Have you ever thought about retiring in Mexico? How about retiring in one of its many lovely retirement havens? Dru Pearson, the author of this report, tells us that there are five major areas where American and Canadian retirees tend to congregate. While there may be a few expatriates scattered in a dozen villages throughout Mexico, most Americans and Canadians settle in one of five locations: San Miguel de Allende, Mazatlan, Oaxaca, Guadalajara, or Lake Chapala. Dru Pearson visited all these areas before settling in Lake Chapala. Dru gives sound and thoughtful advice on retirement in Mexico. Everything from how to pick your location to Mexican paperwork is covered. If you’ve ever considered retirement in Mexico please read this report first. It has the information that would otherwise take you months of frustration to acquire.

But why Mexico, you might ask? The reason so many Americans and Canadians choose Mexico is because they can drive to Mexico in a car. A bigger reason is that Mexico is a bargain compared to the USA and Canada. But there are also a large number of Europeans in Mexico. Mexico is rich with history, steeped in culture, having perhaps a more pronounced culture than any other nation in latin America with the exception of Brazil and Argentina. Mexico has great food, great architecture and many areas with an excellent climate. Mexico is also modern, with better highways than many parts of latin America and an infrastructure that allows foreigners to connect via telephone and internet to the rest of the world. This level of infrastructure isn’t available in Nicaragua, nor in Guatemala, and this is a very important determining factor for the retiree who doesn’t want to be inconvenienced by inconveniences.

Mexico is also a healthier place to live because of the food. Fresh fruit and vegetables are always in season and taste so much better in Mexico that you eat more of them. In fact, unlike North American produce that is picked green and allowed to ripen in transit, Mexican produce is picked at its peak and sold in the market the very next day. And little or no preservatives are used in processed food which means you´re ingesting fewer chemicals.

You will find that life is so much more enjoyable because you finally have time to pursue your hobbies and develop your talents. People who move to Mexico finally have time to prepare the recipes they´ve been saving from gourmet magazines, put the box of photographs into albums, or garden to their hearts´ content in this land where flowers grow all year long. Others develop new interests and discover latent talents when they take a ceramics or watercolor class. There are also innumerable opportunities for volunteer work. Where the author lives in Ajijic, the expatriates maintain a school teaching English and computer skills, manage the only library in town for Mexicans, run a housing facility for the elderly, and assist children who were born with handicaps.

Retire In Mexico Live Better For Less Money

For people who love to socialize, there´s probably no better place in the world to make friends. People who don´t work have more time to party! But, even more than that, expatriates, because of their adventurous natures, seem more gregarious than their American/Canadian counterparts. Then, too, expatriates find themselves thrown into a world where they must cooperate and share information in order to survive.

There´s less stress here, too. If you can adjust to the manana attitude and remember that manana doesn´t necessarily mean tomorrow, it just means not today, you will realize that everything will eventually get done that needs doing and with far less frustration. Rather than worrying, go to the plaza, sit on a bench, and watch village life pass before your eyes. You will see a family out for a stroll, a little boy riding on his father´s shoulders while Mom buys her daughter a balloon, you´ll notice the teenage girls going one direction in the plaza while the boys pass the other way, all of them casting furtive glances at the ones they like, and you´ll see old friends who will sit down with you for a chat because they´re in the plaza doing the same thing you´re doing – enjoying life!

Retire In Mexico Live Better For Less Money

Table Of Contents

Part 1- Decisions

· Decision to Retire Early

· Choosing Mexico

Part 2 – Will You Be Happy in Mexico?

