Well, here I am back in Playa, I arrived about 10pm last night and was happy to unlock the door to my lovely home. I'm now busy unpacking all my new goodies, and working out where to hang the tryptich of canvases I brought home. Although I was 1.5kg over my 15kg baggage allowance, they kindly let me move some things to my hand luggage and I got home without paying anything extra. Now that's great because it would have cost me almost $100 to send just the canvases by road.
On the plane on the way home I was reading in the International Living magazine how different people fund their retirement, either by setting up businesses or "portable" jobs like writing, photography and copywriting, and thinking about ways I could do the same.
This morning I got a phone call from my banker at Bancomer, asking me to become a partner with the bank by writing articles for their newsletter. I had shown Sandra the article I wrote in this blog about the bank when I opened my account. She showed it to someone else and they were obviously impressed.
This phone call came out of the blue, but could be the start of something interesting. She says they won't pay me in cash (I guess that would be paying for referrals) but may organise other benefits. For me, it's an opportunity to get my writing out there, and maybe that will lead to something else, who knows?
The only small catch is that the deadline is today at 4pm (she phoned at 11.30!) so I need to get my thinking cap on, and my fingers skimming along the keyboard FAST!
I am reminded once again how powerful are our thoughts, and how if we focus on something we want for our lives, in one way or another opportunities come our way and we need to be ready to take hold and follow them. Stay tuned for my new career....
Friday, April 29, 2011
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
The currency of chocolate
I've been reading about the history of chocolate. Did you know the cacao tree only grows within 10' north and south of the equator? It is believed the tree originated in the Amazon, but it wasn't until it reached Mexico that is was cultivated as a crop. According to the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City, it was first cultivated over 3000 years ago by the Olmecs.
The beans were so highly prized by the Maya and Aztecs that they were used as a form of currency with a fixed monetary value. So you could buy a tamale for one bean, a rabbit for 10 or a slave for 100, or barter for the services of a prostitute for the evening with 8-10 beans! Interesting that a rabbit is worth more.....
So it seems, money CAN actually grow on trees!
Apparently over the last 6 years, the price of cocoa has doubled and a recent study suggested that in 20 years a $1 chocolate bar will cost $7 and will be like caviar, it will become so rare and expensive that many people won't be able to afford it. This is because native African farmers are turning their backs on such a demanding and labour-intensive crop in favour of palm oil which can be used as a biofuel.
Maybe cocoa might be a good investment for the future?
The beans were so highly prized by the Maya and Aztecs that they were used as a form of currency with a fixed monetary value. So you could buy a tamale for one bean, a rabbit for 10 or a slave for 100, or barter for the services of a prostitute for the evening with 8-10 beans! Interesting that a rabbit is worth more.....
So it seems, money CAN actually grow on trees!
Apparently over the last 6 years, the price of cocoa has doubled and a recent study suggested that in 20 years a $1 chocolate bar will cost $7 and will be like caviar, it will become so rare and expensive that many people won't be able to afford it. This is because native African farmers are turning their backs on such a demanding and labour-intensive crop in favour of palm oil which can be used as a biofuel.
Maybe cocoa might be a good investment for the future?
Saturday, April 23, 2011
I'm on holidays! And I have a new travel blog, details here
Please visit my new travel blog entitled Playa Princess Goes Travelling
http://travelswithplayaprincess.blogspot.com/
I'm currently in San Miguel de Allende for the Easter Week celebrations, and to check out the place I've heard so much about. It has a very large expat community, mainly artists, writers and musicians, and I was told I'd hear more English spoken than Spanish (it hasn't been the case, Thank God, so far).
Enjoy!
http://travelswithplayaprincess.blogspot.com/
http://travelswithplayaprincess.blogspot.com/
I'm currently in San Miguel de Allende for the Easter Week celebrations, and to check out the place I've heard so much about. It has a very large expat community, mainly artists, writers and musicians, and I was told I'd hear more English spoken than Spanish (it hasn't been the case, Thank God, so far).
Enjoy!
http://travelswithplayaprincess.blogspot.com/
Monday, April 18, 2011
Condo repairs Soap Opera
I can't really say that things are going well with the condo repairs. After spending several days searching for tiles I liked, nothing seems to be happening.
Eliseo the builder seemed to get more and more strange as the days went on. He didn't seem to be able to tell me when he would come to my place to start work, so as per Murphy's Law, every time I went out, he'd arrive and phone me to ask why I wasn't there. I'd wait home for hours or days, sometimes he'd come late in the afternoon and complain that he wasn't getting the money he needed to buy materials.
