Just moved to Cuernavaca

[bougainvillea]

Originally Posted by stilltraveling

Yeah. It's called a broadband connection and a bittorrent client.

Actually, I think there is CNN on the cable here, but I don't have a TV so I'm not sure. I only use the cable for my internet connection.



The Superama on Teopanzolco fills in the gaps for all the gringo, oriental and kosher stuff that I can't find at the market. They even have Spam! There's also a great spice store across the street from there that sells spices from all over the world as well as dozens of varieties of rice, beans, lentils and other dry goods from around the world. Combine the Spam from Superama and the Japanese rice and sweet rice wine vinegar from the spice shop and you've got yourself a great Spam musubi just like mom used to make!



I'm over 6 feet tall and black, so I've had no problems in 22 years in Mexico. Your experience may vary.



I live right in the heart of downtown, about 3 blocks from the cathedral. My apartment is on the street, so it's a bit noisy, but I chose this unit for the balcony and the absolutely lovely (and mostly edible) garden. It's like living in an arboretum. There are lots of units inside the complex that don't get any street noise at all.

Six feet tall and black.....hmmmm. I wouldn't mess with you either. Yes, my experience would vary. I'm five foot eight, blonde and notably inexpert in the martial arts. I'm a good runner though.

No, actually, I was more thinking about break-ins in houses. They're calling them "home invasions" up here.

Actually I'm not naive and have lived in Mexico and Guatemala, traveled all over Central and South America as well.....so I'm fairly savvy. Just wondering if all the drug wars that go on on the border up here have made themselves felt in Cuernavaca....or elsewhere in the interior. There's shooting in the streets in Juarez, not to mention beheadings.

[stilltraveling]

Originally Posted by bougainvillea

Actually I'm not naive and have lived in Mexico and Guatemala, traveled all over Central and South America as well.....so I'm fairly savvy.

After Guatemala, I'm sure you'll be fine here. The only place I felt more uncomfortable than Guatemala City was Tegucigalpa. I think after that, I'd be comfortable even in Baghdad!

Cuerna is pretty mellow compared to Monterrey or Tijuana, that's for sure. The violence that occurs here is mostly narco on narco. Makes great headlines, but it really doesn't affect regular people.

I think the home invasion part will depend on where you are. We've had no problems in the complex where I'm living, but it's a secure building with lots of people and there are security cameras on the street. I think the criminals would look for an easier target, especially when you consider the fact that we're a block from the courthouse where crooks are taken when they are booked. In addition, the governor's mother lives on the corner, so there are cops everywhere.

[bougainvillea]

Originally Posted by stilltraveling

After Guatemala, I'm sure you'll be fine here. The only place I felt more uncomfortable than Guatemala City was Tegucigalpa. I think after that, I'd be comfortable even in Baghdad!

Cuerna is pretty mellow compared to Monterrey or Tijuana, that's for sure. The violence that occurs here is mostly narco on narco. Makes great headlines, but it really doesn't affect regular people.

I think the home invasion part will depend on where you are. We've had no problems in the complex where I'm living, but it's a secure building with lots of people and there are security cameras on the street. I think the criminals would look for an easier target, especially when you consider the fact that we're a block from the courthouse where crooks are taken when they are booked. In addition, the governor's mother lives on the corner, so there are cops everywhere.

That's good information....thanks for that.

I lived in Antigua, in Guatemala, for a year and loved it......it's SO like Mexico used to be, and I'm an old Mexico hand that longs for the Mexico I knew forty years ago. But that was 1998 and I'm told that Guatemala has become more dangerous now. it wasn't altogether safe THEN, what with tourist buses being attacked and robbed, kidnappings and that sort of thing. But Antigua is still a very special and utterly beautiful place.

Do you know Oaxaca by any chance?

[stilltraveling]

Originally Posted by bougainvillea

That's good information....thanks for that.

I lived in Antigua, in Guatemala, for a year and loved it......it's SO like Mexico used to be, and I'm an old Mexico hand that longs for the Mexico I knew forty years ago. But that was 1998 and I'm told that Guatemala has become more dangerous now. it wasn't altogether safe THEN, what with tourist buses being attacked and robbed, kidnappings and that sort of thing. But Antigua is still a very special and utterly beautiful place.

Do you know Oaxaca by any chance?

I've never lived in Oaxaca, but I've been many times over the years. Can't say I "know" it. You see, the last 25 years of my life has been a working vacation. Being a physician is very portable, and I've taken advantage of the fact that there are sick people everywhere. I don't consider a place as "known" unless I've lived and worked there.

I did live in Antigua's sister city, Granada Nicaragua, for several years. There are three crown jewels of Central America; Granada, Antigua and San Cristobal de las Casas. All were built at around the same time and all three are absolutely lovely. I love those old colonial towns. Trouble is, unless you run a bar, there really isn't much work to do. I stayed a couple days in Antigua a few years back. It was like Granada, except with an eerie feeling that someone might walk up to you and shoot you in the head at any moment. The worst thing that happens in Nicaragua is you forget to lock up your bicycle and somebody steals it.

