Here is a gallery depicting the construction of Perla’s sea wall from start to finish. Note that first cement pylons were driven deep into the sand, the pit was then filled with large rock and stone, sealed with tons of cement that was vibrated down into the gaps, and then formed with re-bar, steel, and further cement to make a sturdy structure that can withstand anything mother nature can throw at it:

[View with PicLens]

Why Fight Winter?

As this is written at 8:00 am Monday morning, Dec. 14th., the temp. at the town of Sundre (Environment Canada website) which is just to the west of our town of Olds, is -42C.  Now that’s cold and if memory serves us right, at this temperature you can carry liquid propane around in an open pail, and it will stay liquid all day.  Of course the comparison must be made between this temperature and Manzanillo’s current 9:00 am temperature, which is 25C.  The difference is of course 67 Centigrade degrees which translates into 120.6 Fahrenheit degrees.

Having arrived home 2 days ago we are challenged with the question: why are you here?  The answer is of course seeing family, the need to put up our tree to prepare for our family Christmas, and of course it’s necessary that we chase down a couple of turkeys.  But the bigger picture is that we don’t live in Alberta in the winter anymore.  We only visit!

Winter In Manzanillo

What is it that makes some of us pull up roots while others argue that they are quite happy at home and actually enjoy winter.  Well neither is probably right or wrong, good or bad, wise or foolish.  It seems its just another mystery of the human mind.  What else can it be?  Differences make us unique and interesting.

There can only be discussions with those who wish to talk about the subject, but here are some of the tangents to which these conversations lead:

1)  Comment (C): Mexico is too dangerous!   We’ve heard about all the drug problems and violence?

Response (R):  Certainly there have been problems in some border towns where rival cartels are vying for control (and usually kill each other).  If you ever drive with us however, you’ll discover that Manzanillo is about the same distance from the USA/Mexico border as is Calgary.  Manzanillo claims to be the safest city in Mexico and if you visit us, we’ll take you for a walk in the evening through our little community of Las Brisas and you’ll likely agree that it feels safer than where you live now.  And you’ll be wearing shorts and sandals!

2)  (C): There’s also the swine flu in Mexico.

(R):  We’re told that Mexico handled the H1N1 outbreak better than maybe most countries.  If you remember, Mexico effectively closed itself down for a week.  It appears that this action reduced/interrupted the spread of this virus to the point that the impact in Mexico was minimal.  Unlike Canada, we don’t know of a single person in Manzanillo who had or knows of anyone who had the virus.

3)  (C):  I’d never think of spending that much money to buy a condo or home in Mexico.

(R):  Many of us have made what we have from a lifetime of property accumulation and ownership.  Property comes standard with a discipline that weighs on us to make the required payments (ie: investing our money) and makes it difficult to sell on a whim, unlike say Royal Bank shares.  In addition, property can be lived in or lived on, and touched, also unlike Royal Bank shares.  Taking a holiday or a cruise, buying a car or boat, or buying an RV, is spending money with the goal of course being satisfaction.  We’d argue that buying property in Mx. or anywhere else is not ’spending money’.  On the contrary, buying property is at least somewhat if not totally an investment, and buying lakefront or oceanfront has proven to be one of the best.

4) (C):  What you’re doing is for the rich!

(R):  These comments quite often come from people who have some valuable property holdings, and certainly from those who have not taken the time to discover and acknowledge what Mexico offers.

All of us appreciate value.  For sure, if you choose to spend some time in Mexico, you’ll suffer ‘massive sticker shock’ when you come home.

For example, you can hire a maid for 150 pesos a day (about $12.50 C a day - 12 pesos to the C$ - 12.9 to the US$) or a gardener for 200 pesos per day.  These kind people are hard workers and love to please.  Why not enjoy fresh seafood in the best restaurants for $12 or less, and if you’re appetite is not what it used to be, split the meal like we do.  Have a one hr. massage for 300 pesos or a 1.5 hr. pedicure for 220 pesos.  Carefully manage your screened windows and you’ll not have to air-condition your Mexican home all winter.  Of course you never have to heat it!  Check out this IL link if you’d like an independent opinion that includes Manzanillo and our Las Brisas beach as one of the best places in the world to retire.

http://www.internationalliving.com/Internal-Components/Further-Resources/il-s-2008-retirement-index

It seems then that rather than equating this style of living to being rich, this is more about ones philosophy and what we want to do with our remaining healthy years.  It’s not about living on the edge or accepting high levels or risk.  It’s also not about spending money.  It’s more about moving out of one’s comfort zone and having a willingness to discover.  Children have high intense curiosity.  Most of us as we age, lose that, and some lose it to the point of becoming skeptics.  Maybe a motto for this lifestyle that many of us are selecting could be: choose wisely like an adult, and believe in your decision like a child.

