Leaving Merida to live in Playa or Cancun ?

[mariayucatan]

Hello

I am new on here but I have read this forum over the yrs and the Playa forum too.
I am a single mum with 2 kids and we moved from Europe 4 yrs ago to live in Merida but I am sadly sick of the place now.

I am seriously thinking of moving however I cant choose between Cancun or Playa ( or I might just go back to Spain but thats in a meltdown)

We are all bilingual and I am a qualified English teacher who teaches from home normally and I have a small income from overseas.
We have a health insurance with a Mexican company Allianz so what I am trying to say is that I am more or less organised and not going into this totally blind.

I just wondered if anybody had any advice to add about where is preferable to live out of Playa and Cancun ?????????

I need to be near good hospitals for piece of mind !!!!!

(I do have experience of Hospiten in Playa, 16000 USD for a straight forward appendectomy on my son, thankfully we had insurance, then the same appendectomy in Merida for my daughter cost 2000 USD but thats another story)

I have to say that my favorite places on the Riviera are Tulum and Akumal but there are not the facilities for a mum with kids..........

So any idea folks would be appreciated over my choice of Cancun or Playa, thanks in advance.

[TraceyUk]

I always think Playa is more European in feel but its such a personal choice . Think about why you are sick of Merida and ask if Playa or Cancun can make up for what Merida is missing.
I too would love to move to Spain having spent 5 years in Mexico .
Good luck in your choice.

[T.J.]

If you are somewhat "cosmopitan" I think you will find more options in Cancun. More malls, movie theaters, private schools, public transportation and restaurants to name a few.

I find it easy to head down to Playa for a day or weekend. Living in Cancun, I prefer to go to the beach at Puerto Morelos, than the more touristy beaches in Cancun's Hotel Zone. It is easy enough to live in Cancun and avoid the tourists, if one so chooses. I, for one, so choose. I have a car but public transportation is quite good.

That's my two pesos worth.

[mariayucatan]

To be honest I am fed up of the intense heat in Merida, plus its a boring city that is very insular, the locals go on about how safe Merida is but really thats all they can say about it, its getting dirtier, I cant bear the racist white Mexicans and the way they treat their own people here, its so obvious, the white Mexicans think they are the elite yet they are the most ignorant bombastic uneducated people I have met in all my travels, I have lived in Spain for 8 yrs plus travelled all over Europe and afar and even in India the people were more polite !!!!!!!!!!!
So all in all I am up to my neck with Merida.........forgot to add they have excellent hospitals but the beaches are horrible, we have better ones in Cornwall and the only reason people come to Merida is because its safe and cheap.

I get the feeling from this board that most expats living in Cancun are not that happy in Cancun or would go somewhere else if they could, am I right ??????

[Gringation]

Maria: I am very happy in Cancun. I think what you're seeing is that this forum is where we all come to vent about the negatives haha There are many frustrations about Cancun (and Mexico in general), but overall I love living here. I would venture to say most people on this forum chose to live here and choose to stay here because they enjoy it.

As far as racism goes, that is also present in the population here in Cancun. Not sure if it's better or worse than in Merida, but there's definitely an elitist feel among the lighter-skinned locals... although it's not something I noticed until I really got to know the people here.

[mariayucatan]

Gringation, thanks for that.
What about rentals ? I have been looking on Vivastreet and there seems to be a few privadas for example Jardines de Bonampak and Villa Marino ( i think )..........does anybody have any suggestions for rentals, sort of 6000 pesos, 3 beds, with a communal pool would be nice......thanks

[V]

Hi, Maria, we took a close look at Merida ourselves when we were deciding where to live- along with Playa, and Isla Mujeres. The heat and narrow streets downtown Merida were a big turnoff, plus the fact that it was not near the sea. Couldn't see any particular advantage to Playa, and Isla wasn't convenient for those expecting to work in Cancun.

On balance we happy with the living conditions and opportunities we've found here, in Cancun.

[mariayucatan]

thanks for all your replies, they are really appreciated, if anybody has any advice about where to live then that would be great, I cant afford hotel zone lol......

I would like to be near hospitals and obviously in a safe zone more so cos I am single and with 2 kids, one dog and a crazy tortoise.

I am going to say that in all my travels and in all my life I have never been so lonely and miserable as I am here yet my kids love Mexico butI dont see a future for them here anymore, but then where in the world has a good future at the moment with the crisis as it is ????

