The Dogs of Sunny Vallarta

Pets are great company and can become very dear to us - especially dogs. Have you ever been abroad or simply away on business or vacation and missed your dog to bits? Well, so have I and this blog illustrates perfectly what it's like. This post is written by a woman who visited Puerto Vallarta and missed her dog so much that she took some original pictures of "The Dogs of Sunny Puerto Vallarta". See what she has to say about Mexican dogs and laugh at what substitutes she comes up with!

Medical Care in Mexico: Interesting Special on CBS

It can be challenging to keep up with medical costs in your golden years. Watch this CBS special on medical care in Mexico with testimonials from expats on how it's better than the healthcare they could've received in the U.S.




No limits, no deductibles, no copays..."We like it!" says the wife of an American expat couple. She's talking about how she goes to the doctor and doesn't have to pay for her prescription at the pharmacy on her way out. It's just as good, sometimes better, than the medical care in the U.S... That's because facilities in Mexico have doctors that have been educated abroad: speaking perfect English, familiarized with the latest procedures and using up-to-date medical tools.

Video of San Blas, Nayarit

As I mentioned in my previous post, one of the most lovely places to go to in Nayarit is San Blas...I wrote about literature and music inspired by El Muelle de San Blas or the San Blas Wharf in Nayarit and if you watch the video, you'll see what an amazingly tranquil, beautiful place it is.

If you've ever been to San Blas, what would you say was the best thing about it? The spot in town with the most charm? The nicest meal you had?

Post your useful comments below. I'd love to hear them!

Sweeping View of San Pancho

I've been wanting to give those of you that follow my blog a good look at part of Riviera Nayarit, and I found this video of San Francisco, also affectionately called San Pancho, which I talked about in a post a couple of weeks ago. Watch this video to get a good idea of what one of the most tranquil but interesting towns in Nayarit is like. I think the video is sponsored by a touring company, so if you're in the area they could be a good tour provider.

20 Most Frequently Asked Questions About Retirement Abroad

I came across this great article full of more questions than you could ever think of to ask about retirement abroad. There are some very valid questions in this article like Number 9) "Can I still receive my Social Security payments?" and other funny questions like Number 14) "Is there a Burger King?"

See the answers here.

What are some questions you have on retirement abroad and retirement in Mexico? Ask me and I'll definitely try to give you the answer or point you to it.

How Travel Can Improve Your Life

They say that travel can make you younger, smarter and even sexier (in an interesting sort of way) no matter what the age. Read this interesting article on how you can keep looking and feeling your best through travel.

New FDA Rules for Sunscreen

I have very light skin and am always careful to put lots of sunscreen on, especially when on vacation. Looking through the AARP website, I just found out that the FDA has passed new rules for SPF so consumers will be able to "see more realistic SPF ratings".

Now sunscreens that test SPF 15 or higher will be able to claim they help prevent sunburn and protect against skin damage, while those sunscreens with a SPF of 15 or below will only be able to claim that they help prevent sunburn.

The article also says that the FDA will ban sunscreen manufacturers from claiming their products are waterproof and sweatproof — because none of them really are. Also, they won't be able to call sunscreens “sunblocks” anymore, since it's an exaggeration of what sunscreen can do.

Get all the details on which sunscreens will be good for you, here.

Live Shot of Sayulita from Sayulita Surf Shop Web Cam

Catch a live shot of Sayulita's beach here!

Click here to see a shot of the beach in Sayulita

Why is Medical Tourism Gaining So Much Support?

The current in medical tourism is due to the following factors:

(1) Rising health care costs. Rising health care costs in developed countries especially the US are forcing their citizens to seek affordable health care elsewhere. Charges for common procedures such as heart bypass can be $11,000 in Thailand compared to $130,000 in the United States. Knee replacement can cost $40,000 compared to $13,000 in Singapore.