Then the begging started - could I just lend him 100 pesos for x or x? Then the complaints - "I'm hungry, I have no money for food". The phone calls stopped because he had no phone credit. But every day he'd turn up eventually, but didn't get started. I had bought some bathroom towel rails and door stoppers, he had to borrow a drill but eventually he managed to get them fitted. I think I could have done it myself faster if I'd known who to borrow the drill from. What kind of a builder doesn't have a drill?
The last time I saw him was Friday afternoon, he arrived with a shopping bag filled with brushes, rollers and drop sheets, and a can of paint. He brought them in, whined about how hot it was, then demanded "Agua". "Por favor" I added, although I don't think he got it. He wanted money to buy something else, when I refused saying that it wasn't up to me to buy the materials, he left to see the RE agent again.
He returned several hours later and whined some more about how he didn't get his money. By this time I had a headache and was really over him, so I told him that he needed to get things sorted out, and not to come back until he had. And that he needed to treat me with respect or I'd have someone else do the work.
At that, he picked out a brush, opened the tin and started painting the timber railing. I couldn't work it out, so I just went back to my book. But the peace didn't last long. Within 20 minutes he was closing the tin and telling me that he couldn't work because he was so hungry his stomach hurt, he was going home. I asked what about the 9 eggs I gave you yesterday? No, they are gone and now I'm starving. I reckon if I'd eaten 9 eggs I'd be full for a week. but I wasn't about to argue and let him go. After he left I checked the railings; he had painted the fronts but not the sides of the rails. A very half-hearted job, and he hadn't cleaned the brush so I think it's probably ruined.
The next day the RE agent called in to see me. He explained that he was a good worker but he has "some problems". Yeah, like I kinda guessed that! He said he'd sort it out and get the work started again.
So now it's Monday 1pm. No sign of anyone, no phone calls. I'm not sure whether to stay at home or not. Maybe I should just go out, he'll be sure to turn up then!
Eliseo the builder seemed to get more and more strange as the days went on. He didn't seem to be able to tell me when he would come to my place to start work, so as per Murphy's Law, every time I went out, he'd arrive and phone me to ask why I wasn't there. I'd wait home for hours or days, sometimes he'd come late in the afternoon and complain that he wasn't getting the money he needed to buy materials.
Then the begging started - could I just lend him 100 pesos for x or x? Then the complaints - "I'm hungry, I have no money for food". The phone calls stopped because he had no phone credit. But every day he'd turn up eventually, but didn't get started. I had bought some bathroom towel rails and door stoppers, he had to borrow a drill but eventually he managed to get them fitted. I think I could have done it myself faster if I'd known who to borrow the drill from. What kind of a builder doesn't have a drill?
The last time I saw him was Friday afternoon, he arrived with a shopping bag filled with brushes, rollers and drop sheets, and a can of paint. He brought them in, whined about how hot it was, then demanded "Agua". "Por favor" I added, although I don't think he got it. He wanted money to buy something else, when I refused saying that it wasn't up to me to buy the materials, he left to see the RE agent again.
He returned several hours later and whined some more about how he didn't get his money. By this time I had a headache and was really over him, so I told him that he needed to get things sorted out, and not to come back until he had. And that he needed to treat me with respect or I'd have someone else do the work.
At that, he picked out a brush, opened the tin and started painting the timber railing. I couldn't work it out, so I just went back to my book. But the peace didn't last long. Within 20 minutes he was closing the tin and telling me that he couldn't work because he was so hungry his stomach hurt, he was going home. I asked what about the 9 eggs I gave you yesterday? No, they are gone and now I'm starving. I reckon if I'd eaten 9 eggs I'd be full for a week. but I wasn't about to argue and let him go. After he left I checked the railings; he had painted the fronts but not the sides of the rails. A very half-hearted job, and he hadn't cleaned the brush so I think it's probably ruined.
The next day the RE agent called in to see me. He explained that he was a good worker but he has "some problems". Yeah, like I kinda guessed that! He said he'd sort it out and get the work started again.
So now it's Monday 1pm. No sign of anyone, no phone calls. I'm not sure whether to stay at home or not. Maybe I should just go out, he'll be sure to turn up then!
