Shoes and shopping

After living here in Mazatlan for almost 2 years, we have learned to ‘assimilate’...if you can't get something here, that we had in Canada you have two choices...make do with what you do have or get your family or friends bring it down when they visit next time. It’s a tried and true formula, except with footwear.

You see, in the past I did have a ‘little’ problem with shoes.

Hub corrects me... ‘A little problem??? Try ... shoe-a-holic!’

"Weeeell, maybe."

I mean, in the past if they looked snappy, sporty, chic or elegant, flats, pumps, platforms or boots I was there with card in hand...“Sold!!! Wrap those puppies up now!”

I'd bring them home, carefully unbox them, just to place them away in one of the two over sized Rubbermaid bins...the large ones...filled from top to bottom. But I did get rid of them all before moving here...ok, all except one new pair of heels (still at the kid’s house) and 7 pairs of thongs (footwear not bottomwear.)

I thought I was doing great until it got a little too cold here for my flip flops, so a shopping trip was in order for something more comfortable, like loafers. Easy to slip on and practical.

Knowing that Mexicans love their shoes, everything from cute little flats to platform heels high enough to cause nose bleeds, we ventured out. Now with shoe stores on every corner, I was filled with hope...so much so that Hub offered to join me. Not that he enjoys shopping but he figured this was sure to be a quick purchase and then off to a local spot for lunch.

WrOnG!

The first store we went into didn’t really have what I was looking for...neither did the fifth or sixth.

Now Hub was bored...‘Just pick a pair for crying out loud.’

Men!! They have no idea.

After the tenth store I found a pair that could work and when I told the clerk in my broken Spanish I would need a U.S. size 9 or 10 she got off the phone and leaned over the counter and... 

Laughed!
Yeah laughed!!!!And not at my new pedicure but at the size of my feet! Seems they only carry up to size 8.


Well, obviously this store would not do and so I stomped out in my size 9 1/2 thongs, with Hub following behind, looking confused.

We tried another three stores, with no actual laughing this time, mere chuckles.

Hub, offered me a man’s perspective...
‘Maybe you shold consider trying men’s loafers’.

Watching my head snap around like Linda Blair in the exorcist, Hub quickly turned 'round and watched the traffic.

Hey, I’ve worn men’s shirts, pants even shorts in the past, but I do draw the line at shoes.

After another week of dropping into every shoe store we passed I did find one pair that were the right size, not exactly what I was looking for, but they weren’t mens shoes and they fit, so I paid for them and took them home.

Now when I mention shoes, Hub whistles into the wind and smiles, satisfied knowing that by moving to Maz he has finally cured me of my ‘shoe-a-holic fetish’, saving him both cash and space in the closet.

Note to self...."smile now baby...but we'll soon be making a trip up north and I will be taking an empty suitcase with me."

Just a couple of thoughts from 2 Canadians living and loving it in Mazatlan!

Linda & Hub.

Shopping in Maz

Shopping here is alot like shopping back home... you go and buy what you need (ok sometimes I do buy more than we need) but the premise is the  same...choose it...throw it into your cart...pay for it and take it home. Simple!

Except when you’re in Maz.


For example, I bought a container of Pringles. (I had a salt craving and just knew that would be my fix.) Eager with anticipation I opened the long cylinder, reached inside and discovered...well Pringles of course, but everyone was broken and not in half, but smashed! The container looked good but every chip inside was a crumb.

It’s been a year now and every time I see a Pringles container I make a point of lifting it up carefully and Hub leans over and laughs... "Feel lucky today?"


I proceed to shake it slowly, listening to the broken chips inside and then return it to the shelf. It’s become such a quest now that I’ve officially put Pringles on my ‘Canadian’ shopping list when we return next year.

But this isn’t an isolated occurrence. We know of other shoppers that have purchased those ready to eat snack bars. The packaging was perfect but when they opened up the box, instead of 6 bars as indicated on the package, there were 4. Or the purchase of a 6 pack of Sprite, and when you get it home they are all completely in tack, but on closer inspection one can is completely empty!

Who's in charge of this stuff?????

So we’ve taken a consensus and believe now, if an American or Canadian product doesn’t meet that countries standards...they don’t just get rid of it...they don’t throw it out...they just send it to Mexico and we poor bastards will buy it!

Another quirk in the grocery shopping arena is the quantity and frequency of a product.  I mean in Canada, if something is sold out quickly, it’s considered a successful product and most definitely would be reordered and stocked. In Maz it’s a little different.

Example...Miracle Whip is not sold down here. So to say that I was surprised to see 4 bottles on the shelf at one of the grocery stores would be putting it mildly. I naturally picked up all four just in case we didn’t see it again. That was 4 months ago and to this day Miracle Whip has not returned.

The lesson in shopping here is simple;  if you see what you want, grab it all...because it probably won’t be reordered again.

And for your information there are a few things that are NEVER sold here...