This letter may not be for everyone, and that’s fine.  It’s been a latent topic in our minds that we wanted to address for some time now.  We certainly do not think that our decision is right for everyone, but we wanted to expose some of the reasoning as we and others see it.  And we want to invite you to come to our second home, Manzanillo, and try on a little true Mexican hospitality.  If you see this for yourselves, or if you are thinking about it, check out these websites:

A couple of information sites: www.manzanilloblog.com or  www.gomanzanillo.com

And Manzamigos, a group of northerners that meet in a different restaurant every Thursday for dinner:  www.manzamigos.com

EDMONTON — It was colder in Edmonton Sunday than anywhere else in North America.

Sunday also marked the coldest Dec. 13 in Edmonton’s history, said Environment Canada meteorologist Pierre Lessard said.

Environment Canada recorded a frigid -46.1 C, or -58.4 C with wind chill, at the Edmonton International Airport at 5 a.m., Lessard said.

The old record of -36.1 C was set last year, he said.

“To break a temperature by 10 degrees is very exceptional,” said Lessard.

The temperature record from Edmonton’s city centre was also broken Sunday, said meteorologist John McIntyre. Environment Canada recorded a temperature of -36.5 C downtown at 8 a.m. Sunday, beating the previous record for Dec. 13 of -32.8 in 1882, McIntyre said.

A ridge of frigid Arctic air has hit all the prairie provinces this weekend, causing record-low temperatures in many parts of northern Alberta, Lessard said.

“Temperatures are very cold over Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. There are some places more windy than the others, especially northern Saskatchewan and the north half of Manitoba are very cold,” he said.

But Arctic winds are normal in the winter and should pass through by the middle of this week, Lessard said.

Some flights scheduled to land at the Edmonton International Airport late Saturday night and early Sunday morning were diverted to Calgary because of the severe temperatures, said Edmonton International Airport spokeswoman Traci Bednard.

There were some delays and a couple of cancellations for flights departing Edmonton as well on Sunday morning because of the cold, she said.

“Different airlines and aircrafts have different operating limits,” Bednard said.

The wait time for a tow truck in Edmonton is 24 hours and eight hours for a light service call, said Alberta Motor Association spokesman Kent Dixon.

Eighty per cent of light service calls have been for boosts, Dixon said.

“Below -15 is when you should be plugging (your car) in. It’s absolutely necessary, it’s not a question,” he said.

Even if people don’t plan on going outside in between parking cars in two heated garages, people should always dress for outside conditions, Dixon said.

“It’s really severely cold out right now, and if, for whatever reason, you get stuck or have to wait in a vehicle or get out, you’re going to be thankful pretty quickly that you were dressed appropriately for outside temperatures,” Dixon said.

Dixon recommends keeping a blanket and an emergency kit in all vehicles.

“Act accordingly, be prepared and don’t put your safety at risk,” he said.

ciltan@thejournal.canwest.com

© Copyright (c) The Edmonton Journal

Come visit and experience the beauty of Manzanillo yourself!

The topic of this letter, “The Acid Test”, is the best way to tell you about our Perla Del Mar and our opportunity to experience life here. Back in the days of the California gold rush, prospectors and dealers needed to be able to tell gold from base metal. To confirm that a find was really gold, the subject sample was given ‘the acid test’. Since then the expression has become a common phrase used to denote authenticity and legitimacy as well as quality in products, and character in people. For us during this particular week it has meant having one’s child and grandchildren approve of the results of the passion that Perla Del Mar has been for us during the past two years; hence ‘the acid test’.

When retiring from our lifetime careers in Agriculture, we and many of our peers were faced with the exciting task of determining the directions we’d take for the rest of our (healthy) lives. That ’six -oh’ birthday is a real reality check and one that has a profound effect on some folks. Retirement publications advise readers to break down their remaining healthy life expectancy years into groups of five and then begin to fill in the spaces. But for some there is no time for contemplation, just a long list of opportunities from which to choose. Still others are confronted with realities that determine their routine each day, limiting their choices. Hopefully not too many of us get stuck in that rut of not being able to make the decision when we should be making one. We all fit somewhere.

