A Mexico update from friends - for those interested.

zebra · May 15, 2009

We have friends who are Swiss nationals (his English is pretty good) and they travel to Alaska every year from Kelowna B.C. (this is where they store their RV) in their motor home. Thy decided to stay in a Condo in Puerto Vallarta for 9 months this year too...... here is an excerpt from his email to us of how they have been affected by the swine flu.....

"After 8 wonderful but busy months in Puerto Vallarta our stay came to an abrupt end. When we left Puerto Vallarta, as all Cities in Mexico, was a dead Town. No more tourists, no more cruise ships and nobody in the street because, except for the Supermarkets, almost everything was closed.

Air Canada cancelled all flights into Puerto Vallarta until June 01, perhaps even longer if there is no demand afterwards. They offered us to change our flights at no extra costs and therefore we left on Saturday May 02 from Puerto Vallarta to Denver (United Airlines) and on to Vancouver. There we had to spend the night in an Airport Hotel and on Sunday morning we arrived at our final destination in Kelowna, B.C.. As always in an U.S. airport it did cost us some nerves and patience and we had to wait 6 days for our last piece of luggage, my fishing poles which were held back for security reasons I assume. After all I agree, a fishing pole is a sort of a weapon but more for fish than humans. Once more the U.S. invented some new rules to make it even more difficult for Europeans to enter their country. Now all our fingerprints are being taken when we enter the United States, before it was only the index finger of each hand.

Perhaps I should tell you that we were very surprised about the reaction to the swine flu by the Mexican government. All the school, Universities, movie theatres, bars, night clubs and even Restaurants were closed throughout the whole country. They played soccer matches in empty stadiums and cancelled all other sport events, conventions, etc. . At the airport in Puerto Vallarta the temperatures of every passenger was taken and nobody with high temperature was allowed to leave. I would like to point out that we had not one single case of this swine flu in the whole Province of Jalisco where we live. On the other hand they had over 60 confirmed cases in the Province of B.C. and not one doctor was seen at the Vancouver airport, neither in Denver by the way. So I really think that the Mexicans handled this problem very well and quickly."

sailingrose · May 15, 2009

I'm sure it will take some time for the economy to return to normal in Mexico. How sad.

DebbieandJerry · May 15, 2009

Our of our physicians lives in Cuba and comes to Tucson every other month to work. She said that she was unable to fly to the U.S. through Cancun (her usual route).

jacketwatch · May 17, 2009

It is sad to see how this will impact their economy which depends so much on tourism money. It also seems like they handled this very well. Deb and Jerry: If you don't mind how can an MD in the US live in Cuba and come here every other month? Not trying to be nosy, just curious as to how this can be done with the current polotical restrictions. Thank you. Larry :smile:

Longboysfan · May 18, 2009

I had called Celebrity and they did not have ships going to Mexico till June 15th.

zebra · May 18, 2009

I figured as much - when they pulled us out of Mexico on April 27th they said it would be for 6 weeks.....

DebbieandJerry · May 19, 2009

It is sad to see how this will impact their economy which depends so much on tourism money. It also seems like they handled this very well. Deb and Jerry: If you don't mind how can an MD in the US live in Cuba and come here every other month? Not trying to be nosy, just curious as to how this can be done with the current polotical restrictions. Thank you. Larry

Larry, great question. Her husband is with the US Counsel. They are "placed" there for 2 years. They'll be moving to Mexico CIty this summer.