Driver licenses closed

In case you thought you'd like to enter the New Year with a certified Jalisco DL, think again. My guide and I drove there this morning to discover that they decided to close until January. No per-announcment.

Es Mexico.

Where in Guadalajara?

Not really sure. All I know is I never would have fund it on my own.

EVERYTHING closes this time of year in Mexico. Don't even think about getting sick or having a toothache.

Interesting -- their press release from 19 December says central SEMOV offices will be open for business during most of the holidays.  [  https://goo.gl/gG8HqP  ]

"La Secretaría de Transporte informa que durante el período vacacional de invierno, que comprende del 20 de diciembre de 2018 al 4 de enero de 2019, se ofrecerán los servicios habituales.  El área de expedición de licencias laborará de 8:30 a 13:30 horas los días 26, 27 y 28 de diciembre y 2, 3 y 4 de enero, aunque únicamente la de oficinas centrales y con previa cita . . . '

"The Ministry of Transportation informs that during the winter holiday period, which includes from December 20, 2018 to January 4, 2019, the usual services will be offered.  The licensing area will work from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on December 26, 27 and 28 and 2, 3 and 4 of January, although only central offices and with prior appointment . . . "

Trailrunner wrote:EVERYTHING closes this time of year in Mexico. Don't even think about getting sick or having a toothache.

FYI. Dr. Barragan has a dentist covering emergencies. I optimistically stopped by the office yesterday to see if I could make an appointment to get a new night guard made soon. Had the impression made right then and there. Could have returned later in the afternoon to pick up the guard but opted to go get it this morning.

Yep, well, the expert who accompanied me was as surprised as anyone. Go figure, es Mexico.

Trailrunner wrote:EVERYTHING closes this time of year in Mexico. Don't even think about getting sick or having a toothache.

You can say that again. I had a gall bladder emergency not on Christmas day  but during the extended Christmas season in San Cristobal de Las Casas, which is a fairly large Chiapas municipality of about 180,000 souls, and I really needed a gastrointestinal surgeon right away to remove my gall bladder before it caused my demise.  I was told by local experts that  I should use a particular surgeon for the vital operation which was immediately necessary and I  was well insured for major medical and could choose my own surgeon so inquired  as to whether the surgeon recommended was one of  the most highly recommended gastrointestinal surgeons in town and I was informed that since it was Christmas season, he was the only gastrointestinal surgeon in town and that would be the case for a number of days until the season had ended some time in January of the following year. Well. anyway, of necessity, that is the surgeon I used and he did a good job but I was in the hospital for a number of days after surgery but still during the season and this was the largest and most reputable hospital in the city.  The hospital was virtually deserted of staff as almost all of them except a few emergency staff were partying and celebrating the Chrstmas season. There I was for a few days in that lonely, deserted hospital lying in bed and hooked up to all kinds of tubes with not a nurse or doctor in sight for days except for staff occasionally doing necessary rounds of bed bound patients and, believe me, they were not top of the line staff personnel.  That was scary for me but there was no way truly skilled  hospital staff was coming in just for sickly patients during that time of community wide revelry.   Good advice, Trailrunner, for elective surgery that can be delayed but God help you if you have a time sensitive emergency.  I do not know how I survived that experience.

By the way, regarding what happened to me with my gall bladder problem in Chiapas I wrote about above, I must point ut that this problem that occurred a few years ago is not a problem simply in Chiapas when it comes to health problems that may arise with you in such a desperatley poor state. This is happening this month here in Ajijic where, today, while visiting my favorite health clinic I noted a sign prominently displayed at the receptionist desk stating that the clinic would be closed for two weeks for Christmas holidays and if clients needed to consult with any clinic doctors or other personnel during that time, it would be best if they contacted some doctor they utilized originally before becoming a clinic patient here at Lakeside. I guess that means one should contact his or her old physician back in Bozeman or Spokane if experiencing an urgent problem requiring immediate medical attention. Comforting,and they were serious.

No way. wow

Then, medically, the answer is if you should need emergent care go to Cruz Roja, the Chapala Municipal Clinic, the SP hospital in El Chante . . . and people complain about socialized medicine.