Family is a big part of our lives and has somewhat affected our choices. We’ve been blessed with four wonderful children and a plethora of grandchildren. As we took our first semi-retirement breaths, we thought that a new challenge for the two of us should be the leadership role where we would search for recreation opportunities that our family could then all share. One big happy family with the same goals! We can’t remember how long it took us to shake that notion, but it became clear that charging around the warm part of the world looking for a family utopia, was not a shared goal of our expanding family. In fact, the recreation goals of the total family were quite different and varied. With time we were led to realize that where we had expanses of recreation time, they had to carefully choose the best possible use of limited time. We determined that our competition for time with them was and still is the all-inclusive marketers who offer wall-to-wall managed time with maximum value.

Our first living choice in Manzanillo was a well managed condominium development with great views. All of our children visited us there once, but were to our surprise, not anxious to return. With their muted responses fresh in our memories, we revisited what we remembered to be the best of family times shared together over 40 or so years. It seems that while Manzanillo has a near perfect climate, our previous location was simply missing easily accessible water, sand, and a beach. With these items at the top of the list nearly 3 yrs. ago we chose these 45 meters of oceanfront on fabulous Las Brisas beach in Manzanillo. So we’re now ready for inspection and this is the winter then when our family will give Perla Del Mar, ‘the acid test’.

Last weekend we picked up in Puerto Vallarta, the ‘first to stay in Perla child of ours’, along with two grandchildren. Watching their reactions to what we think is a magnificent location on Manzanillo’s Las Brisas beach, was a tentative highlight for us. We know that pictures and words cannot describe this place anymore than a camera can capture a panorama of Alberta’s Rocky Mountains on a clear day from home. The reaction we observed however, was just what we’d hoped. ‘The acid test’ then was our daughter’s reaction verbalized by comments such as: “I had no idea that Perla was this beautiful; Living here is like living in a dream & Who wouldn’t want to spend every day possible here”. The grandkids seem to have taken root as well between the ocean, the sand and Perla’s pool, spending most of their waking hours outdoors. They even like the local tacos and observing how different life in Mexican families appears to be. If the reports that go home to the other three sound anything like what Mom & Dad are hearing here, this may become a special location for our family for years to come, i.e.: it seems to have passed ‘the acid test’.

There is no doubt about the reaction of visitors and investors who visit for the first time. Perla Del Mar is the premium property in this town. Coupled with the good local feel of the Las Brisas community which includes a gradual expansion of local services and businesses, living here is truly a charmed existence. Waking up to a constantly changing seascape of ships, horizons and colours, morning coffee on the deck in a minimum of clothing, and the arrival of whales today, we thank God regularly for our blessings. With a couple more ‘acid tests’ on the horizon this winter and good responses, we’ll know for sure that we’ve found the place.

Our ‘Perla’ is the center of activity for several very happy couples. We have accumulated a good staff of maids, gardeners and security people, and yesterday interviewed a gal for the position of administrator. This team will look after our needs and ensure that our investments in Perla Del Mar are properly maintained. It’s a good feeling to arrive in Manzanillo at any time and have several people really glad to see you, to discover everything the way you left it, and then to sleep in your own bed with the sound of the surf just a few meters away. It’s even better to have family visit and to share good times together on and around this property.

All of these pictures have been taken recently. It seems that some of the photos are becoming redundant, but each sunset is somewhat unique. Changes to Perla are mostly in the form of details now as we wait for the few lucky people who are still to become owners. The strength of the Canadian dollar has created ownership opportunities for many Canadians who are attracted to warmth, oceanfront, seafood and water activities, and who challenge the cultural opportunities that abound here. Everyone who visits is impressed with the friendliness of the people and the value. The list goes on, but still first is climate. A bold statement? Could be but here it is anyway: For over seven months every year, Manzanillo has perfect weather!

Manzamigos Messenger November 2009

Manzamigos Messenger October 2009

Lots of people now making contact and asking some of these same questions.

