Living in Puerto Aventuras now!

Did you miss me? It would appear I have not written in awhile. For those with inquiring minds .... I took a break. My husband and I still live in Mexico although we sold our beautiful house in Playa del Carmen last fall and have moved into a pretty awesome condo in Puerto Aventuras ( about 15 minutes further south).

We moved our kids, now 19 and 21 back to BC, Canada this last summer as they wanted to experience Canadian culture and pursue jobs there. It is safe to say they did experience culture shock living in Canada after living in Mexico for the last 11 years of their life. That will be another blog.

Shawn and I are enjoying our renewed honeymoon tremendously and we love our new condo. Yes, this is a picture from our living room. No open invitations to visit at this point as I think we have had non stop company since December. I have a lot to fill you in on but more another day.

Let each day be an adventure.
Make it an Outstanding Day!
Suzanne Marie Bandick
www.OnlyinMexicoYouSay.com

Chilling out in Mexico

Mexico is a fantastic place to lay back, chill out and enjoy life. Why? I think it is the mixture of people’s attitudes, the culture as a whole, the warm temperatures, and the surroundings ... I can certainly attest to the chill out mode first hand as I haven’t even been writing blogs lately!

(Yes, that is me in the picture in Bacalar. What a life eh?) What day is it anyway? Actually I jest; I still have one son in school and I do have several life coaching clients so I do usually keep track of the days.

The point I have been pondering lately is how often do we allow ourselves to get caught up in one of life’s ever evolving dramas and then get all stressed out? Maybe none of the stress is necessary. It surely all works out in the end.

It is a choice. It is all a choice. It is much like my decision to move to Mexico in the first place. What I will always remember is that I moved to Mexico to enjoy a different way of life ... a different view of life ... and to embrace something new. No matter where we live, creating stress is optional.

The Mexican word mañana can be interpreted in many different ways. In my life it makes me remember that rarely is anything so important that I have to spoil my current moment to jump up and do it - later will be just fine. Mañana you say? Why argue with something that works? Embrace it. It’s a choice.

Only in Mexico you say?

Enjoy life's adventures!

With great love, Suzanne

Suzanne Marie Bandick
Live your Dreams Life Coach

P.S. My ebook: Only in Mexico You Say? The Humorous Side of Living in Mexico is available now on my site http://www.onlyinmexicoyousay.com/.

Would you like help to visit or live in Mexico? Visit http://www.liveyourdreamscoaching.com/.

My husband's Playa del Carmen Real Estate office – http://www.onestopmc.com/.

Lost in translation

We spent last weekend in Bacalar which is about 3 hours south of Playa del Carmen, here in Mexico. It is a tiny little town, much like I expect Playa del Carman was about 15 years ago.

I always enjoy spending time in Bacalar as I find it peaceful, tranquil and serene.

We visited Cenote Azul which is right in town this trip. There is a restaurant there and great swimming in what is said to be the largest and deepest open air cenote in the Yucatan.

You used to be able to dive off the roof of the restaurant into this beautiful blue cenote. However, it appears that has changed ... as you can see by the sign (click on the picture to enlarge)... no shoving is allowed either. I think they meant no diving ... but technically if I dove and didn’t shove would that be okay?

Only in Mexico you say?

Enjoy life's adventures!

With great love, Suzanne

Suzanne Marie Bandick
Live your Dreams Life Coach

P.S. My ebook: Only in Mexico You Say? The Humorous Side of Living in Mexico is available now on my site http://www.onlyinmexicoyousay.com/

Would you like help to visit or live in Mexico? Visit http://www.liveyourdreamscoaching.com/.

My husband's Playa del Carmen Real Estate office – http://www.onestopmc.com/.

Surviving the rain in Mexico

Well we are back to talking about the fact that it is rainy season in Playa del Carmen.

It rained all night and now all day. My towels (washed yesterday) are still hanging on the line going through a continual rinse cycle. I like to think of it as natures fabric softener.

So anyway, what do we do on rainy days in Playa? Here are some suggestions....

- Go in the pool anyway. Wet is wet.
- Same applies for cenotes and the ocean. We can call it natures wet and wild.
- Buy an umbrella and walk around in the rain... splash in the puddles.
- Find a restaurant street side and watch the people go by.
- Take in a movie. Our cinemas are excellent and inexpensive.
- Stroll one of our malls. We have Las Americas and Centro Maya.
- Visit an arcade. Both malls have them. Be a kid.
- Head to a pub and watch a game (soccer is pretty popular right now).
- Play some board games or cards under a palapa on the beach.
- Use this as an excuse to make Abuelita hot chocolate.
- Enjoy the day!