VIP Movie Pass
I have just joined the Special Guest club at my local cinema (and wish I'd done it sooner! All those points I could have accumulated)
Talk about a great deal! It cost me 35 pesos which is the same as a movie ticket, but wait for it..... you actually get 1 free ticket included! So in effect the card cost me nothing. Now for every movie I see or anything I buy at the candy bar or coffee shop, I get 5% of the value in points.
Of course when you're only paying 35 pesos to see a movie I only get 1.75 points each time so it will take me 20 movies to get a freebie. That's OK, the card cost me nothing anyway so whatever I get is a bonus.
I usually go to the movies every week if there is anything worth seeing, and at $3, the level of "worth seeing" can be somewhat lower. I've been going on a Sunday because the Mobile Library is only open on Sunday afternoons, so I exchange my books, visit the shops, have a coffee and donut, then see a movie. I do have to use my free pass Monday-Thursday which is fine, Plaza Maya is only a few minutes in the bus and the coffee and donut deal for 16 pesos is the cheapest around.
Unfortunately I missed 127 hours which I really wanted to see, I can't believe it only lasted a week here. For this week I'm considering Matt Damon's The Adjustment Bureau - any thoughts?
Talk about a great deal! It cost me 35 pesos which is the same as a movie ticket, but wait for it..... you actually get 1 free ticket included! So in effect the card cost me nothing. Now for every movie I see or anything I buy at the candy bar or coffee shop, I get 5% of the value in points.
Of course when you're only paying 35 pesos to see a movie I only get 1.75 points each time so it will take me 20 movies to get a freebie. That's OK, the card cost me nothing anyway so whatever I get is a bonus.
I usually go to the movies every week if there is anything worth seeing, and at $3, the level of "worth seeing" can be somewhat lower. I've been going on a Sunday because the Mobile Library is only open on Sunday afternoons, so I exchange my books, visit the shops, have a coffee and donut, then see a movie. I do have to use my free pass Monday-Thursday which is fine, Plaza Maya is only a few minutes in the bus and the coffee and donut deal for 16 pesos is the cheapest around.
Unfortunately I missed 127 hours which I really wanted to see, I can't believe it only lasted a week here. For this week I'm considering Matt Damon's The Adjustment Bureau - any thoughts?
Thursday, April 14, 2011
M&M fund
I've just been reading an article about someone who has retired overseas and found ways to earn money to supplement her other income. She calls it her M&M money - money for Now I just looovvvve that concept.
It can be a portable job like proofreading, selling travel articles or photographs, or bringing back saleable items from your holiday to re-sell at a market at home. Actually I think that might be a great idea for somewhere like Mexico where you can pick up all sorts of handmade items at very reasonable prices. As long as you stay within the customs import rules, you're fine.
So I'm going to start investigating my own M&M fund. Since the margaritas are only $2 each and massages 2 for $36, I'm not really going to need a whole lot, and I reckon it's definitely achievable.
MARGARITAS AND MASSAGES!
It can be a portable job like proofreading, selling travel articles or photographs, or bringing back saleable items from your holiday to re-sell at a market at home. Actually I think that might be a great idea for somewhere like Mexico where you can pick up all sorts of handmade items at very reasonable prices. As long as you stay within the customs import rules, you're fine.
So I'm going to start investigating my own M&M fund. Since the margaritas are only $2 each and massages 2 for $36, I'm not really going to need a whole lot, and I reckon it's definitely achievable.
Library Books Online
I have recently discovered that I can download books from my library back on the Gold Coast, and read them on my laptop here - what a wonderful idea! I'm currently reading Angels and Demons. They take less than a minute to download, and the GCCC library has lots of titles including many by one of my favourite authors Donna Leon. She writes detective fiction based in Venice, and her characterisation of Inspector Brunetti is excellent - I can just picture him as he wanders the winding calles, stops for a coffee in his local bar, and eats lunch with his family (don't those meals sound delicious too).
It's great to know that wherever I am, I won't be without reading material. Once the book is downloaded, you don't need the internet to read it, so it's perfect for travelling.
It's great to know that wherever I am, I won't be without reading material. Once the book is downloaded, you don't need the internet to read it, so it's perfect for travelling.
My first little trip
I've been busy organising my first small trip away. Next Wednesday I'm off to San Miguel de Allende, best known as an artist and writer's heaven. First I fly to Mexico City and from there catch a bus north-west; the bus leaves from the airport which is a real bonus. It's about a 4hr trip by bus, I believe. This is San Miguel, looks pretty nice doesn't it?