In the Calgary Herald on Saturday I was told that Air Transat had flights from Nov. 7th to 14th for $398 plus tax.  They do go non-stop all winter long to ZLO, but not at this price.  In addition AT usually allows a max. stay of two weeks.  It that doesn’t work for you then here are alternatives.

Check these please as they come from my slightly fossilized grey matter and may not be totally accurate.  Apologies for any typos.

1) Mexicana flies 7 days a week out of Alberta - three departing Edmonton and four departing Calgary, to Mexico City.  With a connection either through Mexicana or another Mexican airline, you can reach ZLO in one day.  Flights back are simple as the Mexicana flight leaves ZLO around lunch time and with the Mexico City connection, arrives in Alberta late that night.  People who have done this are quite happy with these connections and seem to be happy with the airline.

2) US Air begins flights in early Dec. departing Calgary to PHX, and then arriving the same day in ZLO.  Many people use this flight during the winter and really like the service.  Don’t know about US Air service to Edmonton - YEG?

3) Good old Alaska.  You have to fly Horizon to Seattle, either stay there overnight and catch a very early morning flight to LAX, or go to LAX the first day and stay in LA where you catch the 10:30 am next day flight to ZLO.  We have done this many, many, times and are frequent fliers (MVP) on Alaska.  While we love their people and the way they treat us, we’re tired of the ‘milk run’ and are ready to switch to some airline with better connections to ZLO.  We are still with Alaska for our Christmas return and are looking forward to seeing their familiar faces, but are certainly not looking forward to the marathon.  FYI, the lucky folks in Vancouver still have Alaska service to LAX, just like we did at one time, so they all fly Alaska to ZLO.

I have been talking to Alaska about alternatives like doing a once a week flight from Seattle to ZLO, non-stop.  With a little coordinating with Horizon they could easily get us to ZLO in one day.  Even better would be a once a week flight from Alberta to ZLO, aka Air Transat, but I doubt that will happen.  Alaska still has some loyal fans because they do service ZLO all year while others ‘cherry pick’ the peak markets and then abandon us the rest of the year.  That’s probably why Vicky and I have stayed with them.

4) Last ZLO service would be Continental.  They have several flights a day from Calgary to Houston - don’t know about Edmonton but there must be at least one.  From there, and again only in peak months, they service ZLO.  This still usually means an overnight, so there’s not much advantage here.

5) Other alternatives which maybe make Manzanillo’s market seem smaller than it really is, are flights to Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta.  If someone is renting a car anyway, there is wonderful service to either of these destinations.  Continental has flights every couple of hours from Houston to Guadalajara all year long, and Westjet and others fly daily it seems (usually non-stop) to Puerto Vallarta.  Many who would fly to ZLO but can’t find suitable service, choose one of these two options.  We know of several people this year who flew Westjet to PV, and then drove to ZLO in a rented car.

Hope the above helps.

We arrived home from Manzanillo about two weeks ago now via our van.  Our trip home was the reverse of the Jan. ‘08 trip (the Mexico leg) when we last made the commute.  The first night after leaving Perla Del Mar in Manzanillo was spent in Zacatecas.  This city is fast becoming our favorite although seasoned travelers tell us there are many other wonderful cities and places to visit in culturally rich Southern Mexico prior to naming Zacatecas the favorite (other city names that have been mentioned include: Guanajuato, San Miguel, Queretaro, Cuernavaca, Oaxaca, Jalapa, Patzcuaro, Toluca, Taxco, Morelia, and others).  Maybe it was the familiarity and the expectations that worked in Zacatecas’ favor.  Certainly we were seduced by its charm and beauty this time, not to mention the perfect weather.

Zacatecas is situated on a high plain at an altitude of just over 8000′ ASL and nestled against mountains that once contained cherished silver.  The thermometer can occasionally dip into the minus teens in the dead of winter (lows) while summers are near perfect, a respite from the relentless heat that persists at all low altitude locations in Mx..  In summer a long sleeve shirt will suffice in the mornings and late evenings, and shorts are the norm during the day.  Some coastal lovers who have chosen to make Mx. their year around home, do move to a higher altitude location for the summer months - Lake Chapala for instance.  In the winter we see Lake Chapala residents renting apartments in Manzanillo to get a break from their cool weather.  Seems we humans are not easily pleased and continue to search for the perfect year around climate.