My train of thought is to perhaps give Cancun or Playa a few months and if my quality of life is not better then throw the towel in, end the Mexican adventure and then perhaps return to Valencia...............mind you it will take me 6 mths to find my way around Cancun the way I get lost

I am going crazy here, its too hot to go for a walk, or to have a quality of life, it takes 30 mins to get to the beach and Progreso beach is ugly when you get there.

The only thing I will miss of Merida is the wonderful doctors and Star Medica here, thats it.

Sorry but I am in a real downer here at the moment, its worse because I have just had 2 weeks in Akumal and then came back to THIS !!!!!!!!

[Gringation]

The beach in Progreso is definitely disappointing. Love the atmosphere, but not the water.

For housing, posters on this forum usually recommend coming to the city first and looking around when you get here.

Are you looking for a house or an apartment? I used to rent a 3-bedroom apartment in Edificios California on Avenida La Luna. Cost $6600 (3 years ago) and had a beautiful pool shared by about 35 apartments. It's a safe and central area. You can walk to several malls, grocery stores, pharmacies and restaurants.

[gbchayctca]

So I totally hear you on what you DON'T want and Cancun and Playa are definitely much more diverse, but what specifically are you hoping for (other than good doctors) in your move? There may be some other places in Mexico that would suit you better outside of the peninsula.

I wouldn't want to live in Merida precisely because of the things you mentioned. I did a homestay with, and kept in contact for years with, one of the loveliest, kindest, down to earth women I have ever had the pleasure to meet. She was originally from Mexico City but had relocated to Merida decades before so she and her husband could raise their son in a calmer environment. She said that, even after twenty years living in Merida, the Yucatecas STILL wouldn't accept her. And she was just the sweetest, coolest woman!

Best of luck, and perhaps once you find that place that may fit the bill for you, give it a year before moving back to Europe. Just curious though, what keeps you in Mexico in general?

Gringation, I'd go out on a limb and say that what you mention about racism may be much more apparent in Merida though perhaps equally prevalent (but the second part I'm not sure about). I just found that in Cancun, though it exists, that sentiment is balanced by so very many cool, educated, sometimes well-off, people that you can get away from it to some degree. I've just found Cancun to be far more diverse and it was easier to get away from the classism.

[mariayucatan]

There is something that keeps us in Mexico but I cant put my finger on it.
I dont have a fella so its not a love thing lol, my kids dont want to leave Mexico and deep down I dont either but I have never been in a place for so long with such few friends especialy when I am fluent in the language.
At least over your way I could walk along pretty beaches, sit in street cafes.........its too hot over here for all of that, life is in the air con and what sort of life is that ?

Europe is on a total meltdown financially and people are stressed, I miss the UK but I cant afford to live there and Spain is dying a death and I am lucky to be able to rent my villa out to a Dutch guy so I should enjoy it while I can but I am not enjoying it here and havent done for a while.

[T.J.]

Originally Posted by mariayucatan

I get the feeling from this board that most expats living in Cancun are not that happy in Cancun or would go somewhere else if they could, am I right ??????

Hi Maria,
I am a big contributor to this board and I must admit that I, and others have posted negative experiences here. BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT I/WE HATE IT. I love it. It is just that I/we like to vent sometimes. Plus, we all know people who have come here, especially from the U.S., with rose colored glasses, and cannot bear the cultural differences. I think we have somewhat of an obligation/opportunity to give people things to consider, who come here on vacation and think that they want to live here, end up spending their life savings, and leaving miserble and broke. Cancun is NOT all parties and beaches. I have been here 7 years last month and return to the U.S. less and less, whereas 5 or 6 years ago I was spending nearly 50% of my time abroad. That's just me.

V's post is really good. He is a friend of mine and I know that he researched this move to death, then after moving here, he rented in at least 3 areas of the city, before buying a home in the area he most desired.

On your hospital comments, we have some very modern hospitals here. I had a serious health problem a couple of years ago, and after consulting doctors who are friends, I discovered that Merida is where the doctors go, if things get rough, for medical matters. So I did too and don't regret it one bit. I still get some periodic checkups but for the most part I do them here.

I understand the elitest "white" Mexican comments. You are talking about my ex g/f. Jajaja. 99% of them probably come from D.F.

Good luck with your house/apt hunting. You can meet many new and real friends from this forum. On this thread alone, Tracey, Gringation and V are friends of mine. I feel that they could call on me for anything and vice versa and there are so many more good personal friends I have made this way over the years.

