Yucatán México is moving to Yellow Alert
Valladolid Romantic Weekend, Upcoming Adventures, Pandemic update plus Expat News
In this issue of Expat News by Expat Rebel, I have a new update and photo story, a big Pandemic travel update (Yucatán state has some restrictions lifting, 😀), some new newsletter posts, plus Expat News. - Chris
Mayapan Video
My latest video has gotten some great comments.
Upcoming Adventures
I just got a GoPro Hero 9 Black this week and I’m currently in Campeche Yucatán México to celebrate my birthday, being a tourist, and doing some filming. I’m staying at a couple of hotels, one on the beach and one inside the walled city area in a converted 1700’s mansion now a boutique hotel. Smaller boutique hotels tend to be my favorite places to stay because they are usually nicer, bigger rooms, and gorgeous.
I had a fun day yesterday seeing two old forts.
I’m excited to share more of my adventures here living in México.
Valladolid Romantic Weekend
I was recently in a cute Colonial town Valladolid Yucatán México for a romantic weekend with my honey.
Look forward to a video about this weekend in Valladolid coming in the future.
Newsletter Updates
Paid newsletter articles
Ask Me Anything thread for members, ask me a question and I’ll answer right back.
What videos or articles would you like to see/read?
Becoming An Expat Now - paid-member comment thread answering your questions
Playa del Carmen Guidebook - updated from my visit. It’s very detailed and has many recommendations in it.
Renting Furnished Houses and Condos in Mexico - I have a big update to this coming out next week, 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.
Free newsletter articles
Bad Expats - a recent example of how not to act when you live in a foreign country - update with a happy ending
Expat News
Pandemic
The UK has only 8 countries on their safe to travel green list. And the US is lifting some travel advisories and only issuing precautions for 80% of the world now. France and some other countries are going to open up to vaccinated tourists.
India is having a huge overnight spike that looks really bad. Visiting there is on hold for who knows how long.
Meanwhile, Mexico is completely open to vaccinated and unvaccinated alike with no quarantine.
Yucatan State here in Mexico is now moving to Yellow Alert on Monday after being at Orange for a year. The infections and hospitalizations are down. So good news.
In Campeche, the State next door to Yucatán, where I’m currently celebrating my birthday, is on Green Alert. They have fewer restrictions. Green is the last stage before going full open. Everyone is learning masks and restaurants are at full capacity. Very close to pre-pandemic.
Yucatan & Mexico News
The light turns yellow: Yucatán loosens pandemic restrictions after nearly a year - big news here
Expats Are Getting the COVID-19 Vaccine in Mexico
Mexico’s Patria vaccine to begin human trials this week - Yes, México is making a vaccine
Mountain on Mars named after Mexican scientist months after his death
What does the phenomenon of “lords” and “ladies” say about Mexico
If you do not give your personal and biometric data, they will cancel your cell phone service in Mexico - goes into effect in 6 months
The danger of handing over your biometric data over a cell line - many are upset about the biometric data for cell phone issue
World Expat News
How India’s second wave became the worst COVID-19 surge in the world
The U.S. could boost ‘Do Not Travel’ advisories to 80% of the world
Only eight countries would make the green list for safe travel from May 17 - from the UK Government
Macron says France "finalizing" plans to ease restrictions for vaccinated travelers
American Airlines Is Bringing Back Beverage Service This Summer
France Plans to Reopen to Vaccinated Americans This Summer
Tahiti and Bora Bora Will Welcome Tourists Again Starting May 1
Hawaiians Will Soon Be Able to Travel Between Islands Without Quarantine, Testing
The Maldives Plans to Offer COVID-19 Vaccines to Tourists
This Map Shows You Where You Can Sunbathe Nude Around the World
Airbnb is blocking some guests from making July 4 reservations to prevent house parties
Four of Canada’s main airlines have said they will suspend travel to Cancun until June - The suspended flights were implemented primarily to discourage leisure travel to southern Caribbean areas such as Mexico, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic as Canada grapples with its third wave alongside its vaccine rollout.
How India Went From A Ray Of Hope To A World Record For Most COVID Cases In A Day - India is one country that is completely out of control. Travel there is probably off-limits for a year or more.
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Learning Spanish
Learning Spanish has been slow for me.
Language apps on my iPhone didn’t work for me. It’s just now real.
Listening to a lesson and then practicing with real people is working for me.
I recommend Rocket Spanish and then talking to others in Spanish.
I talk to restaurant servers, taxi drivers, retail shop salespeople, anyone that I run into day-to-day. Mexicans are very forgiving in my butchering Spanish and getting tenses wrong and just plain speaking in broken Spanish. But, I get my point across and I’m slowly getting better.
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.
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