Since there is so much to tell, let’s quickly review the photos.  The first two were taken in Jan. ‘08 and show Zacatecas from a high point on a mountain from which one can catch gondola rides.  This gondola takes passengers across part of the city with the lower point on this trip being an old silver mine.  Very informative tours relating the historic significance of silver mining in Mx occur in this mine by day, while by night the interior of the mine becomes a unique night club.  Let’s go there sometime.

The next three pictures are some street shots that indicate the consistent architecture of the downtown area.  Most of these buildings contain little shops that will entertain even reluctant shoppers like me for hours/days.  The banners across the streets are in celebration of the 16th of September, the celebrated date when a 10 year revolution began resulting in Mexico gaining its independence from Spanish rule.  Father Hidalgo and several other conspirators rang the bell of his little church calling everyone to fight for liberty.  From this are two much used names derived: The first is “16th of September”, a phrase used as a street name in almost every city we’ve visited.  The second is Hidalgo, a revered name seen all over Mexico and used to name streets, buildings and even towns.

Last trip (Jan. ‘08) we stayed in the Quinta Real, a unique facility built around an old bull fighting ring.  It is a very upscale chain but during slow times one can find accommodation there at the right price.  This time we booked the Hotel Emporio.  While not exuding the class and distinction of Camino Real, it is better located and had excellent staff.

When we travel, we usually carry a second set of keys for the van.  As a rule, if the hotel parks your vehicle, your keys are inconveniently available should you wish to retrieve something you need, or stash away some new purchase.  We had this second set of keys at the Hotel Emporio, and whenever we arrived in parking, we were shadowed by the fellow in this picture who was simply doing his job.  The drive from Manzanillo had been a long one the previous long day so in the morning I checked the engine oil.  When replacing the dipstick, I noticed something to my left.  It was the fellow in the picture with a paper napkin for me to wipe my hands.  Wow!  Before we left he had washed all the windows and moved our van to the exit ramp.

It’s interesting that in much of Mexico you are served by people who make service their career.  Service careers are good permanent jobs in their country and they are very good at what they do.  This man watching over the cars in the Hotel Emporio was very good at his job, and probably earns deservedly good tips.  A good tip for what he does (our opinion) is 50 pesos (about C- $4.40).  Your vehicle is likely as safe in these circumstances as it is in your own garage.

The next picture is the bell towers on one of the churches.  These beautiful churches are centrally located in all towns and cities, and are always the hub.  It is said that in Mexico, even the poor contribute to the church.   This one just begs to be photographed as there is much architectural detail and it is in great condition (picture 4 is of the front with a wide angle lens).

Pictures 5 & 6 are Hotel Emporio.  The inside picture is of the breakfast buffet where you again are attended to by career waiters.  We booked Hotel Emporio through Expedia after reading reviews on ‘tripadvisor’, and can say that this hotel was just plain pleasant.  We noted when walking that there is another hotel that looks more upscale and is also well located, but we were so happy with our choice that we neglected to note the name of the other hotel.  When you leave on foot to explore Zacatecas from Hotel Emporio, it takes about one minute to get into what Zacatecas has to offer.  It’s a smorgasbord of things to see.

The next two pictures are included to tell a short story.  We have taken used computers with us on almost every trip to Mx.  This is the Helen Keller School where physically impaired children learn their life skills.  It is a very nice facility, but the city had no money for computers.  With donations of computers from the Olds area including a large number from our company Li’l Shaver Inc. and the Mountain View Credit Union, we were able to outfit this school.  Well, these computers are getting older now and in need of replacement.  If you are traveling south with us, or if you have a good computer or flat screen monitor you no longer need, please let us know and maybe we can begin to upgrade the computers in this school.

If you’ve read these posts, you know that there are many opportunities to help in Mx.  We’re hoping that as a group, the owners of Perla Del Mar will accept a challenge to focus on some particular need in Manzanillo.  There are several, so it’s likely that you’ll be reading about something we will be helping with in the near future.

The last pictures are the real reason we’re headed south.  The first is of course Perla Del Mar, and the second is spending time with friends in this tropical paradise (taken last January).  Here we are having breakfast at Camino Real Hotel with a special couple from the Edmonton area.  In the background is the Las Hadas Hotel, where the movie ‘10′ was filmed many years ago when Bo Derek was in her youth.  The hotel is still beautiful sporting a classic charm, and its Las Delfines (The Dolphins) restaurant is one of the best in the city.