Cheers,

[Steve]

I think you should give Cancun a go. Must admit I've never really seen the attraction of Merida myself, we visited for a few days and couldnt wait to get back to Cancun. It was like Lopez Portillo except a hundred times the size. I know i'd be clamouring to leave if I ever lived there.

I have to admit (I'll await the chorus of boos) I wouldnt enjoy living in Cancun if it were much like the 'real Mexico' as I am sure Merida is. Fact is it is very different and I think this makes it a lot easier for expats to settle in Cancun than elsewhere.

The proportion of expats who live in Cancun is high, facilities are modern, good schools, hospitals and of course within an hour you have a ton of spectacular places to visit. There are lots of tourists, so if you fancy a weekend staying at a nice touristy hotel or a touristy night out it's easy. They are easy to avoid too if you want to. There are chic and trendy places and dank and dirty places with plenty in between. I honestly feel Cancun has a bit of everything so no matter what your preferences are you can probably find it.

Remember also that Cancun, unlike Merida, is a very young city. Almost everyone over the age of thirty was born somewhere else and is a migrant or immigrant. I would guess this helps with the white/dark Mexican racism issue.

With the high proportion of expats there's no need to feel lonely, while we are not in each others pockets all the time there are enough friendly folks here that with a little effort you'll make some good friends and not be short of companions for beach trips and days/nights out etc.

Funnily enough I am on vacation in the UK as I type this, it's made me realise that although England will always be my home I would be mad to give up the life we have in Cancun to move back there at the moment.

Give it a go, you may well be pleasantly surprised. You should remember though that while Cancun isnt usually quite as hot as Merida it is still bloody hot!

[matkirk]

Funnily enough I am on vacation in the UK as I type this, it's made me realise that although England will always be my home I would be mad to give up the life we have in Cancun to move back there at the moment.

That's interesting mate - do you mean because of the economy and stuff that it wouldn't be a smart move right now? Or are their other factors?

[Gringation]

Originally Posted by Steve

I have to admit (I'll await the chorus of boos) I wouldnt enjoy living in Cancun if it were much like the 'real Mexico' as I am sure Merida is. Fact is it is very different and I think this makes it a lot easier for expats to settle in Cancun than elsewhere.

I agree with you here, Steve. My husband wants to move to Merida in the next few years, but I'm not convinced. I've told him it looks beautiful and I'm dying to buy an old colonial house, but it's just "too Mexican" hahaha

Here in Cancun I can enjoy lots of aspects of Mexican culture, but there are many things that remind me of home as well. Plus I'd miss the beach!

As far as the Cancun vs Playa debate, it depends on what you're looking for. Cancun is closer to more services (better malls, movie theaters, etc), and Playa has a more laid-back European feel. Both have amazing beaches.

[Steve]

Originally Posted by matkirk

That's interesting mate - do you mean because of the economy and stuff that it wouldn't be a smart move right now? Or are their other factors?

Not really the economy, I still believe for us it would be cheaper to live in the UK than in Cancun.

No need for private healthcare or schooling, house prices the lowest for years, buyers market with mortgages at a sensible rate, cheap flights and holidays. Did a quick trip round Sainsbury's today - food is cheaper and better quality, baby supplies - nappies, milk, wipes and food are all half the price we pay in Cancun. Bought a ton of clothes also for around half the price they would cost in Cancun. Even beer is cheaper, 18 cans of Stella for £12, £3 a pint in the pub (54 pesos). Really nice pub meals £4.99 (90 pesos).

I dont really know what it is, probably it's just too boring, too efficient, not exciting, nothing seems to happen, havent even seen a good looking girl in 10 days (wife excepted of course!). Just same old, same old drudge. We're still young enough to want to enjoy life I think, and I feel life is more enjoyable albeit more costly in Cancun.

[mariayucatan]

Hi everybody

Thanks for some great opinions, I need to do some leg work and see if we can get over there for Xmas as I dont want to rush things too much as I have to be sure I am doing the best for us all.

The thing about Merida is its cheap and safe, thats why so many expats come here and buy colonial homes and reform them.

Personally the terrible amount of traffic, the constant smell and the intense heat of living in centro takes me back to the bad part of Goa India I went to, so I dont see any attraction to it atall.

