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Cynthia7

Jul 15, 2004, 7:03 PM

Post #1 of 24 (2420 views)

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e can't get in Mexico

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Johanson on the technical forum mentioned it might be fun to list what we believe we can't get in Mexico. I started to think about that and realized how much better it is than when I came here 18 years ago. Over the years we have learned to improvise or realize we really didn't need it. I haven't been able to find ready made metal bed frames. What are you wanting you can't find?

johanson

Jul 15, 2004, 7:28 PM

Post #2 of 24 (2401 views)

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Re: [Cynthia7] e can't get in Mexico

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I can’t find unsweetened natural crunchy peanut butter. You know, like Adams. But no problem, I go back and forth and can always bring a large jar with me.

bournemouth

Jul 15, 2004, 7:31 PM

Post #3 of 24 (2399 views)

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Re: [Cynthia7] e can't get in Mexico

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Several years back we bought ready made bed frames from Sam's Club in Hermosillo - the funny thing was that they didn't fit the Sealy mattresses that we bought at the same time. However, the iron man was doing some work around the house and he welded the frames together so that they fit!

Carol Schmidt

Jul 15, 2004, 8:26 PM

Post #4 of 24 (2386 views)

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Re: [bournemouth] e can't get in Mexico

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Most of the things we buy on the net because they're not available anyplace we've found in Mexico are brand names, with equivalents available here, just not exactly what we want.

Plenty of fabrics, few 100% cotton quilting fabrics.

Plenty of sandals, no Tevas.

Plenty of T-women's shirts, few long enough for a tall gringo who doesn't want to show her belly button.

Plenty of women's jackets, few with long enough sleeves for a tall gringo.

Plenty of canned jalapenos, few dill pickles or sweet pickle relish.

Plenty of deodorants and shampoos and soaps, few which are truly unscented.

Plenty of sausages, no Hebrew National giant all-beef hot dogs at the moment because of the ban on imported US beef.

Plenty of dog food, few canned brands that our dog will eat because of the afore-mentioned ban.

Plenty of watercolor paints, no Holbein brand.

Plenty of hot sauces, no Frank's Louisiana hot sauce used for authentic Buffalo wings.

Plenty of sheets, few 100% cotton high thread count.

Plenty of electric blankets, no matrimonial size with dual controls.

Carol Schmidt

N2Futur

Jul 16, 2004, 8:57 AM

Post #5 of 24 (2340 views)

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Re: [Cynthia7] e can't get in Mexico

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German bread (guess I'll have to bake my own again)
unscented soap and detergent (free of dye and perfumes)
Baby dill pickles and pickled mushroom (Sam's NoB)
decent Bratwurst

Elke
___________________________
"When choosing between two evils, I always like to pick the one I never tried before." - Mae West

esperanza

Jul 16, 2004, 9:35 AM

Post #6 of 24 (2331 views)

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Re: [N2Futur] e can't get in Mexico

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I recently bought delicious pickled mushrooms at Costco in Guadalajara.

Baby dills are available at Super Lake near Ajijic...for a price, of course.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

(This post was edited by esperanza on Jul 16, 2004, 9:36 AM)

julietl

Jul 16, 2004, 12:48 PM

Post #7 of 24 (2286 views)

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Re: [Cynthia7] e can't get in Mexico

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Definately thick towels and good sheets.

This is what I usually bring back:
100% Almond Butter
100% Peanut Butter
Clothing!!!
Used CDs
Books - used/new
Vegetarian Burgers / Hot Dogs
Aveda stuff (they need to open a store here!)
Seed packets for the garden
Indian papadams
Boxes of frozen Lima Beans
Super sharp, aged 5yr+ cheddar cheese
Mustards/Relishes
___________________________________________________________
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johanson

Jul 16, 2004, 12:59 PM

Post #8 of 24 (2279 views)

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Re: [julietm] e can't get in Mexico

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Oh I forgot, one other important think one can't too much of down here are
1. TV dinners.

esperanza

Jul 16, 2004, 1:48 PM

Post #9 of 24 (2267 views)

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Re: [Cynthia7] e can't get in Mexico

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Here's what I can't find in Mexico:

Shoes for my pata-de-gringa feet.
One kind of cat food that my cats adore--Friskies Shredded Chicken and Salmon.
A brand of hair product that I use a drop of every day.
Ummm...other than that, I think I'm weaned from gringolandia.

