Crime Against The Medical Community

Acusa la Asociación Mexicana de Facultades y Escuelas de Medicina a las autoridades de incumplir con programas de seguridad.

Por AGENCIA REFORMA / MARTHA MARTÍNEZ / MÉXICO

Publicada el 11/04/2012

Médicos y pasantes asignados a zonas con presencia del crimen organizado han sido asesinados, secuestrados, extorsionados, agredidos y amenazados sin que autoridades de salud ni de seguridad los protejan oportunamente.

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Security in Mexico ... Interesting!

Seguridad

“Tenemos el Gobierno más grande y más caro de nuestra historia, y tenemos más violencia y más pobreza que nunca”.

Julián Lebarón

El crimen no nos deja solos ni un día. Este 3 de octubre fue asesinado José Eduardo Moreira, el hijo de 25 años del ex presidente nacional del PRI y ex gobernador de Coahuila, Humberto Moreira. Es sólo uno de los miles de homicidios que tienen lugar cada año en nuestro País, pero nos recuerda que todos los que vivimos en México estamos sometidos a la ley de la violencia.

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So, They Don't Target Americans?

Number of Americans killed in Mexico continues to rise
Deadly violence strikes areas once considered peaceful for U.S. retirees

By Dudley Althaus, Lise Olsen | Saturday, April 28, 2012 | Updated: Sunday, April 29, 2012 11:40pm

Last year, a record 120 Americans were killed in Mexico, compared with just 35 in 2007. Most happened in areas bordering the U.S. But for the first time, a significant number of murders occurred in previously peaceful areas like Jalisco state, where 14 Americans were killed, according to a Houston Chronicle analysis of U.S. State Department data.Last year, a record 120 Americans were killed in Mexico, compared with just 35 in 2007. Most happened in areas bordering the U.S. But for the first time, a significant number of murders occurred in previously peaceful areas like Jalisco state, where 14 Americans were killed, according to a Houston Chronicle analysis of U.S. State Department data.

READ MORE



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Mexico Security Memo: Increased Violence Likely in Guanajuato

An old article:

Possible Knights Templar Attacks in Guanajuato State

Unknown assailants thought to be part of the Knights Templar killed eight people and injured another eight Feb. 16 in attacks in six municipalities of Guanajuato state. The attacks followed the Knights Templar's placement of 18 narcomantas around Guanajuato warning the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (GJNG), which has ties to the Sinaloa Federation, to stay out of the state. The narcomantas appeared to be in response to the archbishop of Leon's request on Jan. 22 that organized criminal groups in Guanajuato come to a truce during Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the state, scheduled for March 23.

Continue

Weather

One of the things which attracted us to the city of Guanajuato, and indeed Central Mexico, was, and I know this sounds cliche, The Weather.

It has been a wonderful weather ride here in Mexico's Crown Jewel with the Eternal Springtime one reads of in the guidebooks. It is consistently warm, fair weather that makes life far more enjoyable than where we came from in the States, Kansas City, where the icy winters can freeze the power lines cause you to go without heat for two weeks, or longer, at a time. We definitely do not miss that.

As I write these words, it is 10/21/2012, 4:30pm, and it is a warm Sunday afternoon and very much like Springtime outside. Believe it or not, I am running a fan in my room right now.

The Guanajuato weather is not always as agreeable as it is this afternoon. Though having the nickname, Eternal Springtime, it can get nasty with flash-flood rains, freezing-cold January days, and humidity enough to straighten anyone's hair in the rainy season. But, it all seems to me to be short-lived when the weather becomes a little contrary.

Afterall, Eternal Springtime has to has to take a vacation sometime.

Where Have You Been?

My last post, shamefully, was on July 2012. Though I promised to post at least weekly, I have been a miserable failure. Sigh.

I don't know why, exactly, it has been so hard to find the time to post. Could it be my attention is diverted to a seemingly endless list of other things I have to do? My classes for my doctorate seem eternal, I am on a quest to take control of my health (I was recently diagnosed with Diabetes-Oh joy!), and trying to fit some semblance of exercising into my daily routine (ha!) all conspire to tell me I do not have time (the energy?) to blog.

Yet, there have been plenty of stuff about which to blog. Well...not really (more sighing!). I am simply not on the streets as often as I used to be since moving out into the boondocks and also since we ride the bus even more to get to where we need to go. In this place, if you are on the streets and in the small out-of-the.way places you get to see a glimpse of Mexican behavior that sticking just to the tourist traps will never reveal.

