Categoría: Living in Mexico – We Have All The Lifestyle Information You Will Need.

For a long time, we thought it quite strange to see Christmas decorations hanging in and around homes far into the New Year. In error, we assumed this was a sign of laziness! One couldn’t get around to putting the baubles away and taking down the lights and tree?

How wrong we were. No matter how long we live in this foreign country, unlike the northern regions we have come from, we are aware there are many things yet to learn.

Christmas is celebrated in Mexico until Epiphany, which is the 6th of January. However, the birth of the Christ child is observed for much longer. Candelaria, also known as Candlemas is a mix of religion and paganism. Over the centuries, certain traditions are picked up, added to the original concept and developed in to a bona fide occasion.

Candelaria takes place on February 2nd. The lucky person, who bit into the plastic baby hidden in the Rosca de Reyes Cake on Epiphany, January 6, is now obliged to feed everyone on what normally we have thought of as Ground Hog Day. This is all in celebration of the Baby Jesus being presented at the temple. This has come to be known, among other things, but chiefly as the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, which also coincides with the forty days following the birth of a child, when women are in need of being churched or purified. This was a common practice in biblical times and being a Virgin not only didn’t get Mary off the hook, it completed the sacred notion of the process. Since the Christ Child was proclaimed The Light of the World, candles became very prominent for the observation of this holiday. It is not unusual to see processions of families to local churches, including Our Lady of Guadalupe Cathedral. Baskets and armloads of candles are brought to the churches to be blessed for use in the home throughout the coming year. This is also indicative of the halfway mark between the winter solstice and spring equinox, the fact that spring in on her way, bringing more light in the day.

Christmas decorations left in and outside the house are a form of observation, not idleness and besides, they are pretty and make everyone merrier. We see no reason they shouldn’t be given a slight dusting once in awhile and remain all year round. Indeed, quite often they are.

Que es cómo es.

Timothy Real Estate Group is a locally-owned and operated real estate brokerage with a strategic location in the Romantic Zone of Puerto Vallarta in the Colonia Emiliano Zapata. Because the Puerto Vallarta area has varying neighborhood personalities, we practice localized real estate. We believe neighborhood knowledge is a top factor in solid sales, and we know our communities well.

We enable our clients to realize their vision for the future.  We understand and plan for their concerns and are dedicated to transforming those concerns to peace of mind and joy.

Our philosophy of transparency, integrity, and professionalism imbues our culture with a tangible sense of purpose and results in the length and depth of the quality relationships we enjoy.  We believe buying or selling a home is first and foremost about people. Of course we have the latest technology, marketing tools, statistics and research, but a successful real estate transaction really comes down to people. Connecting the right buyers to sellers or investors our professional agents structure solid transactions with successful solid outcomes.  We believe in collaboration by connecting people in ways that bring satisfaction and success.

When you combine extensive local knowledge and our long standing reputation for honesty and sound judgment, you have an unbeatable resource at your disposal.  You have Timothy Real Estate Group, a constant leader in Puerto Vallarta real estate.

Coming or Going; Your Suitcase and You

We’ve all suffered that airport moment, coming or going from Puerto Vallarta, anxiously awaiting our luggage to show up on the conveyor belt or tumble down an unforgiving chute.  Finding the suitcase is our first priority; hauling it is second.

Our primary recommendation is WHEELS; whether you’re dragging your junk around in a duffel bag, backpack, or a fancy, sparkly swiveling suitcase. Travel duffels and backpacks now come with wheels. Some designer, after enduring shoulders that felt like Atlas did indeed shrug, came up with this marvelous idea. What took so long?

We bought the hard body suitcase as soon as we saw fellow travelers deplaning in Puerto Vallarta … wheeling, spinning, and practically dancing through terminals and parking lots. We did serious research prior to purchase and discovered that high quality is important. If you opt for a cheap version of the hard body, be duly warned, they are prone to cracking under pressure. Same goes for soft body suitcases; less expensive brands can tear, rip and burst, spilling contents and causing unimaginable delays.

