Tuesday, June 20, 2006
We are headed to Mexico this Friday. We'd been planning for this trip, thinking of the end of July. But this school where I am teaching has it's mid-year vacation next week. So we re-thought our plans accordingly.
This will be our chance to consider living outside of Guatemala. We want to explore the highland area smack in the middle of Mexico, a couple of hours north of Mexico City by bus. San Miguel Allende has a big US retirement community there, on the artsy-fartsy side. Or so we hear. Lots of North Americanos and cultural activities. There is a functioning UU Fellowship there, the only one in Central America as far as I know. This is definitely worth checking out - maybe living a bit removed, to have the advantages of the US presence and still have the feel of living in Mexico.
Then there is Guanajuato, only some two hours away - said to be beautiful, with universities and only a small gringo population. That might make it more attractive for teaching English or chemistry.
After that it is a toss-up between Guadalajara and Queretaro - both have interesting attractions. The thing about all these areas, both good and bad, is their altitude. They are in the altoplano - high up, like Denver - so it is great in the summer but can get pretty cool in the winter.
We both feel as though this trip came up awfully fast and isn't thought out as carefully as we'd like. But I don't know what we could really do to prepare in advance anyway, so why NOT now?
Myrna was at the Mexican Embassy again today. We realized at the last minute that she needs a visa, and it can't simply be purchased on arrival like my tourist card. They require the usual information, but they also want to see traveler's checks covering $50/day of travel, and a letter from me saying that I assume financial responsibility for us both. Papers, papers, MUST have PAPERS! This reaises the issue of whether we are married or not, in Mexico. In the USA, yes of course. But we are still waiting for notarized papers from Philadelphia to file official marriage papers here in Guatemala. So what is Myrna's status for the visa application from Guatemala to Mexico? Who knows.
So stay tuned for the next chapter of our exploits and expeditions this coming week or two.
This will be our chance to consider living outside of Guatemala. We want to explore the highland area smack in the middle of Mexico, a couple of hours north of Mexico City by bus. San Miguel Allende has a big US retirement community there, on the artsy-fartsy side. Or so we hear. Lots of North Americanos and cultural activities. There is a functioning UU Fellowship there, the only one in Central America as far as I know. This is definitely worth checking out - maybe living a bit removed, to have the advantages of the US presence and still have the feel of living in Mexico.
Then there is Guanajuato, only some two hours away - said to be beautiful, with universities and only a small gringo population. That might make it more attractive for teaching English or chemistry.
After that it is a toss-up between Guadalajara and Queretaro - both have interesting attractions. The thing about all these areas, both good and bad, is their altitude. They are in the altoplano - high up, like Denver - so it is great in the summer but can get pretty cool in the winter.
We both feel as though this trip came up awfully fast and isn't thought out as carefully as we'd like. But I don't know what we could really do to prepare in advance anyway, so why NOT now?
Myrna was at the Mexican Embassy again today. We realized at the last minute that she needs a visa, and it can't simply be purchased on arrival like my tourist card. They require the usual information, but they also want to see traveler's checks covering $50/day of travel, and a letter from me saying that I assume financial responsibility for us both. Papers, papers, MUST have PAPERS! This reaises the issue of whether we are married or not, in Mexico. In the USA, yes of course. But we are still waiting for notarized papers from Philadelphia to file official marriage papers here in Guatemala. So what is Myrna's status for the visa application from Guatemala to Mexico? Who knows.
So stay tuned for the next chapter of our exploits and expeditions this coming week or two.