This is really the root of all the writing I have done over the years. You don't see "real Mexico" by staying in hotels in El Centro, nor if you hang out in the place that coddle the Gringos. It is also, I cautiously say, the root of all the criticism that have been heaped my way like so much doggie caca by the Gringos (Gringos = Gringolandians); criticism in which the Lord of the Flies ( Lord of the Flies = Gringolandians Mafioso, Mexican Branch) accuse you of fabricating everything in your prose from start to finish.

These are people who, I suppose, forgot how to walk, and drive everywhere in Guanajuato. They send their maids to shop and for all practically purposes never "mix" with anyone but their fellow flies. This might be mainly because most, not all, cannot string enough words in Spanish to form a complete sentence, and that they like "being with their own kind." (A Gringo lady, and a prominent one I might add, told this to me years ago.)

Just how, if they cannot communicate in the language, know anything about anyone in the country in which they have invaded (infected)?

Again, I sigh.

Anyway, more next week (I hope).

Travel Destinations: Guanajuato, Mexico

Guest Blogger: Cindi Bower

Guanajuato, the capital of the state of Guanajuato, is located in the mountains of central Mexico. It's not a place that immediately comes to mind when people consider vacationing in Mexico. Many are familiar with Mexico's lovely beaches and the attractions in Mexico City, but few discover the treasures in the colonial cities of central Mexico.

Guanajuato is often referred to as "The Jewel of the Americas" and "The Crown Jewel of Mexico's Colonial Cities." It's come a long way from the days when the semi-nomadic indigenous people called it "Quanx-huato" or "Hill of Frogs" because it was so barren that only frogs would live in the area.

The area probably would have remained little more than a place for ranchers to graze their cattle if not for one important discovery in the mid-1550's. Silver and lots of it. Some of the world's richest silver veins were buried in the mountains surrounding the modern-day city of Guanajuato.

Silver made many of the Spanish settlers very rich. They built huge haciendas outside the city and fabulous mansions in town, some of which remain today. Some made generous donations to build and adorn Guanajuato's numerous churches. One man, the owner of the Valenciana mine, single-handedly provided the money to build the San Cayetano Church, otherwise known as the Templo la Valenciana.

Shopping for silver is just one of the many activities one can do in Guanajuato. There are a number of shops with silver jewelry for sale along the main street that passes from the San Francisco church, past Teatro Juarez and the Jardin de la Union to Mercado Hidalgo. You can even let the jewelry come to you if you prefer. Just sit on one of the shady benches in the Jardin and wait. Before long, women with silver jewelry in black cases will approach you and proffer their wares.

While you search for an unoccupied bench, take a look at the buildings surrounding the Jardin. Though most are hotels, restaurants and shops, they were originally the homes of some of Guanajuato's wealthiest residents. The interior of the building that houses Starbucks is particularly beautiful. If you walk in the large, center door, the passage leads to an interior patio topped by an impressive stained glass window. The railings and pillars that line the passageways on the second and third floors that overlook the patio give you a glimpse of how opulent the home once was.

Visiting the churches will show you the results of the money donated by the wealthy mine owners. The San Diego Church, across the street from the Jardin, had to be raised 20 feet and rebuilt between 1782 and 1784 due to extensive flooding. The second Marques de Rayas, owner of the Rayas mine, donated much of the money needed to rebuild the church. He and his family are buried in the elaborate El Senor del Burgos chapel to the side of the sanctuary.

There is a museum under the church that contains an excavated portion of the convent (monastery) that was attached to the original church. The museum has drawings of what the convent looked like when it was functioning. Unfortunately, the rest of the convent cannot be excavated as Teatro Juarez was built on the site.

The Basilica of Our Lady of Guanajuato, the large yellow church a block from the Jardin, is a favorite venue for weddings, baptisms and confirmations. The interior is quite impressive. Above the altar is a statue of Our Lady of Guanajuato, a gift from King Charles I of Spain in gratitude for the vast amount of silver that poured into his coffers from the mines of Guanajuato.

Plaza de la Paz, the location of the Basilica, is surrounded by several mansions built by more of Guanajuato's wealthy mine owners. One of the several homes built by the Count of Rul y Valencia, the owner of the Valenciana mine, now houses the Superior Court. If you ask the guards at the door, they will allow you to go as far as the interior, enclosed patio and get a taste of the way the rich lived in the 18th century.