There are still a very few things that I get from there--occasional book orders from www.powells.com, the odd thing that a friend brings for me when she comes every month or so. I used to miss good canned tuna, but I found a Mexican brand that I live with quite happily.

TV dinners, Pete? You poor thing.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

nlnic

Jul 16, 2004, 1:58 PM

Post #10 of 24 (2263 views)

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Re: [Cynthia7] e can't get in Mexico

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I'm curious, for all the things you yearn for, is internet order an option or does it add just way too much $$$ to the cost of the cravings? As far as shipping, duties, etc.??
Nancy N
Con mi corazon en Mexico!

johanson

Jul 16, 2004, 2:53 PM

Post #11 of 24 (2256 views)

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Re: [nlnic] e can't get in Mexico

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Also I am always bringing down size 13 shoes for a friend who lives here. He says they are not available down here.

Adrian

Jul 16, 2004, 3:20 PM

Post #12 of 24 (2252 views)

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Re: [Cynthia7] e can't get in Mexico

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Aaaah! What do I miss? Let me count the things...

'PG Tips' brand Tea....
Marmite....
malted vinegar....
real blue cheese (like Stilton)....
curry powder and/or garam masala....
basmati rice....
'Cif' brand cream cleaner (for greasy pots it cannot be beat - a blend of fine clay powder & bleach)....
'King Of Shaves' brand shaving gel (occasionally in Walmart but not for 3 months now)

Local alternatives exist and must be gotten used to soon!

Adrian

Cynthia7

Jul 16, 2004, 6:17 PM

Post #13 of 24 (2229 views)

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Re: [Adrian] e can't get in Mexico

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I bring Power or Super Bloom but have found a source for Osmocote flower fertilizer in Querataro. Scotchgard, Folex carpet and upholstery cleaner. CLR for rust and lime makes life a little easier. Grapenuts, specialty light bulbs and bath sheets are nice but not necessary. Certain spices and mixes are not available -like Ranch Dressing mix and chili powder.

johanson

Jul 16, 2004, 6:57 PM

Post #14 of 24 (2225 views)

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Re: [Cynthia7] e can't get in Mexico

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And I wonder, Cynthia7, if some of the stuff we have mentioned above isn't really available here and that it's just that we don't know where to look. Alright folks, where can I get TV dinners and Adams Crunchy peanut butter? Or am I right that they are not available in Jalisco?

Cynthia7

Jul 16, 2004, 7:29 PM

Post #15 of 24 (2221 views)

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Re: [johanson] e can't get in Mexico

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I am sure there are things available but due to demand and marketing it is not stocked. I saw a large supply of ice scrapers for windows in a store in Queretaro. (I was in an ice storm in San Luis Potosi and iced in for 3 days one December six or seven years ago. A real oddity. ) We should say -in Matehula I can't find whatever. Yellow onions and Temptation melons are rarely available in SMA.

Uncle Donnie

Jul 18, 2004, 9:54 AM

Post #16 of 24 (2143 views)

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Re: [julietm] e can't get in Mexico

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Peter is correct about one thing; many of the items we yearn for are available if you know where to look. Pete, check the new natural foods store across the carretera from Torito. Lots of nut butters. And he'll take special orders to be filled in Guad. And he has a freezer with a selection of soy burgers and hotdogs, as well as yogurt.

As far as cotton sheets and thick towels---look in some of the better stores in Guad; they're there.

Garden seeds---the varieties that grow here---are available in a number of hardware stores in joco, Ajijic, and Chapala, and often in some of the feed stores. Last week I saw a good selection in several of these places.

There's a men's tailor in Chapala and several ladies in Ajijic who make beautiful custom clothing at a reasonable cost.

For big shoes there's a cobbler just off the plaza of the old church behind the U of G main building in Guad. Good selection of styles and very reasonable prices.

There are a number of gourmet shops as well as ethnic specialty shops in Guad. LCS should have a copy of the Yellow Pages thay'd let you browse through. And some of the things you miss couldn't be easily (if at all) located in most medium sized cities in the U.S. or Canada. Let's be fair.

