce. To me, the sandwiches taste better made from scratch. Plus, you can modify the ingredients to suit your own family's tastes.

I used to make Sloppy Joes, usually from scratch, when we lived in the USA, but somehow never thought of making them here in Mexico until recently. I guess it was because it's such an American dish and not one you'd expect to find in Mexico.

Last week, I developed a craving for Sloppy Joes, but no longer remembered my favorite recipe. Though our local supermarkets carry some items imported from the USA, Sloppy Joe mix and canned Sloppy Joe sauce are not among them. Thanks to the Internet, I found a plethora of recipes. Some were very different from my tried-and-true recipe (though I want to try some of the more exotic-sounding variations), but I was able to approximate my old recipe.

Since we've modified our diet in the past months for health reasons, I substituted textured soy protein for the ground beef I used to use. My husband said he wouldn't have known he was eating soy if I hadn't told him. I think the soy protein has the texture and taste of ground meat, but does not have ground meat's greasiness.

We liked how this recipe turned out, but I'm going to play with it a bit and see if I can make some improvements. If I come up with a better version, I'll share it.

Recipe

Makes 8 sandwiches

14 ounces hot water
1 beef bouillon cube
2 cups textured soy protein
Cooking oil
3 – 4 cloves of garlic, diced
½ of a large onion, coarsely chopped
¼ of a green pepper, diced
1 cup tomato sauce
¼ cup catsup
Oregano, salt, and pepper to taste
8 hamburger buns

Dissolve the bouillon cube in the hot water; stir in the soy protein and set aside for about 5 minutes or until the water is absorbed.

Put a little oil in a skillet (I use just enough to coat the bottom…add more as you cook, if necessary) and put over medium heat. Sautee the garlic, onion and green pepper until soft. Add the rehydrated soy protein and cook until slightly browned. Add the tomato sauce, catsup and spices. Mix well and simmer over low heat for 10 minutes or until thickened.

Spoon the mixture into the buns. Serve with a tossed salad or raw vegetable sticks.

Enjoy!

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A Walk Through Mexico's Crown Jewel: A Guanajuato Travelogue

Guanajuato, Mexico: Fact or Fiction

noreply@blogger.com (Expat2003) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:32:00 +0000

I've written about this previously but two recent events have motivated me to revisit this issue:

Have you ever wondered why so much of the screed on Life in Mexico is so Ivory Tower that you can't read it for the blinding brilliance? And why are Americans here so gullible they fail to see the culture’s defects. Everything, no matter how objectionable, is "a beautiful native custom" and all Mexicans "are a beautiful people".

The most amazing phenomenon occurs when Gringos come to Guanajuato as tourist and especially as expats (Fakepats?). Any "street smarts" they have as the result of living in New York, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, Houston, or any other city in the States where crime is an issue (and what city in the States isn't crime ridden?), is left at the border and they engage in risky behaviors they wouldn't dream of doing in American cities.

They will walk the streets of Guanajuato at all hours of the night expecting that-- Everything, no matter how objectionable, is "a beautiful native custom" and all Mexicans "are a beautiful people"...

This is one of the most perplexing things to me and I cannot begin to understand it.

It is as though Americans specifically will come here and suddenly act like they've been transported to a mythical place where God Himself dwells and all the locals are God's servants who would never dare try to make you a crime victims much less even think about it.

A few months ago we met with a potential expat over lunch who actually said,

"Crime in Mexico is nothing like that in America."

This belief had her walking the streets of Guanajuato at risky hours of the night and early morning -- ALONE!

A few months later another American couple marveled at how they can walk the streets in the middle of the night without anyone "bothering them."

What is this mindset? Where does the idea originate that you can come to Mexico and act like you have arrived in Nirvana or Heaven on Earth where nothing but goodness, perfection, and the total absence of evil dwells? Where is the Gringo's Vacation Street Smarts?

What I am saying is that "something" seems to happen to the minds of Americans who would not be caught dead going to an ATM machine in the middle of the night in their home cities and yet they will do that here and even more stupid things.

We are personally acquainted with Americans, both tourists and expats, who have engaged in mindlessly risky behavior and have ended up beaten so badly that a trip to the hospital was required. Two of these events were sexual assaults. And, what were these Americans doing? They were walking the streets of Guanajuato at risky hours and walking along risky streets and callejons (alleys).

