In this issue of Expat News by Expat Rebel: Holidays in México, local restaurant review and Omnicron closures. 📰 - Expat Rebel Chris 🧜🏻♂️
Holidays in Mexico
I hope you are having a great holiday season where you are.
My love is taking some time off so I’m having a lot of steam room and swimming in the pool with her and enjoying some good movies.
My Christmas Eve and Day was full of Facetime Video calls with family. Just because you live in another country from your family doesn’t mean you aren’t in constant contact with them. We do Facetime Video calls a lot.
Even sent one daughter a video on how to make coffee with a French Press since she wanted to get one.
Most of our holiday presents to family were digital like Amazon Gift Cards and Zelle money directly into bank accounts. We did buy some local Cacao treats since this area is famous for them and sent them DHL to some family members to have on Christmas Day for dessert.
In México Christmas Eve is the big day, more than Christmas. And the malls are full out decorated.
México does the holidays right with all the lights and decorations.
Our trip to Campeche to celebrate my wife’s birthday was a lot of fun with all the Christmas lights and decorations too.
I don’t feel homesick at all. This is home.
Restaurant Reviews
I posted my first Restaurant review video this last week. A great place inside a mall in Mérida.
I’ll be having some more restaurant review videos in the future.
Expat News
Omicron is starting to change travel plans. My favorite driver here in Yucatán México is starting to have some Canadians cancel their pickups from the Cancun Airport because they are canceling their snowbird trips this winter due to Canada pressuring citizens from not making essential travel plans.
He has seen the Cancun busier than he has ever seen it in years to start seeing some slowness.
I still don’t recommend going to the Riviera Maya México due to the increased violence. Here is a realistic article on How Dangerous Is Cancun, Tulum, and the Riviera Maya is it worth the risk?. Tulum is the big problem. I have friends living in Playa del Carmen and it’s not that bad. Even Cancun isn’t real bad, but Tulum is very bad.
Recent Videos
Great Restaurant in Mérida Yucatán México - The Urban Corner Galerías
Thai Restaurant & Garden outside Merida - La Casa de Los Lotos, Baca, Yucatan
Recent Stories
Latina Culture History: Selena 🎤 - fun show
Mexican Moms Review 🇲🇽 - a great way to learn about Mexican culture and have fun
Bad Expats 👎🏼
Members Newsletter Updates
Mérida & Yucatán Beaches México Guidebook - Leave a comment if you want a resource or connection and I’ll add it.
Playa del Carmen Guidebook - updated from my last visit. It’s very detailed and has many recommendations in it.
Ask Me Anything thread for members, ask me a question and I’ll answer right back.
Becoming An Expat Now - paid-member comment thread answering your questions
Renting Furnished Houses and Condos in Mexico - I have a big update to this coming out soon, basics are here now.
Hiring Taxi Drivers in México - my advice on getting a good (real) rate
Become a paid newsletter subscriber when you need advice and details about living in a foreign country including Mexico or you just want to support this newsletter and YouTube channel. It’s just $5/mo and you cancel anytime.
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Learning Spanish
I highly recommend the Mexican Moms Review YouTube Channel as it teaches about Mexican culture but there is a lot of Spanish as well to learn from. I learn Spanish while learning about Rock n’ Roll in Latin America. Highly recommended show as well. It rocked. 😆
If you want to learn Spanish and enjoy all of Latin America and Spain then start right now. Get our recommended Spanish Audio and PDF Class and get working on your Spanish, it takes time so why not start now.
Virtual Mailbox
The day after I decided to leave the US and see the world slowly I got a mail forwarding service, aka a Virtual Mailbox. I need a place that could receive my US mail and scan it so I could read it from anywhere in the world. Now nearly four and a half years later I just love how easy it makes my life.
I get an email when I get mail. I click on the link and read my mail. I save the PDF files for banking and tax stuff for my account in DropBox and then I’m done.
My favorite Mail Forwarding Service
Watching TV via VPN in a foreign country
When you are physically outside the US or Canada (or your home country) Netflix, Amazon Prime and other streaming services have different catalogs depending on the country.
For instance, Frasier is one of my favorite shows, I’ve seen all the episodes three times, yes all 11 years three times. So Frasier is only available on Netflix US and not Netflix Mexico. So I have to use a VPN to look like I’m in the US for me to watch the show on Netflix.
When I turn on my VPN and hit refresh I now get Netflix US and can watch that plus many other things.
Get our recommended VPN and watch what you want no matter where you are located.
My Business Courses
I’m retired from clients and only involved in my company. So these courses are my advice on being an entrepreneur and business owner.
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Love,
P.S. Check out the extra subscriber options for people that want some help getting their questions answered about being an Expat or moving or visiting the Yucatan of Mexico.P.P.S. The basic newsletter with all the news and this exact email is free and perfect for you if you don’t need any help with your questions. Still want to support the newsletter than upgrade to a paid subscriber.