The locals dont understand why the gringos buy in centro but again thats a snob thing as all the white Mexicans live in the North of the city.

I had a friend who worked here in Merida and he earned 1000 pesos a week, he eventually went back to Cancun 2 yrs ago and now he earns 3500 for the same job he did here for 1000 pesos and he says that there is no difference to the cost of living now food and utility wise as Merida has become so more expensive, food and petrol have shot up in the last 4 years.

If you want cheap houses to buy, intense heat, lots of traffic, miserable people or people who look down on you then Merida is the place to come to and believe me I am not bitter or sour, but its reality.
At my daughters school they class people from the DF as foreigners, they are a bunch of miserable insular buggers and will rob you blind.

My daughter went to the best school in Merida and she is friends with all types of people because she is not judgemental or racist but here her rich friends will comment about her hanging with NACOS or INDIOS.......words I wouldnt use in a million years, not even in the Uk lol, but its quite acceptable here to speak of the lower classes like that and I stopped being a friend with a woman because of her vulgar mouth infront of my kids about darker skinned people........SHE WAS A WEALTHY WHITE MEXICAN !!!!!!!!!
I could live in Mosside in Manchester with the gangs if I wanted to be around that sort of crap.

I have seen so many expats come here and try to do a business and the people here just dont spend money and so anybody of an unretiring age has to go back.
Merida is for the retired person with not too much money in the pocket.

As for the UK, its the price of taxes and utilities and insurances that cripple people. Food is cheaper and better quality than here, the clothes are better quality and I agree with Steve about it being the same old same old
As soon as the sun comes out they all run for the BBQ, get the food cooking and then just as its cooked it starts to rain........I see it on facebook all the time about the weather and the bbqs

well thanks again for the info......if you could let me know where you live or names of the places you live so I can look on Vivastreet etc, it may help me

[matkirk]

mmmm, I'm struggling to see it - seems like a good move.

No healthcare worries, cheap holidays, cheap food, healthier lifestyle, much higher standards of living for half the price. Much less bureaucratic bullshit to deal with. Excellent services to be taken advantage of for the kids.

Boiling hot at your computer desk here for your daily routine without all the things of UK or sitting at a desk day to day in England with all the added benefits?

Maybe England has just got to bland, a faceless society where life is easy and has just got boring...?

It's funny what you hear people over there complain about, when you see what people here have to deal with, they don't know how good they've got it.

[TraceyUk]

Maria you sound really fed up ! Change is good- go for it move and experience new places , new people etc.
I am also in Uk right now and agree with stuff Steve has said- its easier to live here- more efficient,more choice etc but Im still not ready to return. ! Like I said Spain would be our dream but the economy prevents us moving right now so we plan to continue living in Cancun and enjoying it.
Every place has its problems- dont think for one moment Uk doesnt have its racist elements- it does.!
I hope wherever you move to brings you happiness, adventures and close encounters with some lovely interesting people.
Tracey

[Cancunscorpio]

Just my 2 politically incorrect cents:-))

1. Cancun IS a Hotel Zone and surrounding areas (the one where V lives), so if you are not able to afford an apartment in the Hotel Zone or vicinity, then there is NO point to come to Cancun, especially having a big family + 2 animals.

2. Mexico is NOT the reason to your loneliness at all... in fact NO country alone is the reason to loneliness..... Loneliness is a state of mind, and I've known several married people who were lonely as hell within the family.


3. Why don't you consider places like Malaga, Torremolinos, Torrevieja, Marbella etc, to settle down in Spain???? You are a Spanish citizen, shouldn't be any problem to come back and enjoy the same things you have in Merida right now.

4. Cancun is a nice place, a lot more cosmopolitan than Merida or any other city in Mexico, but always rememeber all those levels of corruption and bureaucracy in Cancun and in Mexico in general.....

[Gringation]

Originally Posted by Cancunscorpio

1. Cancun IS a Hotel Zone and surrounding areas (the one where V lives), so if you are not able to afford an apartment in the Hotel Zone or vicinity, then there is NO point to come to Cancun, especially having a big family + 2 animals.

I don't live near the Hotel Zone. Does that mean there's no point in me being here?

[Cancunscorpio]

Gringation, both yes and no:-))

Judging by the criteria, presented by Maria, the areas around Lopes Portillo, region San Antonio, SM 93/94 etc would feel the same for her as Merida does.