Hasta luego (which means ’see you’ or ’see you soon’)!!

Following is some of what we think we have learned (we can’t guarantee the accuracy) during our near 7 years of negotiating the necessities of ‘must and should do’s’ when living and traveling in Mexico.

We took an old car to Mx. on our first trip.  Proud of ourselves that we would have an anonymous and invisible car that would blend with all the other old Mexican clunkers (perception), we blindly charged down the highway south from Nogales.  Advised not to drive at night, but with the car running so well, we decided at 6 pm to make a run for the next town on our route, Los Mochis.  Midway between Navajoa and Los Mochis, our water pump cashed in, coinciding with the setting sun.  It was the beginning of a long night that was positively affected by a lady (angel) in an old Datsun truck who stopped to help us in the median of this busy four lane toll road.

It’s worth mentioning here that there is a potentially wonderful thing on toll roads in Mx., and that is the presence of trucks called green angels.  These one ton trucks are driven by English speaking mechanics who have a great assortment of parts for many vehicles, and will help hapless tourists like us when in the predicament we were in.  Trouble is, and we were aware of this, they work from sun-up to sundown.

It’s amazing how strong ones faith becomes when faced with the perception of survival.  We prayed, promised and pleaded with God, and he delivered this little Mexican lady in the Datsun truck.  The rest is a long story, but as the night progressed the situation improved until we finally fell asleep in our car which by then was safely towed and stored on the mechanics property.  By 1:00 pm the next day, we were on our way with a new water pump, we had made new Mexican friends of the mechanic and his family, and had then moved on to Mazatlan where we enjoyed a night of seafood that we digested in a wonderful soft bed.

There is a message here.  Having your vehicle strand you at night on Interstate 5, 10, 40 or 80, the 401, highway 1 or 2, a toll road in Mx., or anywhere for that matter, is something to avoid.  We are now also convinced that driving an old clunker at night, on any road more than 100 miles from home, and without cell phone service, is not a well thought out plan.  On the subject of cell phones in Mx., here is the scoop: It’s likely that your cell phone provider can provide you with International Service, meaning your phone will work in Mx.  Just remember when you use your cell phone in Mx. you are at the mercy of Carlos Slim, arguably one of the world richest men (no. 1 or 2) and he will bill you approx. $2 usd per minute (or more) for the privilege.

In summary, we promised ourselves and our Heavenly Father that we would not drive old cars in Mx. anymore, or anywhere else for that matter, especially at night and any substantial distance from home.

Next subject is entering Mx. with a car.  Lots of questions here, but let us say that it is really quite simple.  You must have Mexican insurance.  Many people we know deal with Ricardo Morin in Manzanillo morinsur@prodigy.net.mx  Ricardo will do your transaction by email, billing your insurance to your credit card and forwarding you the policy, again by email.  We and probably hundreds of others have dealt with him.  He and his beautiful wife have many Canadian and American friends, and most years they visit we northerners in their summers.  Yes you can buy insurance elsewhere and it may be just fine.  Having dealt with Ricardo for some time now, we do know that if one has an accident, the adjusters that arrive at the scene have been very good, and the service and repairs are conducted promptly and efficiently.  It’s also nice, if you’re unfortunate enough to be in a fender bender, to be able to call Ricardo’s office when you don’t totally understand the process, and would really would like to talk to someone.

In the case of owners of Perla Del Mar, we will have an administrator who will work tirelessly for us and can really be of help in any situation.

So numero uno, you need Mexican insurance.  You’ve now taken the bait, you’ve crossed the US border, and are driving in Mexico where down the road you will arrive at what we call km. 21.  Wherever you cross, somewhere in front of you is a facility operated by immigration where permits are issued.  Tourists are required to buy a tourist permit which allows the importation of a car into Mx. for a maximum of 180 days.  Make sure to ask for 180 days if that is what you want, as you may discover later that 60 days for example was written on your permit.

To make crossing simple, have these ready: a copy of drivers license, passport, proof of insurance (Mexican), and your car registration.  Your will pay for your permit with a credit card - only!  The reason for the use of a credit card may be this: some people have suggested to us that if a car is not removed from Mx. within the permit period, Mexico can charge on your card, a penalty.  Don’t know about this for sure.