Shameless self-promotion:
http://www.headformexico.com

jrice

Jul 24, 2004, 5:47 PM

Post #17 of 24 (2019 views)

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Re: [johanson] e can't get in Mexico

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We'd been looking for "natural" peanut butter as well.

We sometimes found it at the embarassingly named "Super Americano" on Masaryk in Polanco (D.F.). But that's an off-and-on proposition. Lately they have had cornnuts, though.

Another place is "El Criollo," in downtown Polanco between Masaryk and the park. It has rice- and soy- and almond-milks for those allergic to regular. At least it often does. Again, I've seen the Laura Scudders "natural" there -- no sugar, no preservatives -- a few times, but not often.

You might also try some of the new "natural food" stores that are popping up. There's one on Tamaulipas and Montes de Oca in the Condesa that is doing a surprisingly good business. I think it's had some nut butters, but I'm not sure.

Like you, though, we tend to bring them in from north of the border.

I suppose one could actually make them. Peanuts are common enough.

Anonimo

Jul 25, 2004, 8:50 AM

Post #18 of 24 (1962 views)

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Re: [Adrian] e can't get in Mexico

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I got used to using Gillette (Mexico) Presto-Barba Crema de Rasurar (non-aerosol shaving cream) many years ago, and liked it so much that we buy a dozen of the small jars at a discount farmacia in México, DF, to bring home to the States. I hope to be able to buy it in Morelia or Patzcuaro.

Saludos,
Anonimo

Esteban

Jul 27, 2004, 9:09 AM

Post #19 of 24 (1873 views)

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Re: [Cynthia7] e can't get in Mexico

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After spending a week in Los Angeles, I did discover three things that I really miss here in Mexico.

Number one: The Jerry Springer Show!

Number two: Portions of food at the Sizzler that would feed four people.

Number three: Strictly painted lines on city streets that define where you should drive which makes it easier to go 60 mph through town.

johanson

Jul 27, 2004, 9:16 AM

Post #20 of 24 (1871 views)

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Re: [Esteban] e can't get in Mexico

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SICK :) I refuse to admit, that I have been caught watching the Jerry Springer show too.

It is available in Mexico over various satellite delivery systems. It's just that I am always busy when it is shown on my Seattle/Tacoma TV station that I can pick up anywhere in Mexico and much of Central America via Star Choice, using a 75 Cm Ku dish

Carol Schmidt

Jul 30, 2004, 3:00 PM

Post #21 of 24 (1761 views)

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Re: [Cynthia7] e can't get in Mexico

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Hidden Valley Ranch packages of salad dressing/dip mix are often available in SMA at Carey's, for an arm and a leg. Laura Scudder crunchy peanut butter is there too, for your other arm and leg. (I use a blender to make my own peanut butter now.)

The high quality sheets and towels are available at the upscale Liverpool department stores at Queretaro and throughout Mexico. But you'll need a friend to give you yet another arm and leg.

Carol Schmidt

julian3345

Jul 31, 2004, 5:14 PM

Post #22 of 24 (1696 views)

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Re: [Carol Schmidt] e can't get in Mexico

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I'm just jumping in on this subject...my post not particularly relevant to last one. Really the only thing I miss so far is listening to NPR..Is it worth while to buy a shortwave radio...Is NPR available on that band? Living and teaching in eastern Europe was made a lot more pleasant by easy short wave access to BBC World Service and USIA broadcasts. Please don't suggest using my computer for radio listening. We do have Radio Zacatecas FM for good music most of the day, but...Terry Gross, Ira Glass, Garrison Keillor(sp) et alia are missed! Joan

johanson

Jul 31, 2004, 5:44 PM

Post #23 of 24 (1681 views)

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Re: [julian3345] e can't get in Mexico

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Short Wave is one way to do it. I prefer Satellite. In Northern Mexico, you can listen in your car or at home on Sirius Radio. Throughout all of Mexico and much of Central America, you can listen to Spokane WA's NPR station via the Canadian Star Choice small dish system on channel 833. I don't know about DISH or DirecTV. I'm pretty sure that you can get several feeds on an mpeg-2 satellite receiver.

And of course, you can listen to it over the internet

julian3345

Aug 3, 2004, 7:19 PM

Post #24 of 24 (1598 views)

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Re: [johanson] e can't get in Mexico

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Thanks for so much great information! I'll check into all those options to see what works for me....Joan