Cancun IS the sea, which is normal and beautiful in itself, and being/living far from sea just takes all the excitement from actual living in Cancun....

[Steve]

Originally Posted by Cancunscorpio

Cancun IS the sea, which is normal and beautiful in itself, and being/living far from sea just takes all the excitement from actual living in Cancun....

With all due respect, that is bollocks.

Cancun is far more than just the hotel zone or "the sea". Yes, there is a huge tourist influence in Cancun - which sets it apart from many places in Mexico and helps Cancun be a place where I am happy to live and also makes it a place where tourism related business provides jobs and opportunities for expats that aren't easily found in other places such as Merida.

Cancun has a population of a million, maybe 20,000 (my guess) live in the hotel zone. 980,000 dont. But all of them are a short distance from some of the best beaches in the World.

I know during your short time here you didnt have the best of times, but you seem to have some kind of crusade to persuade others that they wont too. Different people have different expectations, different skills, different criteria about what makes living in Cancun good for them.

The fact remains that many expats are absolutely enjoying their life in Cancun, and there is no reason that other folks, with the right attitude, wont too.

You make it sound like we are all here because we have no other options in life. LOL

Btw have you ever visited Malaga, Torremolinos and Marbella?

[gbchayctca]

Not even, Cancunscorpio...I read her issues with Merida as being more about the people! And I guess that there was also "no point" to my living in Cancun as well! Never even lived closed to the HZ nor in a gated community and in fact, months could go by without my going to the HZ!

I can totally understand why one would feel suffocated by the insular Yucatecan culture and I've felt that across all class levels and one of the reasons that every time I go back to Valladolid and the villages around there I want to scoop my eyes out with a spoon!

[mariayucatan]

First of all I am not a Spanish citizen, my kids and I are British and we own a villa in Spain and have done for 10 years but we are still Brits just with a visa like here.

Secondly I went to University in Malaga in 1984 (omg that long ago) and in addition Torremolinos, Benalmadena, Fuengirola all those places you mention are on the Costa Del Sol, otherwise known as the Costa Del Crime !!!!!

As for Torrevieja I was lucky enough to sell my first house there in 1999 before the Russian Mafia took over the very severe and violent organised crime.

I have lived in Gibraltar, Estepona and Marbella, also I have lived and worked in Mallorca and those places are far more expensive than Cancun and that was 14 yrs ago and with the total meltdown in Spain now, its even worse.

I am an integrater, I speak Spanish, French, German and I did Russian in the Royal Air Force and all my friends in Spain are Spanish. Some of them who are professionals have not been able to get a job in the four years that I have been here.

My friend in Tenerife is taking a large Spanish company to court for not paying her for the las 8 mths of her job because they dont have the money to give her the wage and the beautiful Canary Islands that I know very well is suffering with illegal immigrants from the neighbouring coast of Africa.

There isnt a place that I dont know in Spain, it is part of me, I love the Spanish and the of coure the food but it is going through hell at the moment, petrol which was always low is now 26 pesos a litre and food has gone through the roof.

I have lived here in Merida in this one house for 2 years of the 4 years I have been here, its in a privada of 12 houses......do I know a neighbours name in 2 yrs, do they wave at me when I pass through the electric gate, have I been invited into 1 house out of 12 in 2 years........no no no and my daughter goes to the same school as some of them !!!!!

I am not basing a move on lonliness, I am basing it on boredom, lack of places to go, crappy beaches to visit, life exsists around the shopping malls and air con.

From Cancun you have a wealth of places to visit. Personally I would prefer to live in Akumal but as I have kids its not all about me.
I could chill out in Tulum or Akumal and be lonely at the beach than live in a city where ignorance is the height of intelligence.

As for courrption, you need to encounter the Guardia Civil that still reign the roads after Francos demise in Spain.

Also the corruption in Merida is thriving now that the Governadora has issued new driving laws and 49 new requisites for cars with fines up to 6000 pesos.

Now all over the place there are police stopping cars, checking them and scrutinising everybody so that they can get their piece of the pie rather than fining us large amounts, we have to carry fire extinguishers in the car, baby seats, strip lights above the car plack, its gone crazy, thankfully my car has everything apart from the fire extinguisher but look at some of the wrecks on the road.

I am realistic, I am not seeking perfection but a change would be nice.

[kathy_caribe]

Originally Posted by mariayucatan

Also the corruption in Merida is thriving now that the Governadora has issued new driving laws and 49 new requisites for cars with fines up to 6000 pesos.

