FAST FACTS
(Things to know about Mexico)
• After you finish your meal in a restaurant, you need to ask for the bill before they bring it.
• In the state of Jalisco it is illegal to Smoke inside Restaurants, and pets are not allowed.
• All Beaches in Mexico are public property, and are open to everyone to the high tide mark.
• Main Highways have kilometer markers along them, usually measured from state to state south to north or between coastal and mainland cities.
• Public Washrooms are seldom Free. You usually have to pay a few Pesos. Some even have attendants who dole out toilet paper. Most restaurants will let you use their bathrooms if you purchase a meal.
• Mexicans are very conservative regarding daring bathing suits or outlandish clothing. Be courteous and conscious about what you wear in public, especially at the beach.
• Don't get burned: The C on water faucets stands for Caliente (hot) and the F stands for Fría (cold).
• There is a strong Police and Military presence in Mexico. You often see uniformed personnel carrying big guns. They are there for your protection, and to limit crime by a show of force.
• It is very impolite to take someone's picture without asking first.
• Telephone numbers and operation are different than USA/Canada, but easy to learn.
• Mexico uses the 24:00 Time system. Eg: 3:00pm (12hr) is 15:00 (24hr).
• Pets (animals) are not allowed to ride in the passenger area on long haul buses.
• Contrary to popular belief, English is not the universal language. Spanish is spoken predominantly in the Costalegre.
• Although greatly improved, Roadside Litter is a problem in the Costalegre and an eyesore to most visitors.
• Tap Water should Never be consumed. Drink only Bottled Water purchased from stores or from glass carboys at hotels. Tap water has bacterium which could make you sick. Commonly know as 'La Tourista' or 'Montezuma's revenge'. Also, be sure Cocktail Drink ice was made with purified water.
• Although Crime is seldom, always be conscious about your personal security. Take Security Measures against robbery or personal attacks.
• In all buildings, PB (Planta Baja) means the ground floor. The next floor up is the first floor.
• Businesses usually close between 2 & 4 pm each afternoon. This is not 'Siesta Time', but time for the largest meal of the day (La Comida).
• Good Maps of towns and areas are hard to come by locally. If you want to explore bring one with you.
• Street Addresses are sometimes hard to find. Street names are on signs (usually ceramic tile) on corner buildings, not on signposts. Many homes, stores and shops do not have address numbers, and if they do, the numbers do not necessarily run consecutively. Addresses without numbers are labeled s/n which means sin/numero.
• Noise is a fact of life in México and music is normally enjoyed at high volume levels. When you add in barking dogs, crowing roosters, loud vehicle exhausts, honking horns, you sense the awareness of real México.
• Busing is the primary means of transport for the average person, as cars and fuel are very expensive, and many people live at or near the poverty level.
• Mexico is under Napoleonic law, which means you are Guilty until Proven Innocent. You Will go to Jail for any serious crime or Drug offence! As a tourist visitor, you have the same rights as a Méxican citizen amd are protected under law.
• The Average Temperature in the Costalegre is 26 degrees Celsius.
DID YOU KNOW? The word México is derived from 3 words in the Nahuatl language. ME - Metztli (moon), XE - Xietli (navel) and CO - Co (place).