Focus on Mexico Blog

Richard Case from our last group turned out to be a premier haggler, and the nice thing about it was that both he and the vendor came away from the transaction smiling!

He definitely takes one of our tips to heart, "Treat haggling as part of the fun in the market place...a form of social interaction rather than a matter of life and death." As we like to say: "Keep a smile on your face. Be friendly. Don't get mad. Don't let the 'game' get 'personal.'"

After it was all over, Richard said, "I love negotiating! I thought it was a lot of fun. I like walking away with a win-win for both of us! Can't wait to move down here and start doing it on a regular basis." Our hats are off the Richard...it took about a half hour, but he got quite a bargain; however, since it's a surprise for his wife, we won't tell you what!

Yes, you read that right...an entire mall devoted to shoes...it almost took my breath away. They also had a few extraneous shops there...like pastries and cosmetics!

I mean...could it get any better than that? After Ana drove us up to see Julie, we decided to check out the shoes. It was a perfect day. I bought two pairs of shoes; Ana bought one; Bill didn't buy any! Go figure!

You ladies will have to vote...should this be on our tour or not?

Fernando happened upon a store in Chapala that sold huaraches. He tried on a few pair and finally found one that fit him just fine!

You've all heard the Beach Boys song, "Surfin USA", haven't you. Well, part of the lyrics go like this:

If everybody had an ocean
Across the U.S.A.
Then everybody'd be surfin'
Like Californi-a
You'd seem 'em wearing their baggies
Huarachi sandals too
A bushy bushy blonde hairdo
Surfin' U.S.A.

I don't know if Fernando's a surfer, but he's got the right shoes for it now. I think I even heard him haggle...it's expected, you know! Looking good, Fernando!

You can buy what in Mexico?!

I have to admit, one of my favorite parts of going to Paz (the liquor store in San Antonio Tlayacapan) is the surprise some people have in the fact that you can buy Cuban cigars in Mexico.

Of course you can! There's no embargo in Mexico against Cuba. As a matter of fact, some of the expats with immigrado status here have even used their Mexican passports to travel to Cuba just to say they did it! And, some of my friends say Cuban cigars are more than a hobby. They're a lifestyle. Who am I to argue with that? And for you information junkies out there, Wikipedia says "the English word cigar is from the Spanish word cigarro, which in turn derives from the Mayan word for tobacco, siyar." I didn't know that, did you?

When Martin Schuster realized Paz sold Cuban cigars, he decided then and there he had to have one. It was fun watching him select just the right one as we all looked on. Paz has quite a selection, and as he opened the cases, I have to admit, they smelled wonderful! Am I really a closet smoker and don't know it?

He chose the perfect cigar, thick enough to feel macho in his fingers (my words, not his!) and I'm sure he enjoyed it to the last puff. He wisely chose not to smoke among the ladies! Way to go, Martin. I wish I could have joined you just for the experience

I think Donald enjoyed shopping at the indoor market in Chapala as much as the ladies. He tried on many, many shirts and got everyone’s opinion…even two German ladies who finally gave him their approval. I tell you...that Donald was a babe magnet!

We all convinced him that the embroidered shirts just weren’t him, but we all applauded at his final choice.