The San Cayetano Church in Valenciana, built by the aforementioned Count of Rul y Valencia, is small but contains richly carved and gilded altarpieces. Several concerts during the three-week-long International Cervantes Festival in October are performed in this church.

There are a couple of shops on the plaza in front of the church, one of which, Ojo de Venado (deer's eye) sells folk art from all over Mexico. To the right of the church, there is a street that leads to the Bocamina San Ramon mine and hacienda. The Bocamina is the entrance to the mine, and while visitors cannot go into the mine itself for safety reasons, they can get a feeling for how difficult the life of a miner was. There is a small museum with mining equipment and artifacts from the mine's heyday.

A trip to Guanajuato wouldn't be complete without a visit to the Mummy Museum. It's rather ghoulish, but is very popular nonetheless. Between 1865 and 1958, the law required that if the deceased's relatives stopped paying upkeep on the deceased's crypt, the body would be disinterred. Cemetery workers found a percentage of these disinterred bodies had been naturally mummified due to Guanajuato's dry climate. The mummies were housed in a building, which was later converted into a museum when people began showing an interest in seeing the mummies.

Guanajuato offers plenty to do and see. Spend a couple of days, a week or longer enjoying the architecture, the art, the music and the culture in Guanajuato, named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. It will be an unforgettable experience.

Guanajuato, Mex - Attack in Pastita

Here is a perfect reason why I rant and rave over Gringo visitors walking late at night around Guanajuato:

A woman was attacked, beaten, and robbed in front of the Commission Federal de Electricidad building at 22:20 at night on Saturday. She was robbed of about 4 thousand pesos and various items she was carrying in her purse.

Her minor daughter ran to the police kiosk in on the Pastita street to get help.

The culprit was not caught.

Gringo tourist, especially Americans, tend to want to be able to walk back to their hotels, B & B's, or house rental in the dark. They reason Guanajuato cannot have crime, that it cannot be like back home.

Don't do it. Take a cab!

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Click On This to Reach A Walk Through Mexico's Crown Jewel

Guanajuato, Mexico - Dengue Fever

It comes chugging up the street under the cover of darkness. The sound is unmistakable. It sounds like a train engine trying to make it up a steep mountain. The sound belongs to the truck with a machine on its back spraying a noxious cloud of insecticide into the air. Guanajuato does this, by the way, in an attempt to rid the city, or keep under control, a deadly resident: Dengue Fever Mosquitoes.

According to Secretary of Health of Guanajuato, Jorge Armando Torres Aguirre , the city is just starting its third stage of the first phase of spraying. Though no local outbreaks have been reported of the disease, there have been identified mosquito larvae transmitter of the virus. The spraying seems to be killing the larvae, says Aguirre.

Secretary of Health of Guanajuato (SSG), Jorge Armando Torres Aguirre, says there have been cases in other Mexican states but none yet locally. That's why, he says, Guanajuato is engaging in aggressive spraying control.

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Click On This Link to Reach A Walk Through Mexico's Crown Jewel

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Source: El Correo 6/29/10

Guadalajara's consular district continues to deteriorate...

An alert for the Great Guadalajara Metro Area:

Tue Jun 29, 2010
5:15 pm

posted today on chapala.com

United States Consulate General Guadalajara
PLEASE CIRCULATE THIS IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT TO
AS MANY AMERICAN CITIZENS AS POSSIBLE

Date: June 29, 2010
BEGIN TEXT.

American citizens should be aware of the fact that the security environment within Guadalajara's consular district continues to deteriorate. Mexican officials recently commented on the security situation in Guadalajara saying that police are unable to effectively combat organized crime and drug cartel violence could affect innocent civilians.

Drug cartel violence continues to be on the rise within the greater Guadalajara Metropolitan area. On June 24th there was a confrontation between police and cartel fighters on the road between Guadalajara and the nearby tourist destination of Mazamitla. Multiple gun battles between rival drug cartels and police involving automatic assault rifles, armored vehicles, and grenades have been reported closer and closer to Guadalajara to include the recent heavy weapons fights in Tepic, Nayarit where the Governor recently ordered the early closure of public schools due to the cartel violence.

###

The Gringa who wrote this made the comment as to how many (if not the majority) of Gringos have their heads in the sand regarding what is happening in Mexico.

