Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

To: Eric in the Ozarks

Yeah, that’s why I haven’t visited Mexico itself yet even though I’ve been a few other places in the Americas, every time I read the headlines about the cartels the place makes me nervous. OTOH I’ve always gotten the impression that Chile and Argentinian Patagonia for ex. are socially and culturally (and of coures geographically) a world away from Mexico. The Chileans especially seem to have been among the friendliest and happiest people I met, hard-working but also able to take nice vacations, relax and enjoy other’s company. I also found this appealing balance of qualities in the Germans to my surprise, though of course Germany’s nowhere near Chile as far as the natural beauty of the countryside and beaches.

As far as Mexico goes, I have known a few people who’ve worked or retired there, and in at least a brief aside in a casual conversation a few months ago, seemed like they loved it wherever they’d settled in, spoke enough Spanish to get along nicely and had great friendships with both the locals and fellow expats. I should have asked more about the details then, but I’m guessing they must have been in one of the nice communities that are maybe more concentrated in the Yucatan or Acapulco. I know precious little about Mexico other than it’s divvied up into a variety of different states that don’t particularly like or get along with each other, seems they have very different senses of identity and maybe different cultures too. Maybe the work/retirement destinations are just a world apart in terms of safety and quality compared to the cartel-controlled regions?


39 posted on 11/08/2012 2:43:49 PM PST by Javeth
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies ]


To: Javeth
We spent a week in Oaxaca after a few days on the beach at Huatulco some years ago. The people there spoke an Indian dialect to one another but would speak Spanish if asked directions, etc. Oaxaca is a quaint city in the southern mountains. It featured an old style Spanish square where parents watched their kids (boys walked clockwise, girls, counter clockwise) pass notes to each other. This was “date night” for the teenagers.
57 posted on 11/08/2012 3:55:10 PM PST by Eric in the Ozarks (In the game of life, there are no betting limits)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson