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caroljruby

Jul 21, 2007, 4:06 PM

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Moving to Morelia

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After three trips to Mexico this year and many trips in previous years, I have chosen Morelia as the best place for me ( I'm a retired ESL teacher). I'll move there as soon as I sell my house. I just don't know what I should bring/ship. I'll be flying, not driving, from New York City (I haven't owned a car for 22 years). Of course, I'll bring my three dogs as well as my clothes, some books and CD's. But what else? Should I bring towels, kitchenware (utensils, pots & pans, etc.) or can I purchase all this stuff in Morelia? Sheets are out since I don't know what size bed I'll buy. I have some lovely dog statues and framed pictures. Should I bring them? Can I rent a house with three dogs or should I just look for a place to buy? My command of the Spanish language is good. I want to continue to study the language and also music (piano). How will I get my things there? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Carol

Rolly

Jul 21, 2007, 5:59 PM

Post #2 of 16 (2349 views)

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Re: [caroljruby] Moving to Morelia

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My first reaction is -- have you checked with the airline about 3 dogs? Different airlines have differing rules about dogs, so you need to be sure you can get all three on your flight.

Household items are easy to find here. But good quality sheets are very hard to find; and when you do find them, you'll blanch at the cost.

Also check with the airline about luggage limits. Some are quite restrictive. You can ship things that you can't fit in your luggage, but you should understand that shipped items are subject to import duties even on items that would have been free if you had brought them personally. Also there are some things that cannot be shipped -- most notably, used clothing -- odd, but that's the law.

Rolly Pirate

E-visit me http://Rollybrook.com
On Facebook as Rolly Brook

muycontento

Jul 22, 2007, 3:53 PM

Post #3 of 16 (2303 views)

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Re: [caroljruby] Moving to Morelia

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Less is best. Unless you are really attached to something, leave it. Everything is available here (including sheets) and the move is much easier with less stuff. Conventional wisdom says is to rent until you are sure you want to do this, but now is a good time to buy. Many houses on the market.

caroljruby

Jul 22, 2007, 4:46 PM

Post #4 of 16 (2299 views)

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Re: [muycontento] Moving to Morelia

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Thanks Rolly and Muycontento. It's much easier to move without three dogs but they are my family. I don't have to bring all three at the same time since I have a daughter in Florida who can keep one or two for a short while. I think the airlines allow two in cargo. I just need to have a place to land for me and my perros. I guess I'll bring some books, CD's, blankets, clothes, dog statues, framed dog pictures, photo albums and a few other things of sentimental value. I will not bring any furniture or electronic items (radio, stereo, computer, etc.). I'll need an international mover since I'm not bringing this stuff on the airplane. I don't know how many boxes I'll have but not too many. I know that many of the people on Mexconnect have driven down from Texas or California. I don't plan on driving.. What moving companies are available to me in New York City? It may not be easy to rent a house with three dogs so I'm willing to buy a place. I'm selling my 1909 Chickering Grand piano and hope I can buy a nice one in Morelia and continue my study of classical piano. i also want to attend a Spanish language school. Wish me luck! Carol

jennifer rose

Jul 22, 2007, 5:25 PM

Post #5 of 16 (2289 views)

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Re: [caroljruby] Moving to Morelia

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Sheets and towels are indeed available in Morelia, but at a substantial premium. And you won't find thick, Egyptian cotton or high thread count as easily as in the U.S. Kitchenwares likewise are available, but it would be nonsense to shed what you like just for the sake of lightening the load. If you're thinking of using an international mover, you might as well bring the piano, too. I, too, have a Chickering Grand piano, of some vintage, purchased here. After checking out the prices for the same models in the US, let me be the first to tell you that those cost just about double in Mexico. You'll get $.10 on the dollar for your stuff in the U.S., so unless the plan is to pawn it off on some worthy individual such as your child, you might as well bite the bullet and move it on down. Everything costs far more to replace later.