In a recent incident in which an American couple's kid was held without food for being an American and in revenge for what is happening in Arizona, the Michoacan Yahoo forum moderator took off the report claiming it was political and incendiary. This makes me wonder what Real Estate business this forum's moderator is trying to protect from bad publicity. This is often the case in these censuring attempts. Just what thinking person could not connect the dots here.

The kid was told by the Mexican police that he was being held for revenge in light of what has been happening in Arizona. As if the kid of a missionary couple from America is responsible for the Arizon fiasco. The political situation in America is and will affect Americans in Mexico and yet this Gringolandian, in typical Gringo style with gringo thinking, calls the story political and inflammatory and not contributing to a forum dedicated to "living in Mexico." The kid was singled out for detention, ripped out of his bus ride to another city, and held with out food--denying his human right--and was told his treatment was because of the Arizona situation.

I will have a blog on this story in a few days.

Guanajuato, Mex -- Your Tax Dollars

This blog is cheerfully and merrily dedicated to all those Gringos who are on their way to live in Mexico. It is written with the motive that those who are coming here would really evaluate if this is what they want to do.

Let me share a story with you all. It is true. The names, dates, and other personal info has all be changed to protect the innocent.

If you are retiring here know that the American government does not trust direct deposit into Mexican banks. If you get Social Security and want it deposited into a Mexican bank, this can be done. But, here is how it works.

What SSA does is transfer it to the bank of the American Embassy in Mexico City. From there it is sent to your Mexican bank account. For example, your $1,200.00 US dollars is sent to the Embassy's bank where it is converted to Mexican pesos then transferred to your Mexican bank account.

Well, I can hear you pontificate, I have my Social Security deposited to my bank account in the States.

Well...I respond...the US Feds will eventually figure out that you do not really live in the States and will snatch your account right out from underneath you.

For real, I am not joking. Unless you live in the States, and they will verify this, you have to have a Mexican Bank account and will have your American bank account seized. You have to live FULL TIME in the States to maintain your American Bank account. If you put your daughter's address, or whoever, down as your place of residence, and someone's American phone number, they will check this out.

LET ME REITERATE: Unless you have a American address and phone number where you reside full time, they will close your account and seize your money.

So, if you cannot find a nefarious way around this, you will have to have a Mexican Bank account--you will have no choice.

Now, let's say you get your SSDI or SSI payment on the third of the month. According to the SSA Rules, when your payment date falls on a Saturday or Sunday, that is the third of the month falls on a weekend day, then you should be paid on the Friday before your payment date. Get that? If you get your check on the third and the third falls on a Sunday, then you'll be paid on the first which would be a Friday.

Got that?

Well...in Mexico this doesn't work that way.

If your payment date falls on the third of the month and the third is on a Saturday or Sunday, you will not get paid on the first which would be a Friday. You will get paid sometime that following week and when exactly is anyone's guess.

I mean this most sincerely. The Mexican nationals who work at the Social Security Office in the American Embassy do not get that the SSA office sends your payment on the first if your normal payment date falls on a weekend.

Now that I think of it, this applies to whatever dates: If you normally get your check on a certain date that falls on a weekend you should get your payment on the Friday before.

THESE ARE THE RULES ONLY THE MEXICANS RUNNING THE SHOW IN MEXICO CITY AT THE EMBASSY DO NOT KNOW OR UNDERSTAND THIS.

Did you hear my screeching alright?

Right now, even as I speak, there is couple who have no money for rent, no money for life sustaining medications, no money for food, no money for anything because the SSA Office in Mexico City is illegally holding this couple's money.

Here's what Mexican truly do not get by a true democracy. A government within a real democracy is that the government is WE THE PEOPLE. The Mexican nationals employed by the Embassy do not work for the Embassy or a group of politicians, or a governmental entity.

They work for WE THE PEOPLE and when on Embassy grounds, they are on American soil and therefore work for WE THE PEOPLE!

The man on SSDI, Social Security Disability, called the SSA Office. The Mexican national male laughed at him repeatedly and especially so when told of this man's illnesses and that without at least four of his medications he could die.

THE MEXICAN NATIONAL LAUGHED AT HIM!

So, that, among many things, is what you are up against if you plan on moving to Mexico.

Now...if you are asking yourself just how this applies to you if you never move to Mexico, let me elaborate.

