Thursday, August 27, 2015

Good News for Mexico...and Me

Mexico's revenue comes from (1) remittances of workers in the USA sending money home to their families,
(2) oil revenue and (3) tourism.

On July 31, 2015, the US Commerce  Dept released the statistics on international tourism to Mexico from the USA.  Up 24%, 25.9 million visitors visited Mexico.  Despite two warnings from the US State Department, US citizens are making their own decisions.

In 2013 the number of tourists was 29.1 million, according to statistics from the Mexican Tourism Board and of that number, there were 11 deaths of US citizens.  Only two were homicides.  To me, that is an amazing number which shows that Mexico is indeed a safe place to be and to travel to.

With the peso at 16.98 to the dollar today, tourism will benefit with everything being so inexpensive.
It is good for that, but not good for the every day Mexican resident.

In other good news, a sweet thing happens each week.  Josefina, the woman who cleans the house and does all kinds of wonderful things for me, goes throughout the garden and even to the wildflowers out on the path  next to the house, to gather flowers to make "a bouquet for Jennifer".  I keep fresh flowers by her photo next to my bed.  My heart is always touched by this kind and thoughtful gesture.  In the photo below are the flowers this week.


Other happy news for me!  I got a new chair for my bedroom.  The first new piece of furniture in a long, long time.  The chair that was in that corner is now in the living room.  And, here is the new chair that I'm thrilled with.  I had been looking for many, many months for just the right chair (it's a designer thing).  Last Friday, with no intent of finding anything but only to kill some time until lunch, I walked in Finca, a consignment store and voila, there it was.  Now it is here and I"m loving it.  It was delivered last Saturday morning by the son of my former gardener.  He is now all grown up and I have known him since he was about 8 years old!  My time flies.
Lunch with great friends has happened twice in the last week!  I treasure long time friends and my cup runneth over this week with lots of laughter and good food.  Life is good!
Hope yours is as well...........

15 comments:

Unknown said...

My, Barbara--you are radiant

We'll be in San Miguel next May. Can't wait to see you!

Babs said...

GREAT news Duck. I keep up with you and Buzz on FB, but, in person will be
absolutely delightful! Keep me informed.

Billie Mercer said...

I love your new chair. It is quite stylish, just like you.

Retired Teacher said...

I'm glad to hear that more US citizens are getting over their paranoia about Mexico. Thanks for the statistics. I'm not a math whiz, but by my calculations, the probability of a tourist being murdered in Mexico would be around .0000001%. I'm probably safer down there than I am in Ohio!
I've noticed in the last couple years that fewer people are asking me, "Isn't it dangerous to go to Mexico?" But if anyone does, I shall throw that statistic at them. I don't like to be a copy cat, but people need to know these things. With your permission, I shall post those statistics on my blog also.
¡Saludos!

Babs said...

Oh Billie, I have never thought of myself as stylish! Thanks so much. I do love the chair PLUS its comfortable..........

Babs said...

Bill, post away. I think good news should always be shared.
I thought it was pretty amazing also that the US Dept of Commerce
gave out these stats........

Christine said...

Doesn't the chair scream for an ottoman or footstool?

Babs said...

Yes, Christine, but there is not enough room between the chair and the end of the bed for one, unfortunately. Plus, I doubt I would ever find that fabric here in SMA!

Barbara Lane said...

I must say you and Billie look radiant! No other word for it.

Droelma said...


I think it's not just in the US where a certain fear of Mexico seems to be perpetuated. I just read the German " Spiegel " and found an announcement for : " Mexican luxury beach vacations under palm frond roofs, close to Acapulco.....secure and trouble free "...

Babs said...

Thanks Barbara Lane. Billie looks so good and especially good in red!



Droelma, the State of Guerrero has always been kind of an iffy state. I've never been to Acapulco but hope some day to be able to FLY in to see the old part of the city. Some day.......

marilyn said...

Hi, I got tears in my eyes, reading about Josefina placing flowers for Jennifer. That is so typical of the lovely Mexican people. When I'm asked what I like about Mexico, I always say, first on my list is the people. And what seems, maybe, an extraordinary gesture, I think of, as I said a "typical Mexican gesture".
I love your stories!!! Lena

Babs said...

Thanks Lena for your comment. It is an extraordinary place to live among the most kind and thoughtful people.

Anonymous said...

Let's see...more tourists, virtually all of them safe and sound, a peso nearly at 17 to the USD, and plenty of stuff to see. Sounds like a good mix for tourism.

Just don't complain when they all come to SMA!

Saludos,

Kim G
Boston, MA
Where Canadian friends are complaining about how expensive everything is here.

Babs said...

Luckily Kim, this is the time of year when the benches are empty........the streets have cleared..........and we have our town back. Except on the weekends when the Mx Nationals roll in.

Most US tourists head for the beaches, thankfully.