I’m still getting a lot of comments from people who think that I’m crazy to be in Mexico what with all the drug gang violence going on.

Hands up. How many of you would write off the entire country of Canada because of our recent terrorist attacks in Ottawa and Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu? How about the entire United States because of the events in Ferguson? Yes, there is bad stuff going on in Mexico right now, but it’s nowhere near where I am and I am not going to write off a whole country for events happening in a specific area.

Furthermore, I was in Surrey, B.C. in early 2009 when there was rampant drug gang shootouts in broad daylight in places I frequented. I was paralysed when I was there, afraid to leave the RV park. So I know what it feels like to be somewhere unsafe. Mazatlán just doesn’t have that vibe.

In just about all the cases of violence against tourists in Mexico over the last few years, there has been a drug connection. When there hasn’t been, it’s just an unfortunate case of random violence that happens anywhere. I lived through the biker gang wars in Quebec in the ’90s where innocents lost their lives. It was only a gut feeling that kept me from a movie theatre in Surrey at the time of a shootout in 2009. The odds of my getting mixed up in something like that in Mexico, especially in such a highly touristic area, are slim. Or, at least, no worse than in Canada and certainly much better than in the U.S.

Would I wander around Maz at night? No. Would I wander around most large Canadian and U.S. cities at night? No. The exception in all cases being if I was going somewhere specific and had my transportation lined up. Dale and I are still thinking of going to a club to listen to her friend play music one night and we’ll take a pulmonia from the panga to the club and back.

Wandering around Maz’s downtown today, I was struck by the lack of panhandlers and gang youth hanging around. I strongly suspect that the area is kept ‘clean’ because of the local economy being so dependent on the tourists. I found myself walking in circles holding my iPhone and didn’t have that gut feeling I get in the States or Canada that someone is going to try to snatch it.

After a year and a half in deep rural Saskatchewan, it is wonderful to be living so near to a large, vibrant, accessible, and clean city that I feel so comfortable exploring.

I’m finally just about as settled as I can be in my new casa, the truck empty but for the cot, and things stowed away as neatly as possible given the storage options. My office is up and functional, including the 20″ TV I use as a monitor. I was practically chirping with happiness this morning bringing my coffee into the office to get started on my big day!

Around 9:00, I called the landlady and left a message asking her to please check with TelMex that they haven’t lost my order. I know this is Mexico and these things take time, but the contract said within five business days and we’re there, so I am going to start nagging. I did buy another 1GB (good for one week) from TelCel because the bar closes early and coming here is cutting into my work day. Plus, it’s hard to go back to work after having a beer. 🙂

I’m astounded at how well the apartment is working out for me. I do wish there was more storage in the kitchen, especially a drawer. The extra unit that was put in between the fridge and stove has one, but it smells mildewy. I Lysoled the heck out of it and will see if that helps. If so, I found a place in the Mercado that sells oil cloth and I’ll get a piece to fit the drawer. Otherwise, I’ll find a nice crock like I use at home. I would have had room for said crock and packed and unpacked it several times. 🙁

One thing that makes me laugh about the apartment is that it is essentially the same layout as my old house in the Gatineau Hills! Just put the front door on the opposite side of the living room, swap the living room with the kitchen and the bathroom with the master bedroom, and add a linen closet. I used to use the back bedroom as my office until I separated the kitchen and living room and made myself one heck of a gorgeous library, converting the old office into a den. So a lot of my movements in this house are very familiar and I’ve figured out why I often go into the bedroom when I’m aiming for the bathroom!

My only major complaint is the lack of HOT water in the kitchen. If I run the water a long time, I can get the water warm enough for dishes, but barely. If I have anything greasy, I have to heat water on the stove.

Otherwise, everything is good and I’m still convinced that this is the second best place I’ve ever lived, second only to Miranda!

I do have to wonder about Mexican windows. They have beautiful shapes, lots of arches, that perfectly match security grills. I wonder if they are bought as a set. Something ask at some point….

After a day and a half of not being anywhere near halfway done a job that should have taken me a day at most, I finally conceded that I needed to get more serious about finding a temporary work station in my casita.

At first, I tried the kitchen table. It’s a round one with a pedestal base and legs that extend outward. There was no way to place my foot pedal that would allow me to sit naturally. I tried to sit with the table next to me, keyboard in my lap, feet extended. That was fine except for the crick in my neck from having to turn to see the screen!

The next setup was much better, but did not make me feel professional and therefore was not conducive to productivity. I dragged an end table into the living room from the second bedroom and set up my computer on it. I put the pedal inside the table so that it could be at a comfortable distance for my feet and sat on the couch. This was actually not horrible, but the computer screen was far away and the setup just felt messy and, again, unprofessional.

