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Ask an old gringo: crime, sports, Starbucks and the Mexican roof dog by Marvin West

Question: What is a Mexican roof dog?

Answer: Glad you asked. It is a low-budget form of homeland security, a four-legged alarm placed on flat roofs of homes and businesses to look down on and discourage intruders, door-to-door salesmen and other nuisances.

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perspectives question

Mexico home construction or repairs: no room for mas o menos by J. Brad Grieve

A water connection is jury-rigged to bypass the meter. Does it work? Mas o menos.... © Julia Taylor, 2007 Here in Mexico, there's one term I hate to hear on a job site. No, it isn't "oops." It's t... read more

Frosty mornings in the sierras: healthy lifestyles in a small Mexican town by Jenny McGill

fresh foods from a Mexican market
Life in the mountains may be the secret of longevity. It is not uncommon for mountain folks to live past their nineties and complete more than a century on this earth. Country folks usually eat what they grow on their ranches. Corn plays such a fundamental role in the Mexican diet, as well as beans, chilies, tomatoes and onions. read more
exploring-tourism food-drink Talpa, Jalisco

Mexico house guests by Marvin West

We do not operate an all-inclusive five-star resort. We do not live in a gated gringo enclave. Our home is in a genuine Mexican village, suburban Jocotepec, west end of Lake Chapala in the exciting state of Jalisco. Our street is bumpy and emits dust. We have no central heat or air conditioning. We do offer spectacular sunrises over the lake and a great view of Mount Garcia. We are pleased to report there is no steady flow of guests. Children, grandchildren and other relatives cycle through at their and our convenience. Close friends and next-door neighbors from East Tennessee have come and gone, one or two or three each winter, and another now and then when we return for the rainy season. read more
perspectives Jocotepec, Jalisco

Dealing with insects in your Mexico house and garden by J. Brad Grieve

Bugs like tropical shrubs and palm thatching
Cockroaches, scorpions, earwigs, mosquitoes, termites, beetles, ants and even fleas, present different challenges to homeowners here in tropical Mexico. They are part of the dark side of our little paradise read more
fauna how-to lifestyles

Heating options for chilly nights in Mexico by J. Brad Grieve

What can we say? It is now November and it has already been cold; cold like late December when the chill in the air sends us under the covers at night. Without the heating systems we knew north of the border, how can we keep the house warmer? read more
how-to real-estate

Shopping in Mexico: the gentle art of bargaining by Marvin West

I bought another watch the other day. I didn't need it, but there is great joy in negotiating with the watch salesman. A chunky, little man works the villages along the north side of Lake Chapala in the exciting state of Jalisco. His specialty is watches with fancy faces, famous names and very ordinary insides. He always has make-believe Rolexes and sometimes Cartiers and Movados. read more
perspectives

Seat belt, cell phone and speed limit laws are enforced in Oaxaca by Alvin Starkman

Driving in Oaxaca, Mexico, became a little more difficult in September / October, 2009. That's when federal, state and municipal governments actually began enforcing the law, at least in the City of O... read more
driving-routes legal perspectives Oaxaca

Ask an old gringo: symbolism, police, education, and the Virgin by Marvin West

This old gringo, from time to time, receives a flurry of comments and questions. Many are predictable. Where should I visit? How much does it cost? How's the weather in January? Is it safe to drive? ... read more
perspectives question

Million Americans in Mexico? Just guessing by Marvin West

Last year, the Dallas Morning News reported that more than a million Americans live in Mexico. It didn't say how many more or where the heck are they. read more