If you are an American citizen and are reading this, know that a portion of your taxes, your hard earned income taken from your pay each week, goes to support not only the American Embassy, but the Social Security Office within the American Embassy that has Mexican nationals as their incompetent and unwilling-to-help your fellow Americans as employees. They are allowed to neglect their jobs for Religious Holidays causing your fellow Americans to suffer from lack of money to pay their bills and access health care.

If you want to express how you feel about how your taxes are being wasted with these SSA Mexican nationals click here to send an email:

Send SSA an Email -- Juarez
Send SSA an Email -- Guadalajara
Send SSA an Email -- MEXICO CITY (Hit this one if choosing just one)

Why not send your feelings to all three addresses to see if you get a response?

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Guanajuato, Mex -- Dirty Hands and Disease

When the swine flu hit Mexico, the authorities were a bit on the embarrassed side having to explain why so many infections and subsequent deaths were in Mexico. The disease eventually spread to the rest of the planet but Mexico seemed to be the epicenter.

Political correctness forbid publicizing why the infection spread so fast, far, and wide here: poor hygiene habits!

I have American friends who not only own eating and drinking establishments but who have to train their Mexican staff to wash their hands after using the toilet. This is almost too unreal to believe. But, more than one employee has had to be let go, fired, for failing to heed verbal warnings, read warning signs, and being yelled at for not washing up and then handling customer's food and drink. It is barbaric.

Their personal hygiene habits are never more plainly seen as when helping themselves to samples at the supermarket. With little plastic spoons and forks, toothpicks, napkins, and small plates sitting beside the deli samples or bakery cakes, in plain sight, they will elect to use their hands. They will pick up food with their filthy fingers just after wiping, picking, gouging, or generally touching almost every orifice of their bodies (Especially their noses...OMG...the nose!!)

I thought I would have to lean over and empty my stomach when I saw this little woman use her hands to grab a GLOB of cake from the bakery and begin stuffing it into her cake hole. I felt my stomach cramping, tightening up, that pre-vomit hot flushing feeling coming over my face....I was able to just close my eyes a pray for God's calming mercy.

These are the folks that after grazing on the Supermarket's plenty will trip off to their food kiosks in merriment and mirth and prepare your tortas (sandwiches) or tacos with the same hands that infected the Supermarket food samples. They will wash the fine dining ware after each cutomer in a vat of BLACK water that they keep adding clorox to making it smell like a toxic waste dump.

This...this...this is why the flu spread so fast in this country.

It is sickening. It certainly causes one to pause to see grown men and women, most notably the women, stick their hands into meat sample trays instead of using the toothpicks on the side of the tray.

It is barbaric!!

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Guanajauato, Mex -- The Gas Truck

In Guanajuato, and in each Mexico town we've toured, businesses and homes have to get their gas via these gigantic truck that can bring you tanks (ballistic missiles) of gas or with hoses to fill up your stationary roof tanks (bombs).

In all of the towns we've been to in Mexico these trucks will prowl the streets playing this god-awful ditty through speakers on top of the cab of the trucks. It is not a song but a ditty lasting about 5 measures and on this endless feedback loop where it repeats, well, endlessly.

My first comment is just how does the truck driver keep from going totally insane from this ear-splitting music that is blasted so loudly that it could surely hurt Superman? I mean, how does this driver keep from jumping from his truck in a ditty-driven, murderous rage and committing mass murder? I am speechless to come up with an answer.

My second comment is that no matter the gas company, they all do this and do so at ungodly early hours....Like when the wife and I are still in bed. And, the thing is, though the obvious reason for playing the cacophonous roar is to tell everyone and everything in the street through which they are driving that "the gas man cometh," NO ONE EVER IS SEEN RUNNING OUT OF THEIR STORE OR HOME FLAGGING DOWN THE GAS GUY!

We have made a point to watch and note in almost all the cities we've seen this happening and no one ever comes rushing out all breathless with tingly anticipation that they've conquered the gas problem.

The way the picture supposedly plays out is that the poor, hapless Mexican waits like a hunter in a duck blind for the prey to come flying by and BOOM, the hunter prevails by snagging a goose.

But in a city where phones, landlines or cellular are plentiful, everyone dials a number for gas and they come, with the brain-tumor-inducing music blaring, and nothing at all makes sense.