Note: Also take a copy of the proof of purchase/ownership of your vehicle in case you’re ever in an accident (proof of ownership does not mean your provincial or state registration - for us in Alberta it is the sales contract and the NVIS card).  In fact, do a couple copies of each document.  It’s easier to do these copies at home rather than having to get out of a line to run to a copy shop at the crossing.  Also, general advice while in Mx. is to keep a copy of your passport in your wallet/purse as it is very useful and means you don’t have to carry your actual passport (which you can keep locked in your Manzanillo residence).  Our experience:  Although we have crossed into Mx. now several times, it seems every time we still are short one copy of something.  One wonders what the Mexicans do with all this paper?  Certainly after seven years now they have a big stack of paper related to us, somewhere.

The whole entry experience will likely be quite pleasant and you will probably be in the company of other non-nationals who are also going through the process.

A wonderful feeling descends on you as you drive away from immigration realizing that the wonderful country of Mexico awaits you, just down the road.  Two million Americans and Canadians have voted with their feet and already made Mexico the number one retirement destination in the world.

FM3’s

We receive questions about and are involved in many discussions concerning FM3’s.  Most people initially are interested in an FM3 because they wish to leave a foreign plated car in Mx. for longer than is permitted with a tourist visa.  While we do not pretend to understand all of the rites that apply with ownership of a FM3’s (and much more information is available online), here is some of what we have learned through experience.

1) You can acquire your FM3 in Canada and probably the USA through a Mx. consulate or the like (although it may be easier to do in Mx.).  If done outside of Mx. the FM3 is not activated until you cross the border into Mx. and have your first stamp (in your new little green book - long-term non-immigrant visa).  We acquired our first FM3 in Calgary and with blind ignorance and not realizing the significance of the date, crossed the border on Jan. 20th.  Here’s why this is significant.  Each year now we must renew our FM3, having it at immigration not more that 30 days prior to Jan 20th.  Since that day several years ago, our travel plans always take into consideration being in Manzanillo in early Jan. on a weekday prior to Jan. 20th, and because we usually come home for Christmas we are seldom in Manzanillo after Dec. 15th.  The lesson here is: If you choose to acquire your FM3 outside of Mx., carefully consider the ideal anniversary date as you could live with the significance of that date for many years.

If you acquire your FM3 in say Manzanillo, you can determine your anniversary date within a few days as the anniversary date is the date of issue.

Next question then may be: If I bring my car into Mx. on a tourist permit and acquire a FM3 in Mx., can I then get a FM3 permit for my car to replace my tourist permit?  Answer: We don’t know for sure!  We have asked this question and do not have an answer.  An opinion would be that Immigration should be able to cancel your car tourist permit and issue you an FM3 car permit, but this is not a ‘for sure’.  If and when we get a straight answer on this, we pass it on and include it in the website www.perladelmar.com.mx

2) Always carry a copy of your current FM3 renewal page in your vehicle.  Your FM3 validates the windshield FM3 sticker located behind your rear-view mirror even though the sticker may be several years old.  Some people say that the letter of the law says that the vehicle is supposed to leave Mx. and re-enter yearly.  Not sure about this, as we do know that there are many vehicles with FM3 stickers that have been in Mx. for many years.  A current FM3 is definitely important.  Windshield replacement has its challenges as well - another subject!

3) Don’t let a Mexican drive your vehicle.  Mexico has a VAT (IVA) of 15%.  Anyone who buys a Mexican vehicle pays this tax as it is an important source of revenue for the country.  An obvious way for Mexicans to avoid this tax would be to have a non-national friend buy a car, bring it to Mexico and allow it to be used by Mexicans.  In short if the authorities were to catch a Mexican driving your car, it could be confiscated.

4) You can import a car, but if it is newer that 10 yrs. old, you will pay IVA based on a non-negotiable value placed your car by the government agency in charge.  After paying the tax, Mexican plates can be installed on the car making it somewhat anonymous and not requiring any more permits.  If the car is 10 years old or older, it can be imported tax free and can carry Mexican plates.

5) When you leave the country by car, absolutely ask for and get a receipt for the sticker that is removed from your windshield - tourist or FM3.  Without this receipt you do not have proof, should you ever need it, that you took the car out of the country.  Should the paperwork be misplaced, you could be accused of having sold the car in Mexico, creating unwanted problems.  We keep these receipts in our passport.

That’s it for now.  If there are corrections needed in all of the above, please comment below!