caroljruby

Jul 22, 2007, 5:45 PM

Post #6 of 16 (2284 views)

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Re: [jennifer rose] Moving to Morelia

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Jennifer, Thanks so much for the info. I think it would cost a fortune to move my Chickering to Morelia. To tell you the truth, I wanted to buy a new Estonia Grand but perhaps they are not available in Mexico.(I've read a lot of great things about Estonia pianos). I know you have a dog. Please tell me what dog foods are available and also give me the name of a good veterinarian in Morelia. After the big dog food recall, I started using a really high-end food (Timberwolf) . I'm sure this is not available in Mexico. Anyway, I'm heading for Morelia. My interests are dogs, travel, Spanish, music (classical piano) and books. See you soon. Carol

jennifer rose

Jul 22, 2007, 5:57 PM

Post #7 of 16 (2278 views)

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Re: [caroljruby] Moving to Morelia

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MVZ Adelina Alanis Solis
Camino de la Arboleda 8
Col. Emiliano Zapata
Morelia, Michoacan
Tel 443.320.2177
Cel 443.1619133
She does not speak English, but she's very good. And will make house calls

MVZ Edgar Duran
(works with MVZ Moises Beutelspacher)
3.26.62.32
cel 044 443 378 0055

Eduardo Betancourt -
Petland 315-92-16
Artilleros de 1947 No. 1346, Col. Chap. Sur
speaks English. knows FCM requirements for OFA, etc.

I feed my Nearly Perfect Doberman homemade food, accompanied by Kirkland Premium croquetas. Hills, Waltham, Science Diet and other premium dog foods are available, but I've never heard of Timberwolf.

caroljruby

Jul 22, 2007, 6:22 PM

Post #8 of 16 (2273 views)

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Re: [jennifer rose] Moving to Morelia

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Thanks for the dog information, Jennifer. Science Diet, Iams, Eukanuba are mid-range. The cheaper stuff is Purina, Pedigree, Gravy Train, etc. The high-end foods are Timberwolf, Innova, Evolve, Wellness, Merrick, Natural Balance, Newman's Own, etc. The best foods are not available in Mexico, sad to say. I love Morelia and I can't wait to get there! Carol

jennifer rose

Jul 22, 2007, 6:36 PM

Post #9 of 16 (2269 views)

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Re: [caroljruby] Moving to Morelia

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I don't believe that I've seen any of the high-end brands you've mentioned in Morelia, but I could be wrong. The veterinarian Bob Merrill in San Miguel de Allende is making some of the hard-to-get brands available in that area.

One resource for Morelia-specific information is the MoreliaConnect mailing list, which you can join at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MoreliaConnect/
On that list lurk a couple of folks who are dog nutrition mavens, and it would be worthwhile asking there.

Gringal

Jul 23, 2007, 6:47 AM

Post #10 of 16 (2248 views)

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Re: [caroljruby] Moving to Morelia

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Hi Carol,
Welcome to Mexico and a grand adventure.
Another person mentioned that there are lots of houses available to buy, but I'm going to give you the advice I wish I had followed upon moving to Mexico: Try before you buy. The market is soft right now, so some owners will be happy to rent to you, even with three dogs. You may love Morelia. You may want to look elsewhere after living there awhile. There are many Mexicos in Mexico. And good luck.