It's cooler in San Miguel, and in fact I believe it gets quite cold in winter. For now, it will be pleasant to be cool and not have the humidity.
One of the main reasons I'm going next week is that it's Semana Santa - Holy Week, and from all accounts, San Miguel has some pretty amazing celebrations & parades, which I'm looking forward to seeing and maybe even taking part in.
I will be renting a little casita for about $200 a week, in fact the whole trip should cost me only about $500. If my condo ends up being rented out it will cost me nothing, better still!
Eliseo has installed a lock on one of my wardrobe doors, so I can put all my stuff inside and lock it. It's not like I will be leaving anything valuable, but I don't want them drinking all my $2 bottles of wine, do I?
The casita has internet so I will be able to post info and pictures of what I see and experience there! I'm looking forward to my first week away.
One of the main reasons I'm going next week is that it's Semana Santa - Holy Week, and from all accounts, San Miguel has some pretty amazing celebrations & parades, which I'm looking forward to seeing and maybe even taking part in.
Eliseo has installed a lock on one of my wardrobe doors, so I can put all my stuff inside and lock it. It's not like I will be leaving anything valuable, but I don't want them drinking all my $2 bottles of wine, do I?
The casita has internet so I will be able to post info and pictures of what I see and experience there! I'm looking forward to my first week away.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Inauguration of the New local Council
I went out to drop my washing off at 9.30, and found a long line of traffic on 30th Av, waiting to turn down 4th St. Neither of these streets are usually busy. After giving Mayra my bag, I heard the sounds of a band tuning up and decided to follow it.
A huge pavilion had been erected outside the council offices, the place was full of people and everyone seemed to be walking towards it to join the throng. The band from Xcaret (a theme park nearby) was playing some good Calypso music, and the police band was marching to the front, instruments at the ready. The choir from a local school was there, the girls in white dresses with multi-coloured embroidery and flowers in their hair. There was a drum band beating out a great latino beat at the back. There were about 500 chairs with white covers, most of them occupied. After listening to the MC's blurb for a while, I got the picture that this event is the inauguration of the local council, including one brand new member Filiberto. These 12 men will serve their municipality (called Solidarity) and their country until 2013. I stayed for a while until a man next to me lit up a cigarette, then headed back home via Walmart. Although Walmart's location is great so close to everything, they must curse the place when there is an event at the Council. Their carpark is filled with visiting cars and their customers can't get a park, and there is usually a long line outside their toilets because people don't want to use the porta-loo.
As I crossed over 30th Av, I realised why the traffic was heavy at 4th. Here nearly all the streets are one-way. 8th heads towards the beach, but it was blocked by police for the event. 6th goes the other way, so 4th is the next beach street for traffic trying to get around.
I might pop down again later and see what's going on. I imagine it will last all day judging by the bands. But for now the jacuzzi on the roof beckons.
A huge pavilion had been erected outside the council offices, the place was full of people and everyone seemed to be walking towards it to join the throng. The band from Xcaret (a theme park nearby) was playing some good Calypso music, and the police band was marching to the front, instruments at the ready. The choir from a local school was there, the girls in white dresses with multi-coloured embroidery and flowers in their hair. There was a drum band beating out a great latino beat at the back. There were about 500 chairs with white covers, most of them occupied. After listening to the MC's blurb for a while, I got the picture that this event is the inauguration of the local council, including one brand new member Filiberto. These 12 men will serve their municipality (called Solidarity) and their country until 2013. I stayed for a while until a man next to me lit up a cigarette, then headed back home via Walmart. Although Walmart's location is great so close to everything, they must curse the place when there is an event at the Council. Their carpark is filled with visiting cars and their customers can't get a park, and there is usually a long line outside their toilets because people don't want to use the porta-loo.
As I crossed over 30th Av, I realised why the traffic was heavy at 4th. Here nearly all the streets are one-way. 8th heads towards the beach, but it was blocked by police for the event. 6th goes the other way, so 4th is the next beach street for traffic trying to get around.
I might pop down again later and see what's going on. I imagine it will last all day judging by the bands. But for now the jacuzzi on the roof beckons.
The Mail system works
I received my first mail yesterday, actually 2 items, and on a Saturday. No, my friends who sent me birthday cards from Aus, they have not yet arrived, but I'm still hopeful.
.
The first was a magazine from the US which I subscribed to in February. However this was the April edition, so that's not bad. No sign yet of the Feb or March editions. the mail system works (!) in mysterious ways.