I am happy you made it through that ordeal Bubba and am thrilled to see that Brigitte has finally given you your computer privileges back...….

I suspect that Brigitte doesn’t know.......

Trailrunner wrote:No way. wow

Then, medically, the answer is if you should need emergent care go to Cruz Roja, the Chapala Municipal Clinic, the SP hospital in El Chante . . . and people complain about socialized medicine.

Then lie there bleeding from the nose or buttocks writhing in pain  while awaiting your appointment with a state compensated doctor whose concern is meeting the quota of the day  rather than the functionality of your liver and then experience  a slow and painful death while always assured that you will be  buried prior to unpleasantly beheld  and disgraceful composition under  public observance  as  you rejoin the earth recyclng phenomenon. Get serious.

Classic Bubba!

Seriously:  Plenty of people have posted their positive experiences under the clinics or SP hospitals.  

Sorry to hear about your miserable experience with the gall bladder, but then, you chose to live there part time.  Some people deliberately settled in Lakeside and stay put for the year. They liked the easy access to excellent medical care since they knew that aging usually brings an increasing need for it.  

It's nice if you are eligible for a private policy and can afford one which gives you all the choices you wish, but not everyone can do that and for them, the "socialist" system works a lot better than nothing.

Merry Christmas and a Healthy New Year.

gringal wrote:Seriously:  Plenty of people have posted their positive experiences under the clinics or SP hospitals.  

Sorry to hear about your miserable experience with the gall bladder, but then, you chose to live there part time.  Some people deliberately settled in Lakeside and stay put for the year.  They liked the easy access to excellent medical care since they knew that aging usually brings an increasing need for it.  

It's nice if you are eligible for a private policy and can afford one which gives you all the choices you wish, but not everyone can do that and for them, the "socialist" system works a lot better than nothing.

Merry Christmas and a Healthy New Year.

She's right, Bubba.  You choose to live in Chiapas where the medicine sucks, good food has to be sought out, it's difficult to stay healthy, and the weather can be obnoxious.

Apart from all that, though, its a beautiful, magical, charming, and exotic place!

Trailrunner wrote:

gringal wrote:Seriously:  Plenty of people have posted their positive experiences under the clinics or SP hospitals.  

Sorry to hear about your miserable experience with the gall bladder, but then, you chose to live there part time.  Some people deliberately settled in Lakeside and stay put for the year.  They liked the easy access to excellent medical care since they knew that aging usually brings an increasing need for it.  

It's nice if you are eligible for a private policy and can afford one which gives you all the choices you wish, but not everyone can do that and for them, the "socialist" system works a lot better than nothing.

Merry Christmas and a Healthy New Year.

She's right, Bubba.  You choose to live in Chiapas where the medicine sucks, good food has to be sought out, it's difficult to stay healthy, and the weather can be obnoxious.

Apart from all that, though, its a beautiful, magical, charming, and exotic place!

OK then, let us face it. there is more to life than simple survival and the blessings of the personally chosen God or we would all be Mormons living in Salt Lake City with prepaid room reservations at the Mayo Clinic just in case Utah proved medically inadequate. As it happens, Chiapas is a beautiful, mountainous and coastal wonderland with varied climates suited to the needs of various residents with differing if exotic tendencies and, actually, the food is good and the available physicians, in case of unanticipated health problems, quite competent in general and usually available at call. The climate is not bad in general and Costa Maya and Oaxaca State attractions are fairly close by for entertaining environmental variances. Better than retiring in Moline.

And, I forgot to mention, the food in Chiapas is quite pleasing as is the rum and pox. Important digestional accompaniments.

Drinking peach pox in Chamula was a definite highlight!

Bubba! Well said! Gracias! I bet Brigitte knows!
Feliz Navidad!!

SunshineyDay wrote:Bubba! Well said! Gracias! I bet Brigitte knows!
Feliz Navidad!!

Brigitte is like God. She knows all and there is no escape. Pass the peach pox and a joint, please. Feliz Navidad to you and all hereabouts, SD.