Central America isn't what it used to be.

[Isla Verde]

Originally Posted by stilltraveling

I did live in Antigua's sister city, Granada Nicaragua, for several years. There are three crown jewels of Central America; Granada, Antigua and San Cristobal de las Casas. (

That's the first I've heard that San Cristóbal is in Central America - I've always though it was in Mexico.

[stilltraveling]

Originally Posted by Isla Verde

That's the first I've heard that San Cristóbal is in Central America - I've always though it was in Mexico.

It is, but Chiapas is in Central America.

Central America begins at the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, which is in the south of Oaxaca, meaning parts of Oaxaca, Chiapas, Campeche, Tabasco and the whole of the Yucatan Penninsula are geographically in Central America, regardless of what nation states own those territories right now. Lest we forget, Guatemala was once part of Mexico (and Chiapas was briefly a part of Gutemala). Borders change, continental boundaries don't (at least not on a human timescale).

[bougainvillea]

Originally Posted by stilltraveling

I've never lived in Oaxaca, but I've been many times over the years. Can't say I "know" it. You see, the last 25 years of my life has been a working vacation. Being a physician is very portable, and I've taken advantage of the fact that there are sick people everywhere. I don't consider a place as "known" unless I've lived and worked there.

I did live in Antigua's sister city, Granada Nicaragua, for several years. There are three crown jewels of Central America; Granada, Antigua and San Cristobal de las Casas. All were built at around the same time and all three are absolutely lovely. I love those old colonial towns. Trouble is, unless you run a bar, there really isn't much work to do. I stayed a couple days in Antigua a few years back. It was like Granada, except with an eerie feeling that someone might walk up to you and shoot you in the head at any moment. The worst thing that happens in Nicaragua is you forget to lock up your bicycle and somebody steals it.

Central America isn't what it used to be.

Thanks. I haven't seen Nicaragua, I hear it's a new hot spot. I did spend a week or so in San Cristobal de las Casas about ten years ago. I like it....but it seems a bit isolated and a girlfriend of mine who lived there finally left.....said it was boring. But she was twenty-something, sooooooo......understandable. I am debating whether to retire in Cuernavaca or Oaxaca so any points you might make would be welcome. Is the "newcomers' club" that I have read about still active? Making friends and integrating into the community are important to me and I think I read that that group is active in community affairs........any advice?

[Isla Verde]

Originally Posted by stilltraveling

It is, but Chiapas is in Central America.

Central America begins at the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, which is in the south of Oaxaca, meaning parts of Oaxaca, Chiapas, Campeche, Tabasco and the whole of the Yucatan Penninsula are geographically in Central America, regardless of what nation states own those territories right now. Lest we forget, Guatemala was once part of Mexico (and Chiapas was briefly a part of Gutemala). Borders change, continental boundaries don't (at least not on a human timescale).

I guess there are different definitions of what comprises Central America. Here is what Wikipedia has to say:

Central America (Spanish: América Central or Centroamérica) is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast.[3][4] When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent. Central America consists of the seven states of Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama. Central America is part of the Mesoamerican biodiversity hotspot, which extends from northern Guatemala through central Panama.[5] It is bordered by Mexico to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the east, the North Pacific Ocean to the west, and Colombia to the south-east.

Central America - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[stilltraveling]

Originally Posted by bougainvillea

Thanks. I haven't seen Nicaragua, I hear it's a new hot spot. I did spend a week or so in San Cristobal de las Casas about ten years ago. I like it....but it seems a bit isolated and a girlfriend of mine who lived there finally left.....said it was boring. But she was twenty-something, sooooooo......understandable. I am debating whether to retire in Cuernavaca or Oaxaca so any points you might make would be welcome. Is the "newcomers' club" that I have read about still active? Making friends and integrating into the community are important to me and I think I read that that group is active in community affairs........any advice?

I have no idea. The only expats I ever see here in a group are at Armando's Pizza on Tuesday nights (best pizza in Cuerna, by the way). That might be the group that you're talking about, but I really have no idea. As my mother says, I "went injun" a long time ago. Most of the expats I meet are only casual acquaintances and visiting researchers.

[stilltraveling]

Originally Posted by Isla Verde

I guess there are different definitions of what comprises Central America. Here is what Wikipedia has to say:

That's the political Central America. Scroll down to the geography section and they explain the geographical boundaries of Central America. The Isthmus of Tehuantepec has always been considered the northern boundary of Central America, even when the whole thing belonged to Spain.

Keep in mind, in the 19th century Costa Rica was voting on whether or not to be a part of Mexico. Had they voted Sí, it wouldn't have put them in North America any more than Hawaii, Guam or Saipan, all of which are part of the US.