The second was a bill from Cablemas. This was supposed to be debited from my new Mexican account, but no, once again Cablemas has stuffed up. Looks like I'm going to have to haunt their office again tomorrow. I can almost picture what they will say - you just pay this one and we will fix it up next time. And I'm not going to fall for that. I have asked them 3 times to correct my name, but no, the bill still came addressed to Lime Zac - I've become a fruit, and a sour one at that! It's actually cheaper if they direct debit the bill, they charge you 14 pesos extra to send a bill. It'sonly about a dollar but that's not the point. They have a contract with all the details specified - they couldn't even get my name right although I had to give them a photocopy of my passport - it's pretty obvious that someone (OK most of them) aren't doing their jobs, they just don't really care.
Oh well, the fun never stops does it! I'm off to the roof to dangle my feet in the jacuzzi and read my book.
.
The first was a magazine from the US which I subscribed to in February. However this was the April edition, so that's not bad. No sign yet of the Feb or March editions. the mail system works (!) in mysterious ways.
The second was a bill from Cablemas. This was supposed to be debited from my new Mexican account, but no, once again Cablemas has stuffed up. Looks like I'm going to have to haunt their office again tomorrow. I can almost picture what they will say - you just pay this one and we will fix it up next time. And I'm not going to fall for that. I have asked them 3 times to correct my name, but no, the bill still came addressed to Lime Zac - I've become a fruit, and a sour one at that! It's actually cheaper if they direct debit the bill, they charge you 14 pesos extra to send a bill. It'sonly about a dollar but that's not the point. They have a contract with all the details specified - they couldn't even get my name right although I had to give them a photocopy of my passport - it's pretty obvious that someone (OK most of them) aren't doing their jobs, they just don't really care.
Oh well, the fun never stops does it! I'm off to the roof to dangle my feet in the jacuzzi and read my book.
A Day in Cancun
I caught the combi around 9.30 and was in Cancun about 10.15. Having already investigated Home Depot and found it to be about 3km away, I jumped straight into a taxi and thought it was $2 well spent in this heat! It's a large store, not quite in the league of Bunnings, but it seemed to cover all the usual hardware areas as well as kitchens, lighting and tiles. I wandered up and down the 4 tile lanes and found - nothing! Many of the tiles are dark colours (probably doesn't show the dirt so much) and the light ones have patterns like marble which don't appeal to me. I did manage to buy door stops to stop the door handles hitting the walls, and brought home 2 azaleas in flower and a rosemary plant, so it certainly wasn't a wasted trip.
Next door was a large supermarket so I called in there for a coffee and donut and found a cute Buddha candle for $2. Then on to Walmart which we had passed on the way, it was about 4 blocks walk. They had the sangria I like and can't get here in Playa so I picked up 2 tetrabriks, some guacamole and spicy chicken fillets and some water for the road.
I was planning to head back to the bus station but after waiting 20 minutes with no sign of either of the buses I had been told to get, I decided to hop on one heading for the Hotel Zone and Plaza Kukulcan. The Hotel Zone in Cancun is a thin strip of land with some quite amazing architectural structures - kind of like how I picture Las Vegas but on the beach. The trip cost me 8 pesos and took at least half an hour to get to the Plaza but I didn't mind, I was enjoying the view so much. The sea in Cancun, like in Playa, is the most amazing colour of blue, often 2 shades, and when the bus travelled over the bridge it was almost breathtaking. We passed hotels, nightclubs, markets, malls, small artesan stores, people got on and off the bus, speaking in several languages, it was quite a trip!
I had been to the Plaza Kukulcan when I first visited Mexico in 2008 (never thinking I'd end up living here) and remembered its magnificent stained-glass ceiling. There is a fountain under it, and flat vinyl couches so you can lay back and admire it. It really is quite a work of art isn't it?
I had somehow missed lunch, but in the food section upstairs I found a place which offered free coffee if you buy a cake. I devoured a ginormous piece of carrot cake and a very welcome coffee, all for less than $3 and that gave me the strength to wander around the shops. I couldn't really buy anything as I already had more bags than I could carry but its always nice to look.
The no 1 bus from out the front returned me to the bus station, and the combi to Playa left within 5 minutes.
I don't know if I can say it was a successful day as I didn't find tiles, but it was certainly enjoyable.
