February 2023

February Overview –

Early in February we needed to book some blood tests to make sure our medications were still at the right levels.  Lorne reached out to our local Blue Net Hospital to find pricing and availability.  They advised we could simply walk in, as no appointment was necessary.  The cost of Lorne’s tests (which was a full panel) would be $3,200 pesos ($170USD / $230CAD) and my thyroid test would be $1,600 pesos ($85USD / $120CAD).  In addition to my thyroid test, I also needed to have my blood typing done.  My Canadian driver’s license will expire this year on my birthday, so it’s time to get a Mexican license.  To do this we must present a blood typing test when applying for the license, so figured I would just include it when going for my thyroid test.  The cost of the blood typing test was $120 pesos ($6USD / $10CAD).

The whole process went very smoothly.  We first attended reception to request and pay for the tests, and then proceeded into the hospital to have the tests done.  It was strange to walk through a very quiet, almost deserted hospital.  We were in and out very quickly, and the test results were emailed to us within a few hours.  And we are very happy to report, we are still both healthy!

February 6 was a holiday here in Mexico (Constitution Day), so that meant a long weekend for us.  We made some delicious green chili enchiladas from scratch (so delicious!), and then just enjoyed some rest and relaxation throughout the remainder of the weekend.

Towards the end of February we decided we should adjust the time we get up in the morning because, early in March, Canada and US would be changing to Daylight Savings Time.  Mexico will no longer observe Daylight Savings Time (we now stay on Standard Time all year long), so even though our time will never change again, having the rest of North America move their clocks ahead one hour still ends up affecting us because of Lorne’s work. 

Lorne has internal scheduled meetings Monday, Wednesday, and Friday which are currently at 9:30am our time.  When the US and Canada spring forward in March, these meetings will change to be at 8:30am our time.  The timing is a bit of an issue, as Lorne normally only starts his work day at 8:30am.  To adjust for this, Lorne now gets up at 7:00am so he can start work earlier to be ready for his meetings. 

We have decided to just continue with this earlier schedule year-round, instead of having to change back and forth with the time change twice a year.  This way it will be like it should be for us here in Mexico, where the time won’t change and we will stay consistent all year.  And the bonus is, since he starts work earlier, this means he finishes work a bit earlier so we have more time in the evening to do things.  It’s a win-win all the way around.

And now, here’s what’s been happening around here in February….

Candlemas Day

Día de la Candelaria (Candlemas Day) is celebrated annually on February 2, and is one of the most deeply rooted traditions of the Catholic religion in Mexico.  The celebration for this holiday starts January 6 with the sharing of the “rosca” for the Three Kings Day, as the person who finds the little plastic baby figurine in their slice of cake will be required to make the tamales for Candlemas Day.  Besides attending church services, Candlemas Day is celebrated at home with a huge family dinner which includes the necessary tamales. 

Tamales are always a part of every important Mexican celebration.  They are associated with birthdays, weddings, baptisms, the Day of the Dead events, and funerals.  But the biggest celebration associated with tamales is Candlemas Day.

Tamales are made from masa flour, which is combined with lard or vegetable shortening, along with broth or water to make a very thick batter.  This batter is then whisked to produce a soft, fluffy texture.  The tamales are filled with either a sweet or savory filling, wrapped in corn husks, and then steamed until firm.  Many Mexicans will tell you that the most important part of the tamal is not the filling, but rather the masa dough – it’s ingredients, texture, and preparation.

Constitution Day

Día de la Constitución (Constitution Day) was established by the Mexican Constitution Congress on February 5, 1917, and is celebrated in Mexico each year as a federal public holiday on the first Monday in February.  Banks, schools, government offices and many businesses are closed on this day.  Festivities include festivals, picnics, music concerts and street celebrations throughout the day.

The constitution was drafted following the Mexican Revolution (1910) to bring about social reforms and cultural movement.  To this day, this document continues to shape Mexico’s social, political, and economic policies.

One of the articles of the Mexican Constitution specifically affects expats.  Article 27, which deals with land ownership in Mexico, states “foreigners may not own land within 100km of a land border or 50km of a sea border”.  This became an issue for expats who wanted to buy property near the beach as the constitution did not allow it.  The only way a foreigner could obtain full legal ownership of a coastal or border property is to acquire Mexican citizenship.

However, in the 1990’s, President Carlos Salinas de Gortari wanted to open up land development to bring in foreign investment, so he introduced “Land Trusts” called fideicomisos. 

A fideicomiso is a bank trust that allows foreigners to invest in any Mexican property (regardless of location) and own it as a beneficiary.  You still have all the rights of real estate ownership, while a Mexican bank holds the legal title to it as your trustee.  And the ultimate responsibility of the bank trustee is to represent your interests. 

Because our condo is located less than 3km from the nearest beach, we had to set up a fideicomiso with the bank when purchasing our property.  We pay an annual fee of $10,000 pesos ($750CAD / $550USD) for them to administer the trust.  Our fideicomiso is renewable every 50 years by us or by our heirs, and allows us to lease, sell, improve, or bequeath our property legally. 

Valentine’s Day

Día de San Valentin (Valentine’s Day) is celebrated each year on February 14 just like in other countries.  However, in Mexico, this day is known more as Día del amor y la amistad (Day of love and friendship).  The day is not only dedicated to your significant other, but instead it is common for friends and family to all gather for a big celebration, socializing over dinner or at the beach.  Mexico’s Valentine’s Day is celebrated by the young and old alike, together making the day a memorable occasion.  Of course it is still common for couples to exchange gifts, and the popular choices are usually flowers or chocolate, or more in keeping with Mexican tradition, hiring a mariachi band to serenade your loved one.

And in keeping with the celebration of love, on February 14 each state’s local government organizes a collective wedding ceremony offering couples a free-of-charge opportunity to marry.  Couples over the age of 18 that present their birth certificate, official ID and a prenuptial medical certificate can participate in the ceremony.  This also includes same-sex couples, as same-sex marriage is now legal in all 32 Mexican states. 

These massive wedding ceremonies have been an annual event since 2013, and thousands of couples are joined together in marriage throughout the country each year. 

In addition, some local governments provide hairdressing and makeup services for the couples, as well as a wedding cake.

Flag Day

Día de la Bandera (Flag Day) has been celebrated in Mexico each year on February 24 since 1937.  It is a national observance in Mexico, and events are held all across Mexico to honour the flag.

The original flag was designed in 1821 marking the victory of Mexicans in the War of Independence against Spain, a struggle that lasted 11 years.  The current flag was adopted in 1968, and it’s colours – red, white, and green, are the colours of the national army in Mexico.  The central emblem is the Mexican coat of arms.   

Though Flag Day is not an official holiday in Mexico, it is still a day celebrated with pride as Mexicans raise their flag on top of buildings and businesses.

Driving in Mexico – The Stop Sign

The ALTO signs in Mexico often confuse those new to driving in Mexico.  While they look like the typical stop sign that you would find in the rest of North America, these ALTO signs are not treated the same way.  Stop signs in Mexico are normally taken as suggestion, more like a yield sign, in which you do a rolling stop.  When approaching an ALTO sign, you just need to keep going if there are no obvious obstructions.  Coming to a complete stop at one of these will no doubt result in a fender-bender. 

As well, when approaching a stop-signed intersection, the person who arrives first is the first to continue, but never assume a driver approaching the intersection that you have entered into is going to stop.  It is important to pay attention, and tourist drivers should constantly observe local drivers and act accordingly.  If not, other drivers will become annoyed and honk at you.   

ps…  Don’t forget to check out the latest Snippets!