· Climate

· Affordable Luxuries

· Healthier Environment

· Never a Dull Moment

· Holidays Celebrated Mexico-Style

· Assisted Living Facilities Excellent and Inexpensive

· Fascinating Places to Visit

· Misconceptions About Mexicans  

Part 3 – Aspects that Might Take Adjustment Time

· Mexico Seldom Quiet

· Dogs, Dogs, Everywhere

· Cobblestone Streets and Parking

· Scorpions

· Armed Guards

Part 4 – Location Possibilities

· Mazatlan – Pacific Coast Beach Town

· Puerto Vallarta – Pacific Coast Beach Town

· Baja – The Desert with an Ocean

· Guadalajara – Second Largest City in Mexico

· San Miguel de Allende – Colonial Charmer

· Oaxaca – Southern Mexico

· Ajijic-Lake Chapala – Largest Lake in Mexico

Part 5 – Choosing Your Location

· Getting Around by Taxi and Bus

· Women Traveling Solo

· Finding Accommodations

· Items to Tuck in Your Suitcase

· How to Handle Money

· Where to Get Information

Part 6 – Learning More About Mexico

· Annotated List of 26 Websites

Part 7 – Mexican Paperwork

· Tourist Visa

· FM-3

· FM-3 Application Process

· FM-3 Renewal Process

· Car Insurance

· License Plate Confusion

· Banking

· Necessary Papers for Crossing the Border.

Part 8 – Packing

· What to Pack

· Packing Dos and Don´ts

· Preparing the Menaje de Casa

· What to Expect at the Border

Part 9 – Crossing the Border

· Advance Preparations

· Map Assistance

· Border Crossing Points – Hours of Operation

· Three Steps to Get Across

Part 10 – Driving in Mexico

· Driving Suggestions

· Kilometers vs. Miles

· Don´t Drive at Night

· Buying Gas

· Mordidas/Bribes

· Accident Protocol  

Part 11 – Choosing a Rental

· Real Estate Agents

· Word of Mouth

· Village or Country Life

· Lease – Important Questions to Ask

· Before You Move In

· My Renting History

· Other Options

· Pros and Cons of Buying Real Estate

Part 12 – Settling In

· Domestic Help

· How to Find a Housekeeper or Gardener

· Instructing Your Maid

· Sample Housekeeper´s Workload

· Necessary Cleaning Supplies

· A Few Precautions

· My Cost of Living Figures

· Internet Sites for Cost of Living Examples

· Internet Sites for Rentals in Mexico.

Part 13 – Ways to Save Money

· Handling the Mail

· Fresh Produce Bargains

· Finding Fresh Bread and Rolls

· Where to Go for Meat and Poultry

· Cleaning Supplies

· Building Supplies

· Saving on Utility Costs

· Don´t Drink the Water

· Medical Insurance

· Dental Care

· House Insurance

· Security Concerns

· Internet Service

· Cable, Satellite and Star Choice Television

· Automobile Costs

· Personal Care Luxuries

Part 14 – Quality of Life

· Personal Narratives

· ” Perpetual Spring ” Climate

· Freshest Food

· Time for Hobbies

· Less Stress

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Comments on this article by Trans Caribbean Trust  Real Estate: if you are this deep into our site, you know that we represent coastal real estate in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.  We specialize in three niches: Costa Maya below the Riviera Maya, Cozumel, and the Sunset Beach stretch northwest of Merida.  Our prime real estate listings consist of beachfront and ocean-view properties; however we also have some inland estates on Cozumel Island starting at ten acres for $185,000 and we have some suburban lots between the Merida beltway and the Gulf Coast of the Yucatan where Sunset Beach and Sunset Shores are located.  The contents of the book outlined in this article will certainly be helpful to anyone considering moving to Mexico. Baby-boomers, expats, and soon-to-be retirees from around the world interested in a new life in the Caribbean come to us for advice on investing in beachfront real estate as a foreigner.  Contact us today to set an appointment to see our Caribbean beach lots and ocean-view properties in Mexico’s warm and wonderful Yucatan Peninsula.

Most people think of piñatas as a fun activity for parties. The history of the piñata reveals many interesting facts that go beyond the playing of a game, although piñatas certainly have been intended for fun.

Piñatas may have originated in China. Marco Polo discovered the Chinese fashioning figures of cows, oxen or buffaloes, covered with colored paper and adorned with harnesses and trappings. Special colors traditionally greeted the New Year. When the mandarins knocked the figure hard with sticks of various colors, seeds spilled forth. After burning the remains, people gathered the ashes for good luck throughout the year.

When this custom passed into Europe in the 14th century, it adapted to the celebrations of Lent. The first Sunday became ‘Piñata Sunday’. The Italian word ‘pignatta’ means “fragile pot.” Originally, piñatas fashioned without a base resembled clay containers for carrying water. Some say this is the origin of the traditional pineapple shape. Also the Latin prefix ‘piña’ implies a cluster of flowers or fruits as in ‘pineapples’ and ‘pine cones’.