Glenn

Nov 1, 2007, 10:02 AM

Post #11 of 16 (2010 views)

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Re: [caroljruby] Moving to Morelia

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Carol,
Have you moved to Morelia yet?
We have just subscribed to MexConnect and I was very interested in your post. We, too, are planning to move to Mexico within the next year. Morelia is our first destination to explore and we also have three dogs. We are now in NC and plan to drive with a small trailor but I don't know yet if we will move our furniture or just sell everything and start over. Are you (or did you) having your things moved or just selling? What company did you use to do the job?
I'm very interested in the dog situation and how you and they are managing there? Do you have a yard?
Thanks for any info and hope to meet you when we move.
Debra

caroljruby

Nov 10, 2007, 5:38 AM

Post #12 of 16 (1918 views)

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Re: [Glen & Debra] Moving to Morelia

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Hi, I haven't moved to Morelia yet. I sold my house -- will sign the contract next week. The buyer wants to close quickly probably in December. The real estate market here seems to be at a standstill with very few properties selling. I sold my house for less than I paid for it two years ago when prices were very high. All my furniture is "spoken for" so I'll only bring books, cd's, clothes, blankets, etc. I was thinking of renting a house in Tampa for a few months (two of my children live there and a third is moving there in December) and sorting out the rest of my things because I want to bring practically nothing when I move to Mexico. I can also open new bank accounts while I'm there. What banks exist in Morelia? Do I need a U.S. address? Should I apply for an FM-3 in Morelia, New York City or Florida? The move by myself with three dogs seems overwhelming but I can do it. I don't have a car and don't really want one. In Morelia, I'd like to rent since I don't want to get "stuck" with another house right away. Any advice you can give me is most welcome. Carol

Gringal

Nov 10, 2007, 8:21 AM

Post #13 of 16 (1908 views)

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Re: [caroljruby] Moving to Morelia

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Hi Carol,
I can't advise you on the dogs (lol), but I suggest you be sure to open the bank account while you are still in the states and have an "address" to use. New banking regulations make it difficult if not impossible to do so once you are located in Mexico. There are several U.S. banks with links to Mexican banks that will provide you with the ability to leave your money in the states and transfer only what you need for monthly expenses to the Mexican bank account. Money in Mexican bank accounts is not insured, so you will probably want to limit your exposure there. The first thing you will discover in Mexico is that almost everything is paid for with cash, rather than checks, so you will need that peso ATM card. Be sure to compare fees.

www.rollybrook.com has more information on this.

(This post was edited by Gringal on Nov 10, 2007, 8:23 AM)

caroljruby

Nov 10, 2007, 9:52 AM

Post #14 of 16 (1898 views)

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Re: [Gringal] Moving to Morelia

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Thanks, Gringal, I just need to know exactly which U.S. banks have ties to Mexican banks in Morelia. Perhaps Jennifer can advise me on this. Carol

Rolly

Nov 10, 2007, 10:22 AM

Post #15 of 16 (1894 views)

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Re: [caroljruby] Moving to Morelia

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Bank of America has arrangements with two banks in Mexico where you can use a BofA card with no fee -- Scotiabank and Santrader-Serfin. HSBC is a part owner of Bitel Bank in Mexico, so you can use your HSBC card at Bitel without paying a foreign fee. HSBC also has its own branches in Mexico.

All of these banks have branches all over México.

Rolly Pirate

E-visit me http://Rollybrook.com
On Facebook as Rolly Brook

La Isla

Nov 25, 2007, 7:51 PM

Post #16 of 16 (1774 views)

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Re: [caroljruby] Moving to Morelia

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Hi Carol,

I'm a semi-retired ESL/EFL teacher from Philadelphia and New York City and living right now in Mexico City. Before I left the States, I opened an account on-line with Bank of America, so I could have my Social Security checks direct-deposited. I have had absolutely no problems withdrawing my money from a nearby Scotiabank, using my Bank of America debit card. No fees are charged and I get a very good dollar to peso exchange rate. And I can keep track of my money on-line.

Though I have good friends here in the capital and have found enough part-time work teaching and translating to help pay the bills and enjoy my time here, I don't know if I want to live many years in the D.F. - the smog and the general craziness of the place (once I leave my pleasant neighborhood) may get to me after a while. Morelia is one city I could consider moving to, though my memories of it are about 20 years old! Once you've settled in and had a chance to start to feel at home, I'd love to read about your impressions of the city.

¡Buena suerte!

Marsha