Size matters. A carry-on can be no larger than 45 inches; that’s length plus width and height. Avoid being required to check it by measuring at home. Standard major airlines specifications for checked bags are no larger than 62 inches; same LWH rules apply. If you are the person who insists on packing everything into a carry-on, remember… that baby has to go over heads and into the bin. In other words, if you can’t pick it up and hoist it, you need to rethink; and repack.

Going to some exotic place where the final leg of your journey is on a puddle-jumper (small plane with 20 or less seats), make sure you check ahead with the airline. Bag requirements are different; weight on these planes is crucial.

Our favorite bag is pink, purchased with identification in mind. We don’t care what people think when we’re lugging our belongings through the airport at Puerto Vallarta or anywhere else. We happily have a piece of luggage that  doesn’t look like everyone else’s and it stands out in a crowd!

Interiors are important, too. If you want a swim at the last minute, there are suitcases, packs, etc that have compartments for wet items. And if you want to bring that bottle of tequila to Uncle George, the hard body is for you, with straps to hold things in place.

Que es cómo es.

Timothy Real Estate Group is a locally-owned and operated real estate brokerage with a strategic location in the Romantic Zone of Puerto Vallarta in the Colonia Emiliano Zapata. Because the Puerto Vallarta area has varying neighborhood personalities, we practice localized real estate. We believe neighborhood knowledge is a top factor in solid sales, and we know our communities well.

We enable our clients to realize their vision for the future.  We understand and plan for their concerns and are dedicated to transforming those concerns to peace of mind and joy.

Our philosophy of transparency, integrity, and professionalism imbues our culture with a tangible sense of purpose and results in the length and depth of the quality relationships we enjoy.  We believe buying or selling a home is first and foremost about people. Of course we have the latest technology, marketing tools, statistics and research, but a successful real estate transaction really comes down to people. Connecting the right buyers to sellers or investors our professional agents structure solid transactions with successful solid outcomes.  We believe in collaboration by connecting people in ways that bring satisfaction and success.

When you combine extensive local knowledge and our long standing reputation for honesty and sound judgment, you have an unbeatable resource at your disposal.  You have Timothy Real Estate Group, a constant leader in Puerto Vallarta real estate.

This time of year, there is an abundance of conservation regarding mosquitoes in and around Puerto Vallarta. Some of us are just too delicious for our own good. We have a friend who’s tried everything under the sun (and from the pharmacy counter) but the only solution for her is to sit in front of a blasting fan, and the moskies still seem to find her. She realizes that keeping mosquitoes at bay is very important, as their stings can be more than slightly irritating and potentially detrimental to one’s health. Dengue is not something we want to contract, whether on vacation or as a full or part-time resident, no matter how lovely the local hospitals seem.

Some find that routine Vitamin B injections work to repel insects, while others claim that garlic applied to the skin is an assured repellent. Neither have any factual or scientific basis nor does the practice of eating bananas to keep the little biting buggers away. There is actually an argument about whether banana consumption is a deterrent or an attraction! You’re resigned to doing your own research on fruits and herbs, even though it’s not comforting to know one is providing constant blood transfusions to creatures that promise to buzz in one’s ear all night like a mini chainsaw.

Locals are known in the summer months to lather their bodies in an olive oil/garlic/lemon/coconut oil mixture, which the insects simply drown or suffocate.

We recommend Baygon plug-ins and raidolitos, the spiraling incense, both available in supermarkets and drugstores. They are proven repellents and though contain a certain amount of chemicals, are the most effective. After decades of experimenting with natural products, we have capitulated to using most costly yet effective solutions.

It’s highly recommended that visitors spray ankles when venturing to the beach for sunset vistas. It’s a particularly opportunistic time for feasting in the bloodsucking realm. There are many brands and varieties with and without DEET and once again, we are inclined to use the strongest repellant offered and recommend whatever the locals buy over the counter, Autan in the lotion application being our favorite.

We’re luckier here in Puerto Vallarta than neighbors further up the coast. In San Blas, for example, the jejéne is quite famous. Also referred to as a no-see-um, they do exist in Puerto Vallarta but not in the abundance as northern regions. There is a prevailing legend regarding the torture of captured prisoners. In an effort to obtain a confession, suspects were stripped naked and staked on the beach at sunset. It wasn’t long before the begging for mercy began and desired confession was achieved.

Que es cómo es.

Calling Pros and Amateurs!