I was planning to head back to the bus station but after waiting 20 minutes with no sign of either of the buses I had been told to get, I decided to hop on one heading for the Hotel Zone and Plaza Kukulcan. The Hotel Zone in Cancun is a thin strip of land with some quite amazing architectural structures - kind of like how I picture Las Vegas but on the beach. The trip cost me 8 pesos and took at least half an hour to get to the Plaza but I didn't mind, I was enjoying the view so much. The sea in Cancun, like in Playa, is the most amazing colour of blue, often 2 shades, and when the bus travelled over the bridge it was almost breathtaking. We passed hotels, nightclubs, markets, malls, small artesan stores, people got on and off the bus, speaking in several languages, it was quite a trip!
I had somehow missed lunch, but in the food section upstairs I found a place which offered free coffee if you buy a cake. I devoured a ginormous piece of carrot cake and a very welcome coffee, all for less than $3 and that gave me the strength to wander around the shops. I couldn't really buy anything as I already had more bags than I could carry but its always nice to look.
The no 1 bus from out the front returned me to the bus station, and the combi to Playa left within 5 minutes.
I don't know if I can say it was a successful day as I didn't find tiles, but it was certainly enjoyable.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Major work on my condo
Here in Mexico the developer has to repair any defects on my condo for a year from when I bought it.
In my first weeks here I wrote out a comprehensive list, mostly small things but a few larger, including several cracked or chipped tiles and quite a few "drummy" ones.
It's taken a while for them to organise quotes, with a lot of urging and finally threatening from me, but in the last few days Eliseo the builder has been here working on a quote for the lot. He prised off a tile yesterday so that he could match it, and guess what? those tiles are no longer available. Which means the whole floor 1000 square feet has to be taken up and replaced. It's a pretty big job, and of course it has to come now when I'm ready to rent my condo out. Eliseo is keen to start ASAP, and the RE agent is asking do I want it done now or after Easter - do I want to rent the place or not? Since Semana Santa (what they call Holy Week) is only 2 weeks away, I've told him to keep marketing for the time being and if there are no "bites" by next Saturday then we can go ahead with the work, and we'd only be losing a week.
Eliseo and I walked miles in the hot Mexican sun today to visit 5 different tile shops, but I haven't yet found anything that thrills me. I brought home one tile which turned out to be an exact match for the common areas here, so that's useful but it didn't look right inside the condo. So I've decided to go up to Cancun tomorrow to have a look there. Home Depot sounds like our Bunnings, a humungous hardware store, so I'm sure they will have lots to choose from.
Mi casa is about to become a construction zone! Well that will make for some interesting blog posts, eh?
In my first weeks here I wrote out a comprehensive list, mostly small things but a few larger, including several cracked or chipped tiles and quite a few "drummy" ones.
It's taken a while for them to organise quotes, with a lot of urging and finally threatening from me, but in the last few days Eliseo the builder has been here working on a quote for the lot. He prised off a tile yesterday so that he could match it, and guess what? those tiles are no longer available. Which means the whole floor 1000 square feet has to be taken up and replaced. It's a pretty big job, and of course it has to come now when I'm ready to rent my condo out. Eliseo is keen to start ASAP, and the RE agent is asking do I want it done now or after Easter - do I want to rent the place or not? Since Semana Santa (what they call Holy Week) is only 2 weeks away, I've told him to keep marketing for the time being and if there are no "bites" by next Saturday then we can go ahead with the work, and we'd only be losing a week.
Eliseo and I walked miles in the hot Mexican sun today to visit 5 different tile shops, but I haven't yet found anything that thrills me. I brought home one tile which turned out to be an exact match for the common areas here, so that's useful but it didn't look right inside the condo. So I've decided to go up to Cancun tomorrow to have a look there. Home Depot sounds like our Bunnings, a humungous hardware store, so I'm sure they will have lots to choose from.
Mi casa is about to become a construction zone! Well that will make for some interesting blog posts, eh?
Useful Tips for Bus Travel
Cancun Bus Tips (thanks to ExploreCancun.com)
a) Last man standing does not win anything. It means you will be flying soon. If you are the last person to pay the driver then before you can think about where you want to sit he will be going 78 miles per hour.
b) Telling the bus driver where to get off is a good start but not always will it work. Most do not speak English well enough to understand you. Have an idea of where you are going before you get on. Look for landmarks.
c) They will not stop to let you off unless you ask them to. Don't assume they stop at all the stops.
d) To flag a bus down you need to wave one of your body parts.
e) Cheapest tour in Cancun so enjoy it.
f) Get on in the front and off from the back door whenever possible.
g) Don't bring drinks on the bus as they will most likely end up on someone else.
h) When getting off NO ONE moves for you so if the bus is packed, put your head down and push.