If you are internet savvy enough to ferret out these blogs, forums, and websites you will find some of the most ill-informed information. My absolute favorite is the one in which it is actually written that "Mexicans know how to treat their fellow man better..." While it may be true that "some" Mexicans know how to treat their fellow man better, it cannot be said to be true of "all" Mexicans without exception. And yet, this is exactly the impression I get from face to face encounters with Americans who seem the believe Mexico is really HEAVEN ON EARTH.

Let me just say this: Those Gringos who live here and who have sent me death threats for writing the truth about living in Mexico, have had ulterior motives. They've objected vehemently to be suggesting anything other than Mexico is the Promised Land of Milk and Honey.

It isn't that they have such a love for language and culture that they feel they must defend Mexico's reputation that they think I have maligned.

What it is, is that they have a real estate business or some other undocumented business in this country from which they are hauling in truck loads of money and don't want me upsetting their money-machine applecart. For a third-party perspective on this issue, Click Here.

The Ivory Tower Writers are biased and that should be taken into consideration when listening to their sales pitch.

These money grubbers will tell you anything (and they know what you want to hear) to get you to buy what it is they are selling. They will do so at the expense of truth itself and never lose any sleep over it -- ever!

Look, Mexico is a great place with serious problematic issues. It is like any other country on the face of the planet. It has some very excellent qualities and it has some problems. Some of these problems are more horrific than you can possibly imagine. For an example of the viciousness of Mexican crime, Click Here. It is fun place to vacation (and live) if, and only if, you take precautions and don't commit stupid acts of recklessness. Don't do in Mexico what you wouldn't do at home.

We are constantly getting emails asking how "safe it is" to vacation or live in Mexico. How can one begin to possibly answer that question? You need to be able to read Spanish and check out the online versions of their available news media. Don't listen to someone in a travel agency or a real estate money grubber who has a bias in trying to convince you it is Shangri-La.

Here are some resources. If you can't read Spanish then use one of the online translators to help you. Or, have a Spanish speaking friend translate for you!

Resources:

Guanajuato News
Guanajuato Television
It Happened in Mexico
CRIME IN GUANAJUATO
CRIME IN SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE

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A Walk Through Mexico's Crown Jewel: A Guanajuato Travelogue

Guanajuato, Mexico Food: Chayote

noreply@blogger.com (Expat2003) — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 18:38:00 +0000

Another vegetable with which we were unfamiliar upon our arrival in Guanajuato was the chayote (chah-YOH-teh). When we first saw it stacked at our local market, we thought it was a fruit because it looked like a green, wrinkled pear. The chayote belongs to the gourd family Cucurbitaceae, which includes squash, cucumber and melons. Interestingly, another name for the chayote is vegetable pear, so we weren't completely wrong when we thought at first it was a type of pear.

Most of the chayotes sold in Mexico are grown in the state of Veracruz, which exports them to the USA as well. Most of the rest of the world's chayotes come from Costa Rica.

Chayotes form a large part of the Central American diet and are quite popular in Mexico as well. They are about the size and shape of pear with a thin, wrinkled green peel, white flesh, and a single seed. Some people remove the peel and the seed before eating, but both are edible. The flesh is fairly bland and has a texture between that of potato and zucchini. It can be eaten raw or cooked.

Chayote is very versatile. In its raw form, it can be used in place of all or part of the potatoes in potato salad, added to tossed vegetable salads, or served alone with any dressing. It can be steamed, boiled, sautéed, or baked.

I use it in recipes that call for zucchini. Sometimes I use chayote instead of zucchini, but I often use a mixture of the two. I include chayote in salads, soups, stews, and meat dishes that include vegetables.

One of our favorite fish dishes calls for zucchini slices to be sautéed with onions, carrots, and tomatoes. The fish filets are placed on top of the sautéed vegetables, then covered with tomato sauce and cooked until the fish turns white and flakes easily with a fork. I usually add a diced chayote to the other vegetables. While chayote tastes similar to zucchini, it has a different, starchier texture that changes the dish a bit.

1 cup of chopped chayote has 25 calories, 2 grams of dietary fiber, and no fat. It also provides 17% of the RDA for Vitamin C and 31% of the RDA for folic acid (Vitamin B9). It is a good source of manganese, copper, and zinc.