The third comment is my wife has got to be the only human being who has ever flagged down these monster trucks from the front porch of our house.

We needed gas and right before we dialed the number we heard the truck bellowing up the mountain side. I wondered then and am still wondering just what went through the driver's head to actually have an honest-to-God human being standing in front of a house flagging him down for gas? Certainly it had never happened.

Since then the two gas company's still come up and down our street, music blasting as loud as ever, and when they pass our house I can hear them slow down a bit as though waiting to see if someone will pop out and hail them.

This country!!

###

ROCKET SPANISH

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ROCKET FRENCH
ROCKET JAPANESE
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ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS

Learn to Speak, Read & Write a New Language!

Synergy Spanish - How To Turn 138 Spanish Words Into Effective Spanish Communication.

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Spanish Language Speed Learning Course - Speak Spanish Confidently In 12 Days Or Less Is The Best Training Material For You, As You Will Be Held By The Hand Each Step.

Guanajuato, Mex -- Dangerous Border

We get countless requests wanting to know which border to use to cross into Mexico. Since we live here and have full time since 2003, we've become proficient enough in Spanish to read the daily news here and watch the national news.

We generally tell everyone that we would not come near a border town for any amount of money in the world. We base this upon the amount of stories in MEXICAN newspapers and TV news.

Here's a new story in today's Foxnews that you should read if you are thinking of driving into Mexico.

Texas Town on High Alert as Mexican Town Across Border Braces for Cartel Gun Battle

Guanajuato, Mex. - Today's Crime Report

A lovely little bus route we take to Dolores Hidalgo is one we take often when visiting a favorite getaway spot.

"Dolores Hidalgo (in full, Dolores Hidalgo Cuna de la Independencia Nacional) is the name of a city and the surrounding municipality in the north-central part of the Mexican state of Guanajuato." (Source)

We sometimes go there just to get out of Guanajuato for a weekend. The food is good, the hotel we stay at is GREAT, and the ice cream is renowned.

Well, the route we take is not so lovely anymore. The innocence is gone. It is not safe to travel there now.

Highway robbers robbed a bus line, the one we alway take, between Dolores and Guanajuato.

The bus was in route to Guanajuato when robbers, who were on board, made their move.

They got away, of course, with money, jewelry, cash, and cell phones.

The incident was reported, the police were waiting at the Guanajuato bus station when the bus finally arrived, a search ensued, no captures--figures. (Story Source)

###

ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS

Learn to Speak, Read & Write a New Language!

Synergy Spanish - How To Turn 138 Spanish Words Into Effective Spanish Communication.

Learn How To Speak Spanish - A 31-Day Course That Shows You How To Communicate In Spanish Using Thousands Of Spanish Words You Already Know.

Fsi Spanish Level 1, 2, 3, And 4 - Quickly And Easily Master Begginer To Advanced Spanish. Instant Download Just $97.

Guanajauato, Mexico -- Today

Today we rose at the crack of dawn. We had business downtown, early. I hit the shower after the wife. There immediately occurred a Typical Mexico Operation or TMO. The hot water was suddenly and without so much as a "by your leave" gone. I do not do cold showers.

After a quick wetting of my hair and screaming bloody murder, we dressed and quickly prepared for departure to downtown Guanajuato. Before I could pick up the phone and order a cab, we heard the distance roar of the gas truck. You know it is coming by the hideous, ice-cream truck tune that it plays endlessly on loud speakers bolted to the cab of the truck. Normally, you want to shoot the speakers off the truck with a canon but today we seized upon the opportunity.

I stood ready at the bedroom window to screech at the truck just in case the wife didn't make it down to the street to hail it. I chose this as my contribution to the "getting of gas ritual" since I was mostly naked and it just would not have been right for me to be seen on the street. What rigid logic I have.

Cindi successfully hailed the gas truck and soon we had gas but no time for me to bathe. I had to get to the hospital for a blood test so off I went with sponged out pits and a wet but dirty head.

I was able to be seen almost immediately. That was a plus. The tech who drew my blood did not wear gloves. She did do an extensive disinfection of her hands chemically, though. That was ok because I knew if I asked her she would have said there aren't any gloves. If I insisted, she would have shrugged her shoulders and walked off. I knew better so I kept quiet. I've live in this country for seven years. I know when to shut my mouth.

At least I will know where the hepatitis came from.