(2) Cross-border medical training. More and more doctors from developing countries have studied and specialized abroad. Mexico, for example, has many doctors trained in the US who speak excellent English and fully understand the medical needs of medical tourists from Western countries. The same is true for India in relation to the US and Australia in relation to Thailand.

(4) Accreditation. To overcome the scepticism of patients, many medical tourism facilities apply for accreditation. Several American organizations conduct inspections, evaluations of and grant accreditation to medical facilities outside the US. One of these is the Joint Commission International (JCI). More encompassing is accreditation by the International Society for Quality in Healthcare which is the umbrella organization for accreditation agencies in many countries including Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Canada and Ireland.

Nayarit's Regional Museum in Tepic

Tepic, the capital of the state of Nayarit, has a variety of interesting museums to visit, such as Nayarit's Regional Museum. The Regional Museum resides in a palatial 18th-century neoclassical house with a lovely courtyard. It also presents changing exhibitions that are the honored host to pre-Hispanic objects, such as ancient pottery and tomb artifacts. The museum also displays colonial painting and artifacts of the Huichol culture.

The Real Deal on Retirement Abroad

Recently published on Smart Money.com, this article on Expat Daily News will give you wonderful insight into things to think about when planning to retire, especially if it's abroad. Find out more about what you need to know if you're looking to retire abroad to make your savings go farther.

Where to Find Vegetarian Food in Nayarit? Quetzalcoatl, Claro.

For a variety of vegetarian Mexican cuisine and at affordable prices, you can go to Quetzalcoatl, a local Nayarit restaurant. Pronounced Ket-Zal-Coa-Til, it's rumored this local vegetarian restaurant is where you'll have the best veggie burger in town.

Get to Know Tepic, Capital of Nayarit

There are lots of things to do in the region of Nayarit, like go to El Museo de los Cuatro Pueblos. This Museum of the Four Peoples displays contemporary popular arts of Nayarit’s Huichol, Cora, Nahua and Tepehuano peoples, including some of the best examples of local artistry, like clothing, yarn art, weaving, musical instruments, ceramics and beadwork.

Restaurant Cafeteria Las Diligencias in Tepic

Restaurant and Cafeteria Las Diligencias: It's said that there’s no better place than this to experience a true Mexican morning of conversation and coffee. If you want to get an early start to your vacation day, but still need a moment to plan with the help of your guide, this is a pleasant spot for just that. Often times, the locals will sit around the restaurant, ordering snacks, chatting for hours on end or playing cards.

Sininen and Lunazul

If you're wondering what to do with the grandkids on a beautiful day in Nayarit, take them to explore the best two surf shops in Sayulita: Sininen and Lunazul. In my post with a link to a live web cam shot of Sayulita's beach, you'll see the beach from Lunazul's surf shop.

Sininen and Lunazul, are both located by the main town beach, and offer shortboards, longboards, and stand-up paddleboards for sale as well as for rent by the hour, day, or week. Even if your grand children are expert surfers, it'd be a better idea to stop at one of these surf shops to rent a board and gear, since it can cost up to 75$ each way to bring a surfboard on the plane with you.

Ken Brandon: A Retired American Living in Sayulita

There are many people that have retired abroad in Mexico. If you'd like to get familiar with the American community in Sayulita, here's an interview with an artist from Seattle, Washington that has been living in Mexico for over 20 years now. First in Chihuahua and later in San Miguel de Allende, he used to visit Sayulita every once in a while, until he fell in love with the little town and decided to move there in 2003. Read his interesting, inspiring story here.

NY Times Travel Mentions Sayulita as Paradise to Visit

The NY Times recently mentioned the coastal town of Sayulita in Nayarit, Mexico in a paradise article.


NYT touts Sayulita as a safe haven for second-home owners hailing from California and Canada who are responsible for setting up a laid back vibe.
For those feeling adventurous, Sayulita offers a little bit of surf and for those with a sweet tooth, chocolate-dipped bananas are in abundance.

Aurinko Bungalows in Sayulita, photos courtesy of NY Times

NY Times - Sayulita mention