Here they come

The crowds are arriving in buses and cars with luggage strapped to the top. Just a short trip into Melaque this morning and already "ran into" two cars trying to go the wrong way on a one-way street. Went to the bank at 10:30 and there was nobody at the ATM. Yesterday was the last day of school so no more being a bus driver for almost two months. The beaches are probably not full yet because it's early.   Oh, did I say today is the first day of Semana Santa 

My desktop is still in the shop so am learning how to do this on my laptop with Windows 7. Hopefully will get the old computer back but it's old and you never know.  Actually had to call my bank yesterday because the password on this computer and the old one were not the same. They changed the website software to "digital banking" and it totally did not like me until this very nice woman fixed me up. She cut through all the crap I was being subjected to before. A forty minute call to Seattle cost about 30 pesos ($2,15 in dollars), What a relief. 

A trip to the airport

I've known Diana was arriving since last October and I helped her get her rental way back then. Anymore 3-4 months is enough time to forget anything resembling a schedule if it's not part of my weekly life. Basically it's all about day to day. Luckily I have people to remind me if they think it's something  important. So I got that reminder mid last week saying she was arriving yesterday about 5PM. I asked Lorena if the family had been to the airport like so many locals haven't .... and sure enough but they did want to go to pick up Diana.

Thought there might be a space issue with the family but dad didn't want to go and teenage son wanted to watch wrestling so off we went with mom and two girls.  We got there early so we could maybe see the plane landing .. but only saw it taxiing off the runway to the unloading zone.  A good view of the activity from the restaurant upstairs.

Yari taking pictures with her Cell

Ready to unload from Phoenix 

Decided not to get pesos at the airport although the machine was working.   A stop at Banamex in Cihuatlan only to find the ATM was broken.  Went over to the Bancomer machine and it was working with a new screen menu.  Non-regular visitors tend to worry too much about the best rate and the safest place to get dollars exchanged ... especially when they first arrive.  Best to use the first available source and get some money in your pocket and then figure out the best routine in the next few days.

We were invited to a wedding last night that happened to be on the beach a block away from where Diana is staying in front of Hotel Legazpi in west Melaque.   It wasn't going to start until 9-10PM so we decided too tired but stopped for a few pictures of the setting.

Beach Boda

Wedding in front of Hotel Legazpi 

New ATM fees for Mexico

As of May 5th banks in Mexico are charging for ATM withdrawals and balance inquiries when using a card from a different bank. This applies to Mexicans and foreigners.

Each bank will determine rates implying there will be competition but that is yet to be seen. According to information supplied by banks the rates will be ranging from 15 to 36.36 pesos per cash withdrawal, and 4 and up to 10 pesos for a balance inquiry. The ATM machines are supposed to let you know the fee of your transaction before you continue.

For Expats in Mexico it would make sense to always withdraw your daily maximum and even try to up your daily limit through your home bank. Some people can withdraw as much as 10,000 pesos per day from Banamex.

Bancos transparentarán cobro de comisiones en cajeros automáticos

Banamex 7.5 peso charges

I've seen the "warnings" come and go on various ATM machines for over 6 months ... but yesterday was the first time I had to choose ACCEPT the extra charges to continue. Other banks have had these charges for several years. 70 cents is not much but is per withdrawal so makes sense to withdraw the max.

It hasn't been processed thru my bank yet so don't know how/if the fee will show. Probably just as a larger withdrawal than $5000 pesos