Crossing the street is not a right; it's a challenge. YOU DO NOT have the right of way even in a cross walk or at a red light. Be on the defensive. Taxi & bus drivers do not have any education and think that the road holds 3 things;
1) Their vehicle, 2) Their garbage & 3) Their right of way. So RUN when crossing the street.
a) Last man standing does not win anything. It means you will be flying soon. If you are the last person to pay the driver then before you can think about where you want to sit he will be going 78 miles per hour.
b) Telling the bus driver where to get off is a good start but not always will it work. Most do not speak English well enough to understand you. Have an idea of where you are going before you get on. Look for landmarks.
c) They will not stop to let you off unless you ask them to. Don't assume they stop at all the stops.
d) To flag a bus down you need to wave one of your body parts.
e) Cheapest tour in Cancun so enjoy it.
f) Get on in the front and off from the back door whenever possible.
g) Don't bring drinks on the bus as they will most likely end up on someone else.
h) When getting off NO ONE moves for you so if the bus is packed, put your head down and push.
Crossing the street is not a right; it's a challenge. YOU DO NOT have the right of way even in a cross walk or at a red light. Be on the defensive. Taxi & bus drivers do not have any education and think that the road holds 3 things;
1) Their vehicle, 2) Their garbage & 3) Their right of way. So RUN when crossing the street.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Holiday rental
I received an email from the RE agent saying they had clients looking for a 2BR condo from 22-28 April (what they call Holy Week here) and they were offering $US1500. It only took a heartbeat for me to email back and say "they can have mine!". With that sort of money I could go off on a holiday of my own, which has always been the plan.
The agent didn't realise that I wanted to rent my place out (why was he sending me the emails then?), and that opportunity had already gone, but after some negotiations we have agreed that he will start marketing my place at between $800 and $1200 a week (depending on the season). Because it's not a permanent thing the income is not declared and I just pay 10% commission.
Easter is still 2 weeks away and it's possible that there might be some last-minute enquiries. Otherwise, he says that usually I would have a few months' notice, time to organise my own trip, packup and move out.
I need to buy more towels, some small electrical items and a lockable cupboard to store my own stuff in. So that's my task for the next few days. I also need to continue working on my folder for tenants, telling them where to find the laundromat and how to get to the cinema, etc.
It's all pretty exciting! The agents get a security deposit against any breakages, and can arrange cleaning and key handover, for the time being I am happy to let them handle it. Although I did it myself with my Italian home, by the time you pay fees to be on rental websites, answer 1001 queries (I ended up disconnecting my phone it was so crazy) and negotiate conditions, it's easier to have someone else do it.
So, off to the shops again! I'm doing a price comparison between the items I need to buy - iron, toaster, hairdryer, and so far it's pretty amazing what the differences can be. So far I have found an electric jug in only one shop - coffee makers seem to be de rigueur here instead.
The agent didn't realise that I wanted to rent my place out (why was he sending me the emails then?), and that opportunity had already gone, but after some negotiations we have agreed that he will start marketing my place at between $800 and $1200 a week (depending on the season). Because it's not a permanent thing the income is not declared and I just pay 10% commission.
Easter is still 2 weeks away and it's possible that there might be some last-minute enquiries. Otherwise, he says that usually I would have a few months' notice, time to organise my own trip, packup and move out.
I need to buy more towels, some small electrical items and a lockable cupboard to store my own stuff in. So that's my task for the next few days. I also need to continue working on my folder for tenants, telling them where to find the laundromat and how to get to the cinema, etc.
It's all pretty exciting! The agents get a security deposit against any breakages, and can arrange cleaning and key handover, for the time being I am happy to let them handle it. Although I did it myself with my Italian home, by the time you pay fees to be on rental websites, answer 1001 queries (I ended up disconnecting my phone it was so crazy) and negotiate conditions, it's easier to have someone else do it.