Next, as a reward for having been drained of some of my blood, we went to breakfast. We tried a new joint which I highly recommend: Casa Ofelia.

This used to be on La Paseo de la Presa. Now it is is downtown and the location was enough to convince me this was a place to spend my money.

In the old location the price of your meal included not only good food and really good service but the noise level that only Superman would have been able to withstand and enough carbon monoxide that would be sure to give you blood clots (which really happens, by the way). The place was right on the street and you could never hear yourself talk with your dinner partner or your food would taste like it was prepared and served in a mechanic's shop.

Now on the street, Calle Truco, it is quiet, the food tastes like food and not bus exhaust, and the service is Super Friendly.

For $184.00 pesos, we had the greatest omelets, a bucket-sized glass of freshly squeezed orange juice, bread (lots of it--pan dulce costs you), coffee Americano, and did I mention marvelous service? We loved it.

As we were enjoying the pleasure of fully extended bellies, a nice looking middle-aged Gringa-looking woman came in and sat near us. She leaned over and asked where we were from. Ashamedly, I must confess that I normally rattle off something in Spanish so as to thwart any Gringolandia contact. I know, I am evil. But, she seemed so nice and had a warm and engaging smile that we talked with her.

The poor thing was in a bit of a snit that she could not get anyone in the service industry in the city to speak English.

If we had a peso for how many times we've heard that.

She went on to lament that she could not hire tour guides or find any tourist info in English. This is, if you've been following my blogs, the usual expectation of the Gringo, the American gringo which is what she was, who comes here. They sincerely have this idea that because English is so widely spoken in the resort areas (including SMA) that it will be everywhere else. They get a shocking revelation when coming to GTO.

Actually, there are some tour guides who do speak English (usually not well). You have to check with the tourism office if it is open. Otherwise, you are on your own.

Another interesting thing: When we moved here in 2003 the tour guides operated on a propina or tip basis. Now apparently, they've organized or syndicated and have loose (very loose) pricing structure. After our encounter with the woman in the restaurant, whose breakfast we had to practically order for her, we went to El Jardin and talked with some guides. We heard anywhere from $100.00 - $200/00 pesos for a tour.

This is not a bad price. They have families to feed and they really are very entertaining in their guides mostly making it all up as they go. You will never hear the same info twice.

I really don't get why people do not buy a guide book. Lonely Planet, which is not terribly accurate, is better than nothing.

We took our leave of El Jardin, checked the mail, bought some milk, then caught a cab home.

Maybe it is not a terribly exciting adventure but it is our life TODAY in Mexico.

Until next time.

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Resources

1. THE PLAIN TRUTH ABOUT LIVING IN MEXICO
2. A WALK THROUGH MEXICO'S CROWN JEWEL - A Guanajuato Travelogue
3. ROCKET SPANISH
4. LEARNING SPANISH LIKE CRAZY

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Guanajuato, Mex - The Cops Are the Suspects

Check out NBC's Dateline Report on San Miguel de Allende Kidnappings--CLICK HERE

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Alejandro Arenas Gallardo, director of Public Safety, said there are suspicions that the group of robbers is composed of police or ex-police. According to Gallardo, the thieves are using the same tactics as the police.

(This story actually was in the 2/25/10 edition of Periodico A.M., but with my intense blogging schedule I am just getting around to posting this story.)

Creen que policías roban gasolineras

REDACCIÓN
NOTA PUBLICADA: 2/25/2010

Alejandro Arenas Gallardo, director de Seguridad Ciudadana, informó que hay sospechas de que el grupo de asaltantes de gasolineras está integrado por policías o ex policías.

Por lo pronto, la Policía Municipal designó a siete elementos fuertemente armados para vigiliar las comunidades y las zonas donde se ubican estos negocios.

Según Arenas Gallardo, los ladrones cuidan el perímetro de los establecimientos y sostienen las armas de fuego con la misma técnica que utilizan los policías....Full Story

ROCKET SPANISH

Click On This to Reach The ROCKET SPANISH Website!

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Who Else Wants to Learn to Speak Spanish Confidently and Naturally In Less Than 8 Weeks??...AND take all the frustration, difficulty and headache out of YOUR practice time with this EXPLOSIVE interactive 'learn Spanish' package!

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Guanajuato, Mexico -- Cleaning Up The Act

Rarely do I get to report an improvement in some of the worst things about culture I report on in Mexico. For example, supermarkets.