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A Walk Through Mexico's Crown Jewel: A Guanajuato Travelogue

Guanajuato, Mexico - Cars, Blood Clots, Pollution

noreply@blogger.com (Expat2003) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 17:49:00 +0000

Studies in both humans and animals have shown that exposure to air pollution can affect heart rate, blood pressure, blood vessel function, blood clotting, and heart rate variability (a factor in developing heart rhythm disturbances), and speed the progression of atherosclerosis. -- Source

If you ask anyone, Mexican or Gabacho, what they think of the pollution problem in Guanajuato, a quick chuckle from the Mexican and a slap in the face from the Gabacho will likely be forthcoming.

To buttress their argument there will be a panoramic sweeping of their hand skyward and asking with a screech, "Do you see pollution in this lovely blue sky?"

Well, you won't see (not yet, but it's coming) an orange or brown haze floating over the city like you do in Leon or perhaps Mexico City.

What I am talking about are the dangerous particles from car exhaust that linger about waiting to infiltrate your children's lungs or your cardiovascular system to thicken your blood so that you develop massive blood clotting problems. Car exhaust will make your blood sticky causing clots!

The particles can drift for miles, and accumulate inside most buildings. Vehicles are the major source of the particles in urban air, particularly diesel engines.

During a period of high air pollution, people breathe in millions of these acidic particles which penetrate into the microscopic air sacs of the lungs. Scavenging white blood cells, known as macrophages, are "overwhelmed" by the particles. They release astream of chemicals that set off an inflammatory action in the lungs and increase the stickiness of the blood so it is more likely to clot.-- Source

To update you on my blood clots which were discovered in Feb. 2009, I ended up changing doctors. I wanted someone else with a more professional "feel" in helping me manage my blood clots and ongoing chronic health issues.

Speaking of the clots, they are fine and I am no longer in danger. They have dissolved. Good news, indeed.

However........and there is always a "however": The cause of the clots has been discovered by my new doctor. My blood, it would seem is too thick. It is thick like that of a heavy smoker. The doctor looked over the blood test results and the very first words that came out of her mouth was, "How much do you smoke?"

We had a hard time trying to convince her that not only have I never smoked, but that I was not breathing in Cindi's non-existent second hand smoke (She's never smoked). It must have taken the better part of about 15 minutes to convince her we don't smoke. And yet, the blood results show blood viscosity of someone who is a heavy smoker.

Why?

CAR EXHAUST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One of the reasons we moved to Mexico was the chance to ditch the car and walk. I thought we would be healthier for it. GTO, when we moved here, was largely still a pedestrian town. Now, to our dismay, it seems car ownership has increased exponentially. Everyone drives and we are walking in the bluish-black clouds of exhaust their car belches forth like evil dragons.

In GTO only about 20% of the streets are accessible by car. And yet, more and more people are buying cars. I truly do not get why someone would want to engage in an activity which makes them fat, destroys their children's lungs by destroying the air, and is possibly one of the biggest contributors to the increase of obesity and heart attack.#

When we moved here the obesity rate was about 15% of the population. Now it is more than 50% ---- and this has been in a six year time period. (I got these stats from a doctor friend in Gto).

Because of the topography of this town, car exhaust does not escape very well at all. In fact, it remains at ground level for hours, soaks your clothing and hair, permeates your pet's fur, and can linger in houses and buildings for hours if not days. It is not the color of the exhaust that lingers, it is what you can't see--the particles...and that will kill you!

"In another study, Lung Chi Chen, of the New York University School of Medicine, reported research where he exposed one group of mice to second-hand cigarette smoke equivalent to passively smoking three or four cigarettes a day and a second group to the fine particles present in air pollution, in concentrations similar to a big city. He found that both particles and smoke produced around the same amount of change in the hardening of the arteries, which can lead to heart attacks."

Researchers estimate that one in every 50 heart attacks in London are triggered by air pollution.

Need I say more?

I don't know what we can do.

One solution is to move away from where we live now. Senselessly, cars come in and out of this Privada ( a private street) like it is a major highway. They will stop right in front of our windows, and our house is right on the street, and idle their cars until we starting walking in circles and talking to spots on the walls. There is a dentist's office and an insurance business on our street. Their clients will leave their cars idling in front of our windows while they go into these places and pay their bills or maybe they are exchanging tips on better oral hygiene and saving money on insurance premiums -- who can say?

Regardless, I am convinced that the survey/study conducted in Mexico City a few years ago applies to Guanajuato.

The major reason for car ownership in this city is NOT because they are needed. It is for status.

I will keep you informed............