Puerto Vallarta has long had a history of sports, with enthusiasts for baseball, soccer, tennis, and other activities dating back several decades. These traditions are honored when Puerto Vallarta hosts events, which also contribute to tourism and the image of our spectacular city.

There are few things as exciting for running aficionados as a Marathon, and Puerto Vallarta holds hers every year in April, this year on the 15th, which is double exciting since it will overlap with the anniversary of the foundation of Puerto Vallarta, 100 years in development, getting stronger and more beautiful with every decade. We look forward to cheering on participants, who will win cash prizes of $10,000, $6,000 and $5,000 pesos for first, second and third place winners, respectively.  There’s a half-marathon, as well with a start time for both at 6:30 a.m. in the port terminal. If you’re eager to participate, make sure to register by March 31 for $500 pesos; after that it goes up to $600 until close on April 13. The distribution of numbers and chips will be at the Marathon 2018 Expo Site on April 14, the day before the marathon, beginning at 9 a.m. Further information can be found at www.marathonpuertovallarta.com.

The ATP Challenger Tour Puerto Vallarta Open will be held from April 30 – May 5^th at Parota Park. This is a pro tennis event and really worth your viewing time. If you love the game, you will enjoy this competition of players from around the globe. The park has recently been renovated and there’s a lot of excitement about this tour! Tennis has put Puerto Vallarta on the map over the years and this is a global tournament that commenced on the French Island of New Caledonia, on New Year’s Day, 2018. It continues throughout the year to Australia, Thailand, German, France, USA, Italy, Japan and several other countries with a list of very impressive athletes.  The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) calendar for this secondary professional circuit can be followed on sports channels and will be thrilling to witness here on our home turf. The ATP Challenger Tour Puerto Vallarta Open will be played on hard courts and it’s an honor to host this grand sports event, with prize money from $50,000 – $150,000 (USD). Be sure to pack your sunglasses, hats and sun block, along with your patience, all appropriate items for outdoor tournaments.

Que es cómo es.

Timothy Real Estate Group is a locally-owned and operated real estate brokerage with a strategic location in the Romantic Zone of Puerto Vallarta in the Colonia Emiliano Zapata. Because the Puerto Vallarta area has varying neighborhood personalities, we practice localized real estate. We believe neighborhood knowledge is a top factor in solid sales, and we know our communities well.

We enable our clients to realize their vision for the future.  We understand and plan for their concerns and are dedicated to transforming those concerns to peace of mind and joy.

Our philosophy of transparency, integrity, and professionalism imbues our culture with a tangible sense of purpose and results in the length and depth of the quality relationships we enjoy.  We believe buying or selling a home is first and foremost about people. Of course we have the latest technology, marketing tools, statistics and research, but a successful real estate transaction really comes down to people. Connecting the right buyers to sellers or investors our professional agents structure solid transactions with successful solid outcomes.  We believe in collaboration by connecting people in ways that bring satisfaction and success.

When you combine extensive local knowledge and our long standing reputation for honesty and sound judgment, you have an unbeatable resource at your disposal.  You have Timothy Real Estate Group, a constant leader in Puerto Vallarta real estate.

[idx_slideshow link=”zm4d8372nk9″ horizontal=”3″ vertical=”1″ auto_rotate=”9000″ source=”location” display=”all” sort=”recently_changed” destination=”local” send_to=”photo”]

Hola Everyone,
You are welcome to join us Friday, May 17,2019 for the Casa
5 de Diciembre Open House!
FLEXMLS # 14700

From 11 AM to 2 PM Duplex 
4 Bedrooms
 4 Bathrooms
,Pool
,Palapa Rooftop
Over 4,100 square feet
 $499,000 USD .This is a must see opportunity to preview for your clients and
for anyone interested in owning a home and also having some
rental income. This Duplex Property has all your Old World Mexico Charm and
Character with modern conveniences and comfort!

Located on Calle Costa Rica 1270, Col. 5 de Diciembre which is
North of El Centro, Downtown, Puerto Vallarta!
Conveniently located and only 7 super short blocks to the Beach
with shopping, grocery store, restaurants and night life nearby.

Donna Davies
donna@timothyrealestategroup.com
322.779.9406