I’d plan a holiday to Canada but I hear it has been raining there too so I guess I’m headed for the pool. I have no idea why my dog won’t join me poolside.

Enjoy life's adventures!

With great love, Suzanne

Suzanne Marie Bandick
Live your Dreams Life Coach

P.S. My ebook: Only in Mexico You Say? The Humorous Side of Living in Mexico is available now on my site http://www.onlyinmexicoyousay.com.m/

Would you like help to visit or live in Mexico? Visit http://www.liveyourdreamscoaching.com/.

My husband's Playa del Carmen Real Estate office – http://www.onestopmc.com/.

Summer in Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Ten things I believe about living in Playa del Carmen, Mexico in the summer

If you are thinking of coming down for a visit or to live, these thoughts may help you plan and pack.

- Intense heat and high humidity is good for the skin.
- Living with access to a pool is a necessity.
- Owning two or three swimsuits is important so you always have a dry one.
- It’s fun to change clothes three times a day.
- The calories from iced coffees don’t count because you sweat the calories away.
- Two or three showers a day are usually needed and are also healthy for your skin.
- To work out with no air conditioning in your gym burns lots of fat.
- One should always carry water with them and drink lots and that is healthy.
- Sunhats can be a fashion statement.
- You can wear less clothing and that saves on laundry.

All in all, I am very glad we moved our family here; hot summers and all. Just look at those palm trees! Now excuse me, my hammock is beckoning me and I think I feel a breeze.

Enjoy life's adventures!

With great love, Suzanne

Suzanne Marie Bandick
Live your Dreams Life Coach

P.S. My ebook: Only in Mexico You Say? The Humorous Side of Living in Mexico is available now on my site http://www.onlyinmexicoyousay.com.

Would you like help to visit or live in Mexico? Visit http://www.liveyourdreamscoaching.com.

My husband's Playa del Carmen Real Estate office – http://www.onestopmc.com.

Driving in Mexico. Are you nuts?

Oh I have not talked about driving in Mexico for quite awhile... And driving here is so much fun and so adventurous...

Take what I encountered this morning for instance in the space of 10 minutes (which is how long it takes for me to get home from my new gym).

- A driver decided to try to make three lanes out of two and blocked oncoming traffic.
- Motorcycles simultaneously passed me on my left and right as I was doing the posted speed (and it was not a three lane highway).
- A taxi wanting to make a right created a third lane and almost rear ended a parked bus.
- When making a left you often have to go into the lane of oncoming traffic or the guy behind you thinks your turn signal means to pass you on the left. I had to do that this morning.
- Oh and I passed over 8 sets of speed bumps to give me a no cost body vibration treat.

Crazy eh (Canadian roots)? Now understand that I am not complaining. I am simply sharing the delights of driving in Mexico where driving is never boring. Do you really want to rent that car when you visit?

You know the amazing thing is that once you get used to driving here everything actually flows. Go figure.

Enjoy life's adventures!

With great love, Suzanne

Suzanne Marie Bandick
Live your Dreams Life Coach

P.S. My ebook: Only in Mexico You Say? The Humorous Side of Living in Mexico is available now on my site http://www.onlyinmexicoyousay.com.

Would you like help to visit or live in Mexico? Visit http://www.liveyourdreamscoaching.com.

My husband's Playa del Carmen Real Estate office – http://www.onestopmc.com.

Playa del Carmen is hot and humid!

Well it is summer and Playa del Carmen tends to get this way. After seven or eight years of living here it should not surprise me right?

So to love it or not?
I love it! Well at least I have found ways to love it.

I get to plan trips to air conditioned spots like the mall, the movie theatre, and friend’s houses!
I get to tell my husband ... I can’t work today, it is too hot. I must swim in the pool.
I get to tell my friends that we NEED to play at the beach.
I get to plan trips to Cenotes (fresh water swimming caves).
I get to drink lots of cold drinks with lots of ice in fun glasses.
I get to swim in the pool before bed.
I get to walk around fanning myself with pretty fans and feeling like royalty.
Not such a bad life all in all.

(This picture is my husband and a friend cooling off at a Cancun mall called La Isla ... now you see who inspires me)
What else should I do? I love new ideas. Especially wild and fun ones!


Enjoy life's adventures!

With great love, Suzanne

Suzanne Marie Bandick
Live your Dreams Life Coach

P.S. My ebook: Only in Mexico You Say? The Humorous Side of Living in Mexico is available now on my site http://www.onlyinmexicoyousay.com/.

Would you like help to visit or live in Mexico? Visit http://www.liveyourdreamscoaching.com/.

My husband's Playa del Carmen Real Estate office – http://www.onestopmc.com/.