What I really needed was a set up like at the hotels I stayed at with a straight back chair and square table. And then I realised that I’d been staring out the door for more than a day at my square patio table!

I brought it in and tried to get it into the back bedroom, but the hallway was too narrow and the table legs did not come off. Dang. Next best place for it was under the window in the kitchen. I set up all my basics and success! I’ll be able to work here even though I would much prefer to be in the back room without all the distractions from the street.

I’m glad I have all this sorted out. My best client is on holidays this month and even though I was told I’d have work, I haven’t heard from her yet and am therefore having to assume that I won’t get anything. So I’m going to let my lesser paying clients know that I can take absolutely as much as they have to give me.

So instead of six to eight hour days five to six days a week, I have to be ready to work twelve-plus hour days at least six days a week for the rest of November (provided clients have that much work for me…) to be on a good footing for December. Not a great position to be in in, especially in a foreign country, but I still think I’m better off here in that situation than I would be in an RV in SK since my expenses are now stabilized and I’ll have a pretty straightforward budget all winter, no worries about fluctuating electricity and propane costs.

Bilingual post for the sake of my family! 🙂 Article bilingue pour ma famille! 🙂

My street and the Entrance/Ma rue et l’entrée

Looking towards the ocean. Regardant vers la mer.

My entrance. Mon entrée.

The apartment building. Le bloc apartement.

The gate is not locked now, but will be when the other tenant moves in. I don’t feel a need for that, but whatever. La clôture n’est pas barrée présentement, mais elle le sera pour l’autre locataire. Je n’en resens pas le besoin, mais en tout cas…

The Yard/La Cour

Front door to the neighbouring apartment (tiny studio). Entrée du l’appartement à côté (très petit studio).

My entrance and parking spot. Mon entrée et espace de stationnement.

Palapa with hammock. Palapa avec hamac!

🙂 (See the clothesline? Voyez-vous la corde à linge?)

Washing machine. Laveuse.

Little patio area with a table and chairs. Aire de patio avec table et chaises.

Living Room and Kitchen/Salon et entrée

Entrance and living room area. Entrée et salon.

Looking to the kitchen. Not much storage, otherwise very nice with everything I need. Vers la cuisine. Il manque du rangement, mais c’est très bien et j’ai tout ce dont j’ai besoin.

TV, DVD player, and stereo! Télé, lecteur DVD et stéréo!

Looking to hallway. Vue vers le passage.

First Bedroom/Première chambre à coucher

Bathroom (Looks More Green Than It Is!)/Salle de bain (elle n’est pas si verte!)

Nice presentation on the towels! Belle présentation des serviettes!

HUGE shower. Douche TRÈS GRANDE!

Again, lacking storage. Encore, il manque du rangement.

Light switches are in weird places at random heights all over the apartment. Les commutateurs sont à des drôles d’endroits et différentes hauteurs dans tout l’appartement.

Other Bedroom (Office)/Autre chambre (bureau)

I’ll probably put the desk between the beds. Le bureau ira sûrement entre les deux lits.

Same closet style. Même sorte de placard.

Both bedrooms and the living room have a fan like this. Really helps with the heat and humidity! Les deux chambres et le salon ont un ventilateur comme celui-ci. Ça aide vraiment avec la chaleur et l’humidité!

More Details/Autre détails

Drinking water: I have to put a five gallon bottle (provided) out on the curb with 12 pesos and it will be magically filled.

Eau potable: Je dois mettre une bouteille de cinq gallons (fournie avec l’appartement) dans l’entrée avec 12 pesos et elle sera magiquement remplie.

Garbage: I have to put my bags on out Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Do not leave it out because of dogs. (I feel right at home!)

Ordures: Je dois sortir mes sacs les mardis et jeudi matin. Ne pas laissez traîner à cause des chiens. (Comme chez moi!)

Cooking and Hot Water: With propane, just like an RV. The landlady’s husband will check on levels and have it filled with as much as I’m willing to pay for.

Cuisine et eau chaude: Avec propane, même chose qu’en VR. Le mari de la propio va vérifier les niveaux et fera le plein pour ce que je suis prête à payer.

Internet: I have been promised that an order for a DSL connection will be placed today (Friday) or Monday at the latest. In the meantime, it’s flaky cellular service or an internet café.

Internet: On m’a promis que la commande pour une connection par câble téléphonique ce fera aujourd’hui (vendredi) ou lundi au plus tard. Entre temps, c’est une connexion par cellulaire pas trop fiable ou un café internet.