stuphel

I've been told that there's someone in Riberas who repairs and/or adjusts garage doors . I haven't been able to locate him. Does anyone have a specific address or phone number for him? My garage doors aren't properly closing when I use the remote, and my attempts to adjust the mechanics haven't been successful. Thanks

Update: We found a couple of American Banjercito offices online, with telephone numbers, and a very nice woman in Sacramento was able to contact somebody in Mexico who, through our Passport Number, was able to access our file. The TIP was cancelled for some reason (probably a typo), our deposit is being returned, and we will just get the TIP at the border. Thanks for the responses.

Thanks, Alan, but unfortunately that is not the case. In fact, we now realize that we didn´t print out that page (if it actually came up) and we did not receive any email from banjercito either with confirmation info. But, they did process the payment through our credit card. Since we don´t have the folio # we can´t use the website to check the status of the TIP application, hence the need to find out if anyone knows a contact # that does not only go to automated answers, but to a live rep.

As we do every fall, we got our TIP online in Canada. They took our application and our substantial deposit was charged to our Mastercard. This year we did not receive an email with our tracking number on it. It has been one month and no TIP has arrived by mail. We usually get it in 3-4 business days. We're trying to contact a human being at Banjercito, as we have no tracking number to see what's up online. We have 4 telephone numbers, but they are all information-recording numbers. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how we can contact Banjercito and speak to a person? Thanks.

As we do every fall, we got our TIP online in Canada. They took our application and our substantial deposit was charged to our Mastercard. This year we did not receive an email with our tracking number on it. It has been one month and no TIP has arrived by mail. We usually get it in 3-4 business days. We're trying to contact a human being at Banjercito, as we have no tracking number to see what's up online. We have 4 telephone numbers, but they are all information-recording numbers. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how we can contact Banjercito and speak to a person? Thanks.

I know this has been discussed from time to time on the board, but a search did not come up with anything current: I have been going to a pool almost daily in Canada, since I had a full knee-replacement, and I find it very good physiotherapy. I'm looking for a pool where I can continue this practice when we come down later this month. I'm not looking for lap swimming or organized water aerobics (though that might work if it's all that's available) but a pool where I can exercise on my own quite regularly. The hot springs are too far away and expensive for a daily workout. The Riberas pool used to be more focussed on lap swimming, as I recall. I remember that one of the Chapala hotels used to permit the public to use the pool for a charge, but I don't know if that's still the case. Can anyone offer me suggestions? I live in Riberas.

Yes, I should have clarified that I was talking about getting a TIP and pre-approval for a Tourist Visa online. In that case you must stop at Immigrado and show (exchange) your pre-approval for the actual Tourist visa---which takes very little time. As when you fly, you keep the paper visa and return it when you go back through the border to the States.

We get our TIP online and it is delivered to our home in about 10 days or often less. The process is described at the Banjercito website. You will be preapproved for your visa and will receive the TIP to put on your car windshield when you enter Mexico, and the cost can be put on your credit card. The preapproved visa is exchanged at immigrado for the one you will keep and return when you leave. When you leave, you will also stop at the Banjercito 'hut' before you hit the actual border and give in the papers that come with the TIP, and remove the sticker, and your deposit of, I believe $400 US will be refunded to your credit card. Doing it this way makes the border crossing a little shorter when entering Mexico. I believe doing it online costs you an extra $20 over doing it in person, but to us, the convenience is worth the cost.

We cross 2 borders (Can/US, US/Mexico) twice a year in our car, and have done for eight years. Sixteen crossings. Not a single border agent has asked to see our 2 dogs' papers. Only one has even commented about the dogs, in their crates in the back seat, at all. Of course, we have their papers (the law for each country only requires up to date rabies shots, though it is prudent to have all shots up to date, and perhaps a certificate of good health, available through any vet, just in case.) Bring your pets; they will be less stressed.

Is this drug (rivaroxaban) 20 mg dose readily available without a prescription? I will be about 10 short for my 6 month stay and would like not to have to jump through drug plan hoops to deal with the shortfall if I can simply purchase it when down there this winter. Thanks.

cafemeditteraneo: I have faithfully administered the castor oil to Chita nightly for a month as you recommended. There may well be a difference. My question is: should I continue to administer it, or stop, now that the month is over? Thanks.