So, off to the shops again! I'm doing a price comparison between the items I need to buy - iron, toaster, hairdryer, and so far it's pretty amazing what the differences can be. So far I have found an electric jug in only one shop - coffee makers seem to be de rigueur here instead.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
RETA Private Members Retreat
You haven't heard from me for a few days because I am away on a retreat with a Real Estate Group I belong to. Yes I know what you're going to say - I'm on holidays all the time - why do I need a retreat? You know it can be stressful not having a daily schedule to keep to? Not really, but who needs an excuse. We are in Tulum, less than an hour south of Casa Mia, staying at a 5-star all-inclusive flash resort. This is my room, or rather my condo
This place is so huge you need to catch a little trolley train between the different areas. There are 21 bars, 4 snack bars, 7 places for breakfast and lunch, 11 A la carte restaurants, 5 buffet restaurants, not to mention a disco, sports bar - in short, it has the lot.
Of course it's on the beautiful Caribbean sea. This is our group "networking", strawberry daiquiri in hand, this afternoon at Tulum beach
As you can see I've been working very hard, hearing about good investment opportunities in Costa Rica, Brazil, Ecuador and of course here on the Riviera Maya.
That's me working particularly hard!
Actually it's been fabulous, not only listening to the speakers and picking their brains but also chatting with the other attendees, mainly from the US and Canada, finding out their plans and dreams, discussing the logistics of retiring overseas. As well, many of these members have travelled to places that are still on my list and will be an invaluable resource when I do go there.
As well, I've already pickup up some useful hints from the locals here, some of which may give me a source of income, or maybe just new friends to go dancing with.
It's not over yet, still another day and a half, and believe me when the "fat lady sings" it's probably going to be me. I could swear I have already gained 3 or 4 kilos. The food here is fabulous, plentiful, well prepared and presented and it's hard not to want to try everything. Tonight we ate at the Portofino Italian restaurant (right up my alley) and honestly the "salad bar" which included calamari, smoked salmon, carpaccios, lasagne, canneloni, and every vegetable you can imagine, would have been more than enough to make a meal. But no, we started with some prosciutto on bruschetta, then minestrone, then sea bass, then tiramisu and capuchino to finish off. Of course we were lavishly watered as well with whatever wines, cocktails and mixed drinks took our fancy.
We've taken to stopping at the bar to have a cocktail while waiting for the bus to ferry us around, and the colours and tastes are great. The pink, white and blue vodka cocktail was tasty, but I loved the one with light and dark rum, fruit juices and grenadine. I had on an orange dress yesterday and they brought me a drink to match my outfit!
Well, back to the hard slog! For what it's worth, a small beach house on Ecuador's north coast is looking like a possibility, but an apartment in Brazil also sounds like a wonderful deal. There are "chill weekends" available where you can go and check out these places with a lot of the cost covered by the developers. Better make sure my passport is up to date, looks like it might be a busy year.
Of course it's on the beautiful Caribbean sea. This is our group "networking", strawberry daiquiri in hand, this afternoon at Tulum beach
Actually it's been fabulous, not only listening to the speakers and picking their brains but also chatting with the other attendees, mainly from the US and Canada, finding out their plans and dreams, discussing the logistics of retiring overseas. As well, many of these members have travelled to places that are still on my list and will be an invaluable resource when I do go there.
As well, I've already pickup up some useful hints from the locals here, some of which may give me a source of income, or maybe just new friends to go dancing with.
It's not over yet, still another day and a half, and believe me when the "fat lady sings" it's probably going to be me. I could swear I have already gained 3 or 4 kilos. The food here is fabulous, plentiful, well prepared and presented and it's hard not to want to try everything. Tonight we ate at the Portofino Italian restaurant (right up my alley) and honestly the "salad bar" which included calamari, smoked salmon, carpaccios, lasagne, canneloni, and every vegetable you can imagine, would have been more than enough to make a meal. But no, we started with some prosciutto on bruschetta, then minestrone, then sea bass, then tiramisu and capuchino to finish off. Of course we were lavishly watered as well with whatever wines, cocktails and mixed drinks took our fancy.
We've taken to stopping at the bar to have a cocktail while waiting for the bus to ferry us around, and the colours and tastes are great. The pink, white and blue vodka cocktail was tasty, but I loved the one with light and dark rum, fruit juices and grenadine. I had on an orange dress yesterday and they brought me a drink to match my outfit!
Well, back to the hard slog! For what it's worth, a small beach house on Ecuador's north coast is looking like a possibility, but an apartment in Brazil also sounds like a wonderful deal. There are "chill weekends" available where you can go and check out these places with a lot of the cost covered by the developers. Better make sure my passport is up to date, looks like it might be a busy year.