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Miguelito

Feb 29, 2004, 5:54 AM

Post #1 of 7 (1354 views)

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Considering a beach city!

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I'm currently living in San Miguel de Allende and after the planned year of residence I may be so enchanted I couldn't possibly leave but:

1. It's awfully dry and dusty.

2. I've lived by the ocean many years and would like to do so again.

3. I'm very concerned about the coastal heat. Even though I'm from Texas which has blazing summers I'm not sure I could make it without a/c. How do folks around the Mazatlan area survive during the hot months?

Regards, Michael

Los que cantan oran dos veces! (Those who sing pray twice!)

Marlene / Moderator

Feb 29, 2004, 9:32 AM

Post #2 of 7 (1342 views)

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Re: [mikelangford] Considering a beach city!

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I know this sounds a bit cliché but those of us that choose to live here all year do get used to it. It took my first summer, and then I was okay with it. No getting around it, the humidity can be uncomfortable so being in the right mindset is important. We do the errands, and go to the shops and markets early in the day. People carry a cotton cloth around to mop the brow, and some women carry umbrellas for sun shade. Walking on the shady side of the street becomes second nature, and we frequent the establishments that we know will have a/c or a nice summer breeze off the ocean. At least two showers a day are usual for some people and they usually look amazingly fresh. My husband swears by the numerous showers theory, in addition to 100 percent cotton t-shirts. The local men wear undershirts to work in the summer. The tourists take off their shirts at the beach and go swimming.

I would say that most foreigners have an air conditioner in the bedroom for sleeping, but not all do. Some get by with fans by choice. I know one newcomer from South Carolina that says the climate here is what she was used to so she relied on fans all summer, helped by the good breeze that flowed through her house. (Layout of the windows in the house is important to relying on summer breezes)

We have a large bedroom that doubles as an office and TV room/den in the worst heat which is usually September and October. CFE gives a seasonable rebate in extremely hot climates (to offset the electricity cost) and we found our a/c bill reasonable last year. (I know this is a big debate from time to time but the most we have ever paid, with the air running 24/7 in our room was under $50.00 USD) We have ceiling fans in the other rooms. Many foreigners who live here most of the year will take time in the hottest months to travel north on vacation, or elsewhere in Mexico. We see a change of faces two or three times a year with some expats being gone for months at a stretch. I, on the other hand will be surviving my 4th consecutive summer here.

Kip

Feb 29, 2004, 10:11 AM

Post #3 of 7 (1338 views)

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Re: [Marlene] Considering a beach city!

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Hi Marlene,

So September and October are the hottest? How hot is hot and how high is the humidity? Here in Mississippi, it can get downright miserable. Is there anywhere that you can think of that would be about the same? (somewhere in the US I mean!)

Where would I find a year round temperature and humidity chart?

Thanks,

Kip
kip

Marlene / Moderator

Feb 29, 2004, 10:28 AM

Post #4 of 7 (1337 views)

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Re: [Kip] Considering a beach city!

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Kip,

I would love to answer your question about comparable places temperature wise in the US but I am from Canada, from an area with humidity in the winter in the form of rain and snow!

The temperature reading seems to be about the same from July or August through October but for some reason it feels hotter in September and October. (Maybe it is the humidity, or maybe we are simply ready for cooler weather)

http://www.intellicast.com/...av=none&pid=none

This second link has more information, such as weather history, moon phases, hours of daylight etc- and if you study it you will see that the temperature and humidity are different from the first link, so who knows. We use these online weather sites only as a guideline, because many times they aren't accurate. I must buy a thermometer.

http://www.weatherunderground.com/...uery=mazatlan+mexico

Kip

Feb 29, 2004, 10:30 AM

Post #5 of 7 (1336 views)

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Re: [Marlene] Considering a beach city!

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Thanks Marlene, I knew you were the right person to ask!

Kip
kip

Brian

Mar 8, 2004, 1:51 PM

Post #6 of 7 (1258 views)

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Re: [mikelangford] Considering a beach city!

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Mike

If you want to live on a Mexican beach year-round and heat and humidity are a problem, I think you have only one choice. The west coast of Baja California between Tijuana and Ensenada share the same weather pattern as San Diego, California. As a former resident, I would say that the climate is the best thing about the area...for culture, stay where you are :-)

Brian

Esteban

Mar 12, 2004, 8:24 PM

Post #7 of 7 (1209 views)

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Re: [mikelangford] Considering a beach city!

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I've been here for 4 years and I still use A/C at night and sometimes all day but only in the bedroom and only in the summer. A lot depends on the micro-climate of your neighborhood. Some areas are cooler than others. Your house design will also add to your comfort level. Some places get more breeze action than others. In southern Mexico, lots of people use hammocks but you don't see that here. Maybe I'll get around to putting up hammock hooks and enjoy the free flowing air. When it's hot and the humidity is maxed out, a normal bed feels like you are sleeping on a hot plate. Fans help too. The summer months here remind me of the extreme cold up north. You just get used to it and adapt. You walk slower, you make sure to drink LOTS of water. You slow down...kick back..relax. I mean what do you do in -20 degree F. cold winter weather? I'll take the heat anyday. Summer is also the rainy season and when the rain comes, the temps drop for a while. It's a welcome relief. The mangoes are plentiful, the surf is awesome and you don't have to turn on the hotwater heater. I've been thinking about ordering up a big 10 peso block of ice and putting it in the tinaco for some REAL cool showers.

(This post was edited by Esteban on Mar 12, 2004, 8:26 PM)