Topic - Lifestyle

Unlike wet summers in northern Europe, for example, Mexico’s seasonal rains are one of Mother Nature’s treats to experience and enjoy. As temperatures rise above 25 degrees centigrade (80F), there’s nothing quite as refreshing as drenching quantities of water falling from the sky within the space of an hour or two in the late afternoon . . .

When foreign expatriates are asked why they moved to Mexico, among the most common reasons they cite is ‘a desire to simplify our lifestyle’. And when people move to Mexico to simplify their lifestyle, they usually come to realize that the complexity of their ‘previous life’ was quite expensive . . .

Since 1996, Mexico has been adjusting its clocks in the spring and autumn to account for Daylight Saving Time (DST); the only exception is the Mexican state of Sonora, that borders Arizona and, like its U.S. neighbor, chooses not to indulge in clocks changes . . .

Mexico’s peso has been surprisingly stable against the dollar in the past year or so, more surprising even given that markets have been fairly volatile for fear that the U.S. Fed could start raising interest rates at any time . . .

International Living’s Global Retirement Index for 2014 just ranked Mexico in the top five for “best healthcare in the world”. Of course, it is one thing to know that affordable quality care is available, and quite another for an English speaker to access it. In a recent exchange of comments on a Mexperience healthcare article we discussed the “language gap.” …

Limes are a defining ingredient in Mexican cuisine. From guacamole and ceviche to sauces, garnishes, and drinks – it’s hard to imagine Mexican food in the absence of lime. In the last few months, a fall in supply has caused prices of the crop to triple – and Mexicans are not happy . . .

According to the Bank of Mexico there are more than 360 billion pesos in coins and bills in circulation, which works out at about 3,600 pesos for each of the country’s just over 100 million inhabitants. Why then does it seem that no one ever has any change? . . .

One of the principal considerations people take into account when they are visiting Mexico for an extended period and especially if they are living or planning to retire in Mexico, is the matter of arranging health care and related services . . .

The Spaniards were the first to introduce barley and wheat based beers to Mexico although production was limited in the early days, in part due to the lack of available grains. The first official concession to brew European-style beers was issued by the Spanish authorities in the middle of the 16th century; however, despite the brewer’s attempts to expand the business by growing more crops locally to increase the supply of barley at a lower price, very high taxation imposed by Spain on locally produced beers and wines stymied the industry’s growth . . .

Key attractions of owning property in Mexico are the very affordable ongoing costs of property ownership here. In particular, low property taxes and low building and maintenance costs help you keep your costs under control . . .