When the custom spread to Spain, the first Sunday in Lent became a fiesta called the ‘Dance of the Piñata’. The Spanish used a clay container called la olla, the Spanish word for pot. At first, la olla was not decorated. Later, ribbons, tinsel and fringed paper were added and wrapped around the pot.

At the beginning of the 16th century the Spanish missionaries to North America used the piñata to attract converts to their ceremonies. However indigenous peoples already had a similar tradition. To celebrate the birthday of the Aztec god of war, Huitzilopochtli, priests placed a clay pot on a pole in the temple at year’s end. Colorful feathers adorned the richly decorated pot, filled with tiny treasures.. When broken with a stick or club, the treasures fell to the feet of the god’s image as an offering. The Mayans, great lovers of sport played a game where the player’s eyes were covered while hitting a clay pot suspended by string. The missionaries ingeniously transformed these games for religious instruction. They covered the traditional pot with colored paper, giving it an extraordinary, perhaps fearful appearance.

The decorated clay pot also called a cantero represents Satan who often wears an attractive mask to attract humanity. The most traditional style piñata looks a bit like Sputnik, with seven points, each with streamers. These cones represent the seven deadly sins, pecados - greed, gluttony, sloth, pride, envy, wrath and lust. Beautiful and bright, the piñata tempted. Candies and fruits inside represented the cantaros (temptations)of wealth and earthly pleasures.

Thus, the piñata reflected three theological virtues in the catequismo. (religious instruction or catechism)

The blindfolded participant represents the leading force in defying evil, ‘Fe’, faith, which must be blind. People gathered near the player and spun him around to confuse his sense of space. Sometimes the turns numbered thirty three in memory of the life of Christ. The voices of others cry out guidance:

¡Más arriba! More upwards!
¡Abajo! Lower!
¡Enfrente! In front!

Some call out engaños (deceits, or false directions) to disorient the hitter.

Secondly the piñata served as a symbol of ‘Esperanza’, Hope.

With the piñata hanging above their heads, people watched towards los cielos (sky or heaven) yearning and waiting for the prize. The stick for breaking the piñata symbolized virtue, as only good can overcome evil. Once broken, the candies and fruits represented the just reward for keeping faith.

Finally the piñata symbolized ‘Caridad’, Charity. With its eventual breaking, everyone shared in the divine blessings and gifts.

The moral of the piñata: all are justified through faith.

Today, the piñata has lost its religious symbolism and most participate in the game solely for fun. Piñatas are especially popular during Las Posadas, traditional processions ringing in the Christmas season and at birthday parties. During festivities, people traditionally sing songs while breaking the piñatas.

“Dale, dale, dale, no perdas el tino,
porque si lo perdes, pierdes el camino.
Esta piñata es de muchas mañas, sólo contiene naranjas y cañas.”

Hit, hit, hit.
Don’t lose your aim,
Because if you lose, you lose the road.
This piñata is much manna, only contains oranges and sugar cane.”

Another popular song for hitting the piñata is rooted in the year 1557 when dignitaries of Felipe II toured towns in New Spain. While exacting pledges of allegiance, coins of nickel were offered for coins of silver. This failed to please the people so as they break piñatas during las posadas, they sing:

“No quiero níquel ni quiero plata:
yo lo que quiero es romper la piñata.”
“I don’t want nickel/I don’t want silver
I only want to break the piñata…”

Piñatas can be found in all shapes and sizes. Modern ones often represent cartoon or other characters known to most children. Others are shaped like fruits, baskets, rockets etc. Sometimes people of political statue are satirized. At Christmas, star-shaped piñatas suggestive of the Star of Bethlehem are especially popular. One’s imagination is the creative limit.

Traditionally, piñatas are filled with both candies and fruits. Around Christmas in Mexico, wrapped candies, peanuts, guavas, oranges, jicamas(a sweet root vegetable), sugar cane, and tejocotes (a kind of crab apple) stuff piñatas. Some types of piñatas called traps, are stuffed with flour, confetti or ‘flowery water’. Any child without a treat after the goodies are gathered from the ground is given a little basket full of special candy. These colaciónes are kept on hand to avoid hurt feelings and tears. The rest of the treats are passed around to everyone before the party is over.

