My Luxuriant Jacaranda

The eponymous jacaranda tree at Villa La Jacaranda is laden with lavender-colored blossoms, and rains its petals in the front yard. I have never seen it so luxuriant. Soon, I hope, the jacarandita in back will also grace us with a plethora of blooms.

Villa La Jacaranda, Patzcuaro

Exhibit of Embroidery Work

Teófila Servín of Santa Cruz

On Wednesday, May 19 there will be an exhibit and contest of the well-known embroidery work of Santa Cruz. Prizes are awarded at 2:00 PM and then the items entered in the contest can be purchased. I am told that things sell quickly and the exhibit is not open long after the awards. It is suggested that one get there early, by 1:30. From Patzcuaro, take the road to Tzintzuntzan. At Sanabria turn right to Santa Cruz. The exhibit should be near or at the church. If you have questions, go to the Santa Cruz embroidery shop that is just a few doors South from the Plaza Grande on Dr. Coss, on the left hand side.

Patzcuaro is great.

Wifi at the Biblioteca

Sitting in the Biblioteca Federal Pública Gertrudis Bocanegra, I am using my laptop to post this with the library's wifi connection. Many will be happy to know that the Patzcuaro public library now offers this convenience(free).

Paean to Mexico Living

As a corollary to Andres Oppenheimer's recent article "Mexico's Big Hope: Get 5 Million U.S. Retirees" in the Miami Herald, Chris B. recently posted the following commentary in a Yahoo group. Quoted with Chris's permission:
Mexican banks are already making it easier to deposit your pension or social security checks.

I think many more Americans will look for refuge in Mexico as health care will not be resolved anytime soon.
I am currently in San Antonio, Tx and am shocked at prices in the supermarket, apartment rentals, and the cost of utilities. If I were a retiree it would drive me to move to Mexico.

I can't seem to spend more than 700 dollars a month for expenses including; three vehicle insurance policies (two cars and one rv), cable, electric, gas, internet, telephone, gym, exterminator, club campestre dues, and private healthcare insurance. This doesn't include gasoline or groceries. My house is paid for but I couldn't survive in the U.S. with this budget.

Most of my friends in the U.S. are retirees who didn't plan well for their retirement. They barely scrape by month to month. Utilities and healthcare are eating them alive.

Imagine all the foreigners who live fulltime in Mexico. If there are 1.5 million Americans, what about Canadians and Europeans?

Apart from lower living expenses you can't beat the variety of foods, fresh produce, sunshine, culture and language.

chris b.
monterrey, nuevo leon

"Mexico's Big Hope: Get 5 Million U.S. Retirees"
Chris B's Blog
Stretch your dollars in Patzcuaro

Got Electricity

This caught my eye.

Hugo Valencia, Birder

Hugo with one of his two daughters

Hugo Valencia has diverse talents, from small appliance repair to master tile-setter to keen-eyed birder. He has received a scholarship to train at the well-known Long Point Bird Observatory in Ontario, Canada. That's a long way from Lake Patzcuaro. He is one of only three people chosen from Latin America. See story.