If you will recall, I reported on how in Supermarkets there seems to be this tendency to "eat first to see if they like it, then maybe buy it." The place where they have the greatest temptation is in the Supermarkets with special displays.

Special displays are where some deli type dishes, cut-up hot dogs floating in the most vilest, hot sauce you can possibly imagine, sits on a table in a metal serving pan. If one wants some, they serve some up, sometimes by themselves, into a plastic container, take it to the deli counter to be weighed, you take it home to poison your family by serving it at dinner.

What happens in reality is that women with their children, college students, and old men walk by the table and scoop up globs of this stuff and eat it like barbaric cave people. (I swear this is true.)

Today, things changed.

There were several specialty tables today. There was the hot dog table with the venomous hot sauce dogs, floating in their industrial strength paint remover, along with other hot dog salads that didn't look half bad.

The metal serving pans were wrapped tighter than Fort Knox to prevent pilfering. Small amounts of the foods were served in little Styrofoam plates and skewed with toothpicks for the public's sampling delight. Not only were the serving pans wrapped up tightly that would have required the would be food thief to be less than subtle to break into, there were burly Mexican men (I assumed employees) standing guard over the whole shebang.

Well, I for one, was thrilled beyond my ability to express myself which is a rarity in itself.

I watched for some minutes several woman who hovered over one hot dog salad dish where the toothpicked samples had run out. They just glared at the employee who would gladly have spooned out a generous dish of the item to take home and feed their hungry brood. But they just stared at him as if they were waiting for him to turn his back for a brief moment to their move.

So, you see, I do not just criticize as some Gringolandians think but observe and report change when I am able to see it hit me in the face, like today.

Guanajuato, Mexico -- The Plumber's Coming...Maybe

Two weeks ago we notified our landlady that the toilet wasn't flushing correctly. She gave us stuff, some noxious liquid, to pour down the poop-hole. That didn't work. We plunged and plunged until I thought the plungers (they call it "La Bomba"--the bomb) would break. One of them did. Then we tried the hot, soapy water. That was useless.

So, she called El Plomero (the plumber).

It is now two weeks that the plumber has been coming. Two weeks and counting.

This is not unusual and if you intend moving to Guanajuato this is a cultural glitch with which you will have to contend.

A direct and truthful answer will rarely be forthcoming. That is how it is. Get used to it now. Get over it.

Since Mexicans can often be the masters of excuses. Do not confront them on why it's taken so long to show up. It would be absolutely useless to be confrontational. You won't get far in the argument and the excuses will keep flying in your face.

What does one do? What do you do when you've been fight recalcitrant poopies that wont "go down."

Call a different plumber. Have him fix the potty, and when the previous one eventually shows up, politely tell him that you know he was obviously too busy and that he got to you as soon as he could, but you couldn't wait since it was a dire situation. Then tell him you will call on him again when trouble returns.

He leaves with this pride intact, nothing was confrontational, and you have a fixed commode.

Trust me when I say, if you want to live in this community and do so with the least bit of trouble, do not try being an American here. It won't work to stomp and screech like a, well, like an American.

Don't forget, yes can mean many things. "Yes, I am coming to fix your plumbing," can mean a lot, none which will it mean I will be right there.

Trust me!


A Walk Through Mexico's Crown Jewel: A Guanajuato Travelogue CLICK HERE

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Guanajuato, Mexico -- The Weather is Nice

The weather has finally decided to behave. For weeks it is been the coldest winter of our expat career with temps at an all time low. Having come from the frozen state of Kansas you would think this would have not bothered us. However, we acclimated to the Guanajuato climate years ago.

In years past, it would be "chilly" for a couple of days in January with Spring coming in February. Very mild winter weather.

This year GTO suffered with the rest of the world this mini-ice age. Some areas in the state of Guanajuato saw snow according to the TV news.

Today it is in the low sixties. We got out for the first time in days and walked to the Super. We messed around for a couple of hours then made our way back via taxi. As I write these words, the front door is open, we opened two windows, and it is nice.

How long this nice change will last I do not know.

Locals, the old-timers, tell me they cannot recall the last it was this bad. We know of a village in the state where some of the houses have sheets for windows and doors. How they survived I have yet to find out.

I will keep you informed.

Stay warm!

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A Walk Through Mexico's Crown Jewel: A Guanajuato Travelogue CLICK HERE

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