When we first wanted to paint the exterior of our house (which was orange and white: my husband called it the Creamsicle house), we tried to find paint samples in the various paint stores, but had little luck. (this was ten years ago.) We looked at lots of the homes around us, from ground level and our mirador. We liked the brick/ off white combination as a neutral that appealed to gringos and mexicans alike. When we showed our painter, we went up on the mirador and pointed out several terra cotta walls in the homes in our neighborhood, indicating we liked this one, 'but a little less orange' or that one, but 'not so dark'. We said we liked the eggshell houses, but 'perhaps not so yellow' or 'a little sandier.' Our painter nodded and said, "Si, senora. Crema y marron". We once again went through the variations around us and tried to indicate what we were looking for. Again, "si, senora. Crema y marron." We shrugged, crossed our fingers, and hoped for the best. When he came to apply the paint, he mixed the colours himself. They were indeed 'crema' and 'marron' (terra cotta, really). They looked absolutely fine, each plane of the house reflecting the sunlight slightly differently and making it impossible to see exactly which part of the house was the exact shade we had in our head. The sun faded the colour in some areas; intensified it in others. It looked clean, Mexican and Gringo-taste both, and we were happy enough to paint it the same colours when it needed it again seven years later. We asked the painter for 'crema y marron'.

I think you have a very good point, David. The nom de plume I/we use is an amalgram of my and my husband's last names. I'm Lynn Phelan.

This is not exactly on topic, but related. We adopted both our dogs in Mexico, 2012. We drive to Canada each spring and return to Mexico by car each autumn. Two borders each trip; four borders a year. About 30 border crossings in total. Only one border person has asked us even one question about our dogs in that whole time. No border person has ever asked to see any paperwork for the dogs. Usually they don't even acknowledge their presence in the car. We are diligent about bringing proof of up-to-date shots with us on each trip, (just a letter or slip from the vet---usually a Mexican vet as their shots are due when we are in Mexico)but have never had to show them. It's interesting to me to read about how different the procedures are when travelling by plane as opposed to car.

There is a good seamstress working at the cleaners on the carreterra in West Ajijic, mountain side, just east of the Casa de Waffle, if that location is more convenient for you.

her post on Facebook also includes passport photos of the Chavises. Might help in locating them.

thank you for the replies. I will try the castor oil (couldn't hurt....I see it's used by humans for themselves and animals, re: Google) I'll be happy if it helps her at all. I also take to heart your advice not to submit her to surgery, and be thankful that she will likely be resilient and continue to age gracefully. She's pretty healthy otherwise, so I'll just be the best companion I can for her, and we'll support each other in our 'golden years'. Thanks again for the support.

I'm currently in Canada, but my senior dog (adopted in Mexico) has developed cataracts. Dr Ladron gave me some vitamins to give her to slow down (and he suggested, even reverse to some degree) the development of the cataracts. Her vet here in Canada says one eye is in bad shape, with little vision, but the other is still pretty good. Surgery here runs about $4000 per eye. I wonder if anyone has had surgery performed on their dog at Lakeside, and an approximate cost. I'm thinking of having the better eye operated on to maintain vision in that eye at least. We will not be back Lakeside until November. Any advice?

pappysmarket: if that is a Mexican gene, it has certainly mutated. Lots of people here in Canada suffer from the same genetic predisposition!

Mirna at Ajijic rentals manages our home, and has for about 11 years. We are very happy with her service.

I like the fish and chips at The Brew House, but I'm up for an adventure and will give this place a try. Thanks, ComputerGuy.

We usually cross into the US at Columbia, and have been watching the wait times over the last two weeks or so. We will be leaving in two weeks. I saw today that Columbia bridge is closed to auto traffic and has about a 3 hour wait for commercial.

Thank you for your advice concerning using CBD for my dog. Another question: I see that CBD from hemp is legal here, in the US and in Canada. But does anyone know about taking a vial (by car) over the borders?

I'm intrigued by the idea of this oil in calming my anxious dog....she's always been upset by cohetes, etc, but her anxiety is increasing as her eyesight gets worse. Does anyone have experience using this product to calm animals, and if so, do you have any advice or recommendations?

If anyone can offer me information or advice on getting an upper arm reduction done by a local plastic surgeon, or one in Guadalajara, I would appreciate hearing from you.