Cheesies (oh there is a brand here but NOTHING like US or Canada)

Celery Seed

Minced Onion

Potato chips WITHOUT lime

Regular salted peanuts (without lime or hot spice)

Lemon Juice

Poultry seasoning
Pudding (oh there's custard but not true pudding)

So now, whenever I pass buy a container of Pringles in any store in Maz, I look around slowly... carefully reach out and pick up the tube...bring it up to my ear...shake it gently...put it back down...then turn to Hub and announce...  

“all’s well at the Pringles factory...no layoffs...same guy’s on the production line!”

Just a couple of thoughts from 2 Canadians living and loving it in Mazatlan!

Linda and Hub.

Garage Sales

Anyone with an imagination knows how exciting these two words can be.

For over 20 years in Hamilton, I would pick up my mother at 6.30am every Saturday and wouldn't return home until around noon...sometimes making repeats trips to 'unload' our treasures, especially when Hub was working!

Now during that period Hub did join us a total of twice. On each occasion he said he was bored after one hour!!! So, we would drop him off at home and head out again...(as you can tell Hub is not and never has been a true garage saler at heart.)

Now when we moved to Mazatlan and I saw my first ad for a garage sale my heart was pumping!! So on a bright Saturday I took off in search of treasures. As we had no wheels at the time, I had to resort to a bus and pulmonia. Now granted, the transportation situation did put a damper on my outing, and a less seasoned garage saler would have been worrying, but I still managed to find one box and 3 bags full of stuff.

It's been almost a year since my first garage sale here and now that we have the vehicle I have to say these weekend excursions are getting more exciting. Hub has even shown an interest and as such, has taken over the driving.

As they start anywhere from 8-9am on either a Saturday or Sunday I can say our driving experiences are somewhat tamer, than our outings during the week. See, during the week if we have to go out I am subjected to Hub's conversation that usually goes like this.....

"Did you see that son of a b....?"

"OMG he opened his door right into traffic!"

"It's another f.....turning lane! Where'd that come from???"

"Okay lady, could you get off the damn cell and try looking where you're going?"

"Pick a lane will ya?!"

"Just wait till I can speak espanol, you'll be sorry fella!"

Oh and my favourite as we go along the beachfront....

"Did you see what she was..wasn't wearing???!!"

All in all, we do finally get to the garage sale, at which Hub now lasts 15 minutes, then heads back to the car, turns on the A/C and awaits my treasures with his common questions....

"You didn't really buy that did ya?"

"And where do you think that'll go?”

And my all time favourite....

“It won’t fit in the car!”

Well my once solo trip has turned into 2, then 3, and as of today we will now be 5! Hey the more the merrier I say...and of course the old line...'one persons junk is another’s treasures.'

Or as Hub says from the driver’s side window....

"We don't need another f..... picture frame!!"

Just a couple of thoughts from 2 Canadians living and loving it in Mazatlan!

Linda and Hub.

It Costs What?

It's always a question that everyone wants to know, even we were guilty of asking this question before we moved down here. So, it seems only right that we should give you some idea of the cost of living down here in the sun and the sand of Mazatlan.


Everything is quoted in Canadian dollars.





1 Cdn dollar  =  10 Mexican pesos

(The Mexican Pesos is currently at time of posting 12-1 but the 10 factor is easier for demonstration purposes)

Our Monthly Utilities

    3.35   Water IN

    1.50   Water OUT

  30.00   Hydro (with A/C running)

  20.00   Gas

  35.00   House Insurance

  33.00   Bank Trust for ownership of
             house in Mexico

  32.00   Car Insurance

  30.00   FM3 Visa for residency in
             Mexico

  37.50   Property Taxes (annual $900 
             Cdn. which is actually high for
             here. 

             But if paid on time yearly you
             get a discount, if you pay cash
             you get another discount and if
             you have proper visa you get
             50% off!!)

  59.90   Phone and Internet (no cable)

282.25 a month!!

So that means we are saving about 1,000 bucks EACH month! That alone was worth the move for us. Ohhhh I'm not saying Hub and I don't still argue about finances...cause we do...but now we can do it in the sun and sand all year round!

Below is a list of a few items that might also be of interest to you. Groceries are usually purchased in large grocery stores like Costco and Fortinos and Home Depot for the gardening and fix-it stuff like back home, so the prices are actually higher, but you can shop at local markets and smaller shops to find cheaper prices. And you can find everything on sale at some point in time and other stuff can cost you more, depending on where you shop or eat that particular day. But this list is just taken from our receipts on hand.

As for electrical stuff, especially lighting, tools, and electronics the prices are rather expensive, so it's always a good idea to try and move down with this kind of stuff.

Eating out 

  4.80     Omelet with fried potatoes and
              refried beans

  4.80     Three large pancakes and 
              bacon

  1.40     Coffee with lots of free refills

  1.50     Tea with lots of free refills

  1.60     Large glass of freshly 
              squeezed orange juice

  6.00     3 course meal including,
              soup,fish/meat of day
              vegetables,with rice pudding

              and non-alcoholic drink

19.00     Coconut shrimp (5-8 each the
             size of the palm of your hand),

             with rice, vegetables

  9.20     All you can eat Chinese buffet

(this means you can eat your meal, watch one of their 4 wall mounted tv's, spend another hour enjoying dessert and a non-alcoholic drink, and then go back for another meal. You are never asked to leave so this can go on all day!!!)

