In this issue of Expat News by Expat Rebel, México elections, latest AirBnb, moving inside México, a worldwide and Yucatán pandemic travel update, new article on why retirees are moving to México plus Expat News 📰. - Chris
México Elections
It’s election season in México. Tons of billboards and YouTube ads over the last month. Election Day is tomorrow.
It’s interesting living in a country where I can’t vote as I can just ignore it all.
I do like that the election season is much much shorter here. And since I can’t vote I don’t really pay attention to who or why.
I’m here just enjoying my life and doing what I want to do completely outside of politics. It’s refreshing.
I am a little concerned about the 85 and counting political candidates that have been assassinated in Mexico during the 2021 campaign. That’s just nuts.
None near where I live here in Yucatán México, which is considered the safest city behind Quebec Canada in all of the Americas, including the USA. But, other areas of México is crazy. All of them from the party not in majority rule. This is why Mexico is both a great place to retire safely and extremely dangerous depending on where you live. Research where you go beforehand.
I have also learned when I lived in Quintana Roo that the cartel problems only happen if you are involved with them or run a bar or restaurant and some retail space. I’m retired and am not involved in any of that so it doesn’t affect me.
I also have been intimidated in business in the USA, once physically and a few times lying about me. These techniques are used worldwide just more so in Mexico than in the USA, but not if you are retired and just enjoying life.
Latest Airbnb Stay in Mérida
I stayed in Mérida for the holiday weekend before moving to a new condo on the Gulf of Mexico beach. Cute very centrally located house with a fantastic pool and stereo system. It was fun to order Uber Eats, stay in and listen to Jazz while in the pool on a really great BOSE speaker system.
I’ve updated my Mérida and Yucatán Beaches Guidebook with this new place along with the other places I’ve stayed that are still on Airbnb.
Moving Inside Mexico
I moved to a different condo this week. We hired Angel a local helper we know to come over and help pack a week ago. Then we went to the Airbnb I mentioned above for the extended weekend and relax before moving.
Memorial Day isn’t celebrated in México but we enjoyed staying in and relaxing.
Then Tuesday Angel’s neighbor which owns and runs a moving truck came over and loaded all our stuff and placed it in our new place. Plus Angel set up the kitchen the way I like it so I could start my next day of making my famous Green Juice and Smoothies.
I find moving from place to place in México to be much easier as I can easily afford to hire 3 people to handle almost all the details. My honey Nan just project managed them. And the total cost of the move was just USD$210. Great price and I didn’t do anything except packed up my computer and AppleTV, you know the important stuff. :-)
Recent Videos
Recent Stories
Why foreign retirees are moving to México video by PBS - new post
Mexican Moms Review 🇲🇽 - a great way to learn about Mexican culture and have fun
Bad Expats 👎🏼
Members Newsletter Updates
Mérida & Yucatán Beaches México Guidebook - I added the new Airbnb I wrote about above to this 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.
Expat News
Pandemic News
A worrying new trend, COVID-19 infections rise dramatically in Yucatán - hospitalizations still are under control, though rising
Covid Third Wave hits Quintana Roo - could have more restrictions soon
Up to 5 million Mexicans would be vaccinated in the US with the land border open - vaccination vacations
Belize reopens border with Mexico for tourists and tax-free shopping
These European Countries Are Now Issuing Digital COVID Travel Passes
EU Digital COVID Certificate - could be the start of a world standard
Yucatan & Mexico News
Hemp and Cannabis Garden installed at the Parque de la Paz, in Mérida - it’s been grown in a public garden, weird to see this happening but it’s totally legal here in México
France celebrates “The Month of Mexico at the Sorbonne” - great to see France show off Mexico in Paris
This is how the wagons of the Mayan Train will look inside - a local train being constructed now to connect Yucatan and Quintana Roo.
Maya Beekeepers In Mexico See Their Way Of Life Threatened By Rapidly Growing Mennonite Farms - an interesting story of culture clash
World Expat News
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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 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 Books
I retired after my 2019 gran mal seizure which doesn’t allow me to mentor entrepreneurs anymore, but I do leave some books that share my experience.
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Love,
Chris
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.
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