Towns of potters once existed to fashion ‘ ollas piñateras’, bare clay pots sold in the mercado. (market) People took them home and pasted their own colored paper to them. Cardboard and paper maché often fashioned over balloons has replaced ‘ la olla’ in many modern piñatas.

The piñata’s versatility contributes to its perennial popularity. Fashioned from a long tradition the joyous piñata continues to enchant celebrations and parties around the world.

In Mexico you will hear parents and children singing this special Piñata song.

“Dale, dale, dale, no pierdas el tino,
porque si lo pierdes, pierdes el camino.
Esta piñata es de muchas mañas, sólo contiene naranjas y cañas.”
La piñata tiene caca,
Tiene caca:
Cacahuates de a montón.
Esta piñata es de muchas mañas,
Sólo contiene naranjas y cañas.
No quiero oro, ni quiero plata,
Yo lo que quiero es romper la piñata.
Ándale Juana, no te dilates
Con la canasta de los cacahuates.
Anda María, sal del rincón
Con la canasta de la colación.
En esta posada nos hemos chasqueado
Porque Teresita nada nos ha dado.
Echen confites y canelones,
a los muchachos que son muy tragones.
Todos los muchachos rezaron con devoción,
De chochos y confites les dan ya su ración.
Castaña asada, piña cubierta;
Echen a palos a los de la puerta.
Ándale Juan, sal de la hornilla
Con la botella de la manzanilla.
De los cerritos y los cerrotes,
Saltan y brincan los tejocotes.
Andale niña, sal otra vez
Con la botella del vino jerez.
Esta posada le tocó a Carmela:
si no da nada le saco una muela.

Piñata Images Copyright © 1999 Maria Elena.
All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Real Estate in Playa del Carmen – Playa del Carmen, Mexico is a strong growing property investment market in Mexico. More and more companies are setting up their operations in Playa del Carmen. This points out to a fact that the business is growing and US’s financial difficulties are not affecting Playa del Carmen’s property market.

The consumer confidence is also high as we can see new mall like the Mall of America coming up. Many others like Price club, Sorania grocery store, Cineplex and hospitals are coming up to cater the big rush of people opting Playa del Carmen as their second home and also the booming tourism industry.

Playa del Carmen Real Estate is still now a buyers market. There are more buyers looking for property in a Playa del Carmen and surrounding areas like Puerto Aventuras, Puerto Morelos, Tulum, Majahual, and Cancun . That means Riviera Mayan Condominiums – Real Estate trends point out to demand exceeding supply. Big players like Grand Coral, The Fives, Banayan Tree Mayakoba are developing luxury properties in Playa del Carmen and Maya Riviera. Clearly, the real estate market is thriving with clients coming in droves to book their dream home, Condominiums and Villas in Playa del Carmen.

More and more, US citizens are Buying Property in Playa del Carmen because of cheaper prices as compared to US and ease of financing options available. Another important factor in driving the growth of Playa del Carmen Real Estate market is the excellent rental returns and great resale value of playa del Carmen property. It’s not uncommon to hear about real estate investors buying pre-construction properties and making handsome profits. Many excellent projects in pre-construction stage are on offering in Playa del Carmen and they are selling like hot cakes. The options are many… you can buy a full developed Playa del Carmen condominium or a pre-construction real estate holding, profits and peace of mind are sure.

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com

Comments on this article by Trans Caribbean Trust  Real Estate: as a reader of our site articles, you know that we represent coastal real estate in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.  We specialize in three niches: Costa Maya below the Riviera Maya, Cozumel, and the Sunset Beach stretch northwest of Merida.  Our prime real estate listings consist of beachfront and ocean-view properties; however we also have some inland estates on Cozumel Island starting at ten acres for $185,000, and we have some suburban lots between the Merida beltway and the Gulf Coast of the Yucatan where Sunset Beach and Sunset Shores are located.  Baby-boomers, expats, and soon-to-be retirees from around the world interested in a new life in the Caribbean come to us for advice on investing in beachfront real estate as a foreigner.  This article covers many of the reasons our clients are looking at real estate here.  Contact us today to set an appointment to see our Caribbean beach lots and ocean-view properties in Mexico’s warm and wonderful Yucatan Peninsula.