Expat in Mexico... the journey continues!

  The one, the only, the magnificent Dr. Ernesto Oliva! As you can see, entirely Covid-free!  One possibly unnerving issue for expats living in a foreign country is what to do for medical or dental care. Amongst the unenlightened--those who imagine that such practices in so-called "developing countries" would backward or archaic--the fear of needing ANY such service is daunting, if not outright terrifying. However, this has NEVER been my personal experience. In fact, such ignorant assumptions could not be further from the truth.  I, dear reader, am an international root-canal recipient/specialist! I have had them done now in the U.S., India, and most recently, here in this dear city of Oaxaca, Mexico!  As you can see from the above photo, Dr. Oliva (or simply "Ernie", as he is fondly referred to by his litany of expat fans) epitomizes "professionalism in the pandemic"--adorned as if ready for a stroll on an alien planet teaming with dangerous gases and ani

Mi calle, Rufino Tamayo...cobble-stoned, ancient....a dream, to be sure! This is the view looking south, toward the center of town--with the stone aqueduct--known as Los Arquitos, or "little arches"--on the right. Apparently, the aqueduct dates back to the 1700's and was used to supply the town's water all the way up until 1941.  Looking north, toward the hills, and San Felipe de Agua, source of the water that supplies the town of Oaxaca. Mi casa is up a little ways on the right hand side.    I really lucked out when it came to searching for an apartment to rent long-term. I was traipsing all over Oaxaca, responding to a Facebook marketplace page replete with rentals, when I just happened to stumble upon a crumpled "for rent" sign hanging from the gate of a residence I would pass frequently on my excursions (from my Airbnb) into the main part of el centro historico. My first reaction was amazement that ANYTHING would be vacant in this gorgeous--and most desi

 Hola, amigos! In my new series, "Oaxacan Life", I am going to give you a full account of the nuts and bolts of daily life here as an expat.  As you read the next series of posts, feel free to comment, ask questions, and suggest topics you would be interested in for the future. I have several I already want to talk about, but am always open to suggestions!                                                      *     *     *     *     *     * Recreation in the pandemic, you say? Yes indeedy! I think that Oaxaca--or perhaps Mexico in general-- has got to be one of the most relaxed countries with regard to this Covid business plaguing the world. Granted, we all wear our masks EVERYWHERE except in our own homes, and are disinfected every which way, several times a day! However, life generally goes on about its business, normal in every other respect, including folks enjoying the great out-of-doors and wonderful climate here. Winter? What's that?! The nights are chilly enough to

  After our nine day stint in Merida, Julie and I had completed our entire, month-long tour of the Yucatan Penninsula, and came full circle, back to Cancun, where it all began. We returned to our first Airbnb there, happy to see the lovely Mexican family that ran it (the unit being upstairs, while their home was downstairs.) They had been so gracious as to store some of our baggage; we both realized we arrived burdened with way too many items. We reunited with the things we had left behind and had the monumental task of trying to get EVERYTHING to fit in our luggage before returning to our respective homes. (Julie, to Edmonton, Canada; myself, to Oaxaca City.)  Only two events were important back in Cancun: one, paying a last visit to the beach and getting in a last ocean swim;  and two, (for myself only--Julie declined) a return to La Fonda de Las Pinatas, my favorite restaurant. There, I ordered my two favorite dishes: cheese enchiladas and chili rellenos, my loves since childhood, a