Alcohol

19.00     Canadian Club Rye (750ML)

22.20     White Bacardi Rum (1.75L)

  9.15     Negro Gin (1000M)

45.00     Beefeaters Gin (1L and nobody
             knows why this is sooo expensive)

  5.00     6 beers at a bar chilled on ice

  1.50     1 beer at bar

Groceries

  3.29     Pepper Jack cheese (227ml)

10.93     Cheddar block (907g)

   9.46    Feta cheese (500g)

   6.85    Philadelphia Cream cheese 4/pack

   1.12    Milk (in carton)

   1.23    Coke Light (2L)

   5.61    Schweppes Tonic water (12 bottles)

   2.79    Smuckers Strawberry Jam (510g)

   2.35    Rice a Roni Fried Rice

   1.82    Orange Juice (1L) (no frozen containers anywhere)

   3.50    Tums Extra (48 tabs)

   5.59    Tylenol Extra Strength (20 caplets)

Misc.

  29.90   Black Ink for Canon printer

  38.90   Colour Ink for Canon printer

  29.50   Dutch Boy Semi Latex (1 gallon)

  15.63   16” Plastic planter

  29.90   20” Plastic planter

  89.80   Large Blender with Glass pitcher

    7.20   Dirt for planters (10K)

    3.29   Lysol wipes

    3.99   Clorex Disinfectant spray

  46.90   Simple ceramic tea pot

              (outrageous price and only carried in a few stores)

699.90   32" Toshiba flatscreen tv   
  20.00   One hour massage

  17.50   Pedicure

  15.00   Manicure

    6.00   Car wash inside and outside

  20.00   Bug spraying for house

      .65   Bus ride across town

      .95   Bus ride on bus with A/C across town

    6.00   Pulmonia/cab across town

Oh yeah....garbage is picked up THREE times a week!!! Hello!!! Try getting that up north.

So again we are asked 'Why Mexico?'

Simple...it's cost effective if you have a Canadian or American pension and/or savings.

Just a few thoughts from 2 Canadians living and loving it in Mazatlan!

Linda and Hub.

Shopping and Chores

This is something that Hub enjoys as much as a root canal. Shopping is not even near his top ten list, unless it’s in some kind of Hardware store.

Now, I’m the first to admit I’m no “June Cleaver”, and fabric stores scare me and bore me to tears. But Hub and I do agree on the kind of store to do our shopping. Unfortunately he likes the rural, and older the better. Those places filled with old tools and smells that should have you putting on a mask before you even go through the front door...while I prefer Home Depot. Ahhhh yes, in Maz we do have a touch of home!

Now keep in mind, after all these years Hub and I have come to an understanding...he looks after the ‘guts’ of a house, while I hand over my cash and make it a home.

Water filters, security gates and gas lines get his heart pumping, while I go right for the plants, cleaning supplies and anything electrical.

He makes the house run, and I do appreciate the hard work and even his broken Spanish and sign language. I, on the other hand, try to make it liveable...like moving his tools, ladders, boxes, more tools and stuff, from one room to another. Oh, did I mention he doesn’t just buy A ladder. Ohhhh no, he has to purchase TWO, plus a couple of step stools...you would think I’d married a midget!

He doesn’t buy one drill...heaven forbid! No, he has to get 5 drills and all the accessories to go with each one. (Did I mention he had to DRIVE all this crap 3,000 miles so he wouldn’t be without!!!)

Now, I might buy one light fixture (that I install myself) but then again I can’t leave Home Depot without buying at least 10 solar lights. This makes sense to me...we get to enjoy 365 days of sun here, why not use it! It doesn’t cost us anything...bonus!

He heads back to the tool section just in case he’s missed something that he just HAS to have.

He buys WD40, brushes and sand paper, so he can fight the ever present rust...I pickup bleach and vinegar.

He gets a dozen locks, keys and a big ass safe...I get the brooms, Lysol wipes and some more bleach.

He gets anything stainless steel so it doesn’t rust (as fast)...I head for the plastics, or as we say here, plasticos and some more bleach!

He tells me to choose the colour of paint for the hallway, but hints that he wants something tropical and bright. After I do the painting he complains it’s not to his liking.

I tell him..."repaint it yourself!!!!" He decides he can live with it.

It’s a battle that’s been going on for 36+ years, but it works. A job needs to be done...and I wait...and wait...ok I wait some more...and in his own time it does get done.

I tell him...”it’s fabulous”.... then point out the list on the counter with another 12 jobs to be done.

Satisfied with himself he puts his tools away (ok, not completely) and heads to the hammock, waving his hand and calling out...”Mazatlan wasn’t built in a day. Calm down. We’re in paradise...relax and enjoy it!”


Just a few thoughts from 2 Canadians living and loving it in Mazatlan.
Linda and Hub