Now all over the place there are police stopping cars, checking them and scrutinising everybody so that they can get their piece of the pie rather than fining us large amounts, we have to carry fire extinguishers in the car, baby seats, strip lights above the car plack, its gone crazy, thankfully my car has everything apart from the fire extinguisher but look at some of the wrecks on the road.

I am realistic, I am not seeking perfection but a change would be nice.

OMG I READ about those new laws and decided that my foreign-plated car and my famdamily will stay over in QRoo, thank you very much. I mean, I GET the safety behind the logic but geez, my first reaction on reading them was "stops by transitos increase by 2000x".

I think you'd like Playa. We just got back from a looong weekend on Cozumel and I have a HUGE desire to move over there but our needs are very different from yours. I think Playa would be much more to your liking than Cancun. There are a lot of families, ex-pats, from all over Europe in your age group. HUGE community via school. People do tend to move on here though. Not nearly the crime of Cancun and beaches. COL is higher than I remember in Merida though.

Jamie and I are on the verge of jumping across the channel to Coz - we loved it SO much more than over here, but again, our lives/needs are very different.

[Cancunscorpio]

Steve, by no means I'm on a a mission to persuade everyone that Cancun is not a good place to live in. I like Cancun and area, especially Akumal, but I guess I've had way too many negative experiences during my time in Cancun.
I hate all kinds of delays with immigration, health stuff etc etc etc. I read all those horror stories with INM wait times and numerous visits....

A very simple example- I had to renew a sticker on my car plate today, went to Service Canada, NO lineup at all, not even ONE person, gave all required papers, made a payment and had a sticker in my hand in 2 MINUTES from the moment I walked into the office. 2 MINUTES!!!!

Can't imagine similar in Cancun and keep recalling the day when I was trying to buy an underwater disposable camera at an **old** Chedraui on Tulum and it took me 40 minutes, 9 or 10 people handling the purchase and I still left the store WITHOUT the camera. Got fed up with relaying my purchase from one store clerk to another and to another and to another...

[mariayucatan]

Stuff happens everywhere, its about how we cope with it really and for how long we put up with it too lol

I have had my 4 years of Merida and that will do nicely thank you, Gods waiting room is far too hot and humid

I miss the beaches of the Riviera and the selection of foreigners.

You know you are on a loser when the private school administrator tells you that there are many foreigners in the school, I ask what country are they from and they tell me the DF, I fell over laughing, what chance had we got.

I had one guy ask me where about England was in the world and he was educated.

I need a change, I would like a change, no country, town or city is ideal.

I would go to Akumal or Tulum tomorrow, but I have kids who have needs and are of the age where they want malls and cinemas and friends etc etc

I like Playa in general more than Cancun but I feel Cancun has more going on and I have heard better things about the hospitals there.

Even though I have good health insurance I was not overly impressed with Hospiten in Playa but I wonder if that had more to do with their financial greediness.

All in all I have a big decision to make between the two places and I have a son who doesnt mind if we stay or go BUT I have a 13 year old daughter who is friends with most of Merida and so I have a dilemma on my hands

I think all of you seem great and helpful and I thank you all x

[TraceyUk]

Maria my daughter was 13 when we moved to Cancun - it was tricky but she adapated and made friends.
Let us know where you decide to start your new venture.
xxx

[GONZO]

Originally Posted by Cancunscorpio

Steve, by no means I'm on a a mission to persuade everyone that Cancun is not a good place to live in. I like Cancun and area, especially Akumal, but I guess I've had way too many negative experiences during my time in Cancun.
I hate all kinds of delays with immigration, health stuff etc etc etc. I read all those horror stories with INM wait times and numerous visits....

A very simple example- I had to renew a sticker on my car plate today, went to Service Canada, NO lineup at all, not even ONE person, gave all required papers, made a payment and had a sticker in my hand in 2 MINUTES from the moment I walked into the office. 2 MINUTES!!!!

Can't imagine similar in Cancun and keep recalling the day when I was trying to buy an underwater disposable camera at an **old** Chedraui on Tulum and it took me 40 minutes, 9 or 10 people handling the purchase and I still left the store WITHOUT the camera. Got fed up with relaying my purchase from one store clerk to another and to another and to another...

So just why is it that you come and post here...........I think you are just ready to jump at the chance of "SEE I told you so"!!