Book Review: Mañana Doesn't Mean Tomorrow By David Kindopp

We’ve all had lovers who just didn’t love us back as we wanted. David Kindopp describes his love affair with Mazatlan, Mexico in “Mañana Doesn't Mean Tomorrow, An unbelievably, ridiculously, painfully, delightfully true adventure in Mexico.” David gave up his real estate career in San Diego, settled up with his two ex-wives and sailed to Mexico on a 50-foot ketch.  All he wanted to do was start a charter business, taking tourists for sunset sails at $35 apiece.  He would provide the cervezas and food in a first-class manner and tourists would fall in love with the city as he had.

David is 40 and loves sailing and is good at his job.  He isn’t afraid of hard work and his mind overflows with the music of Jimmy Buffet. Working with tourists can pay well, but the ups and downs of the economy and the seasons can savage your endurance.  I’ve seen “Davids” in Mexico and Hawaii.  Sharing living quarters with other “Davids” enjoying the life in paradise. David is good with people and the lady tourists, looking for adventure, find it on the sea and in David’s bed, all in vivid detail.

Mexico is another story.  He loves the culture.  He feels alive.  Here he is not an American sheep with predictable futures, always paying for the new house, new car, education, healthcare. However, the corruption and inefficiency just beats him down.  He needs to get a permit to take tourists sailing, but is told by his business partners that the permit will be here Mañana! Those expats who live in Mexico know the most maddening part of living there is the lack of concern about time.  If it doesn’t get down today at 11:00am, there will be another 11:00am tomorrow or next week. He doesn’t understand why officials make it so hard to be an entrepreneur promoting tourism.

I loved the book. David Kindopp had me from the opening pages and I felt his love and hope for Mexico and also his pain and disappointment.  He says he has much more to tell and he plans on going back, so look for a sequel.

Visit Pinterest For Mexico Scenes

The new thing in social media is Pinterest where you start boards devoted to pictures on a specific topic. For example, I have a Mexico board and I pin pictures of places I want to visit or stay at in Mexico. You can see my board by clicking the link here. G9V3R3T7NCGX

Heed The Call!

I had a conversation recently in which I wondered if there is a diaspora in which people from the cold countries, countries with harsh winters, are selling their stuff and moving south to warmer climates. Maybe, what I'm seeing is too much House Hunters International, just anecdotal. 

I was reminded that the first push to warmer climates came after air conditioning was invented and installed.  Now people could live comfortably in Florida, and Palm Springs and Arizona and San Diego.  Then people could move to Mexico and Central America, but they were isolated.  Most of the phones were hit and miss.

Now we have the internet and you are now able to work in air conditioned comfort anywhere you can connect online. If I could convince my wife to sell everything, I could post to this blog from the white sands in PV or Mazatlan or Merida or Cancun. I could earn an incme while getting a tan.

Now there's a new company that puts employers in touch with expats named Teleworking Expats For Hire. 

As they say on their website:

"...you can now continue your successful career while living overseas and doing virtual work for companies in the US or Canada. Millions of qualified North Americans choose to live in Mexico  - from sales people to financial specialists, receptionists to lawyers. TeleworkingExpatsForHire.com is the first and only company to link these expats with businesses in Canada and the US, meaning expats can now further their careers and earn above average local wages – all from a beach in Acapulco!"

I expect more people in cold climates will answer the call.

Cancun

New Tropical Storm Near Manzanillo

The next 48 hours may see a tropical storm develop into a tropical cyclone near the coast of Mexico near Manzanillo.

Tropical Storm Carlotta

Tropical Storm Carlotta is expected to become a hurricane by Friday and impact the Mexican coast near Acapulco. Tropical Storm Carlotta is the 3rd tropical storm this season.

Camping In The Copper Canyon

Thinking of doing something outrageous? How about a hiking and camping trip to  Barranca del Cobre or Copper Canyon.  Situated in Northwest Mexico, Copper Canyon was formed by six rivers that empty into the Rio Fuerte, which flows to the Sea of Cortez. Inside Copper Canyon you will find canyons as deep or deeper than the Grand Canyon in Arizona, waterfalls (two of the highest in Mexico) and vegetation that varies from the tropical mango and avocado trees in the low spots to pine and oak forests in the higher elevations.

Copper Canyon is easily accessible by riding the Ferrocarril Chihuahua al Pacífico, or ChePe, Railroad. The train ride can be the entire 405 miles and passes over 37 mountain bridges or you can stop at popular hiker destinations, including El Divisadero, the Continental Divide. By purchasing a first-class ticket, you can get on and off the train at any or all of the 7 stops before its final destination. Bring a tent for camping and spend a night or two there while your explore the local area. You can hike the rim of Copper Canyon.  It is a 38-mile loop that has a 20,000-foot elevation gain.

When camping, remember you are a guest and using a camping tent site without asking is trespassing.  You can camp in Creel and Urique, however, many hikers prefer to find their own camp site along the way.  Just remember to go up to a rancher or farmers house and ask permission perhaps offering a small payment.

The best time for Copper Canyon is after the heat and rain of July through September.  In the fall, you’ll see full rivers, and the second-highest waterfall located in Candameña Canyon. You can also hike to Copper Canyon landmarks like Cuarenta Casas, which features 15 adobe houses from the 13th century featuring “T” shaped doorways.