Actually, I've been about half back for a few weeks now, but it always takes me a while to catch up with myself.
I went down to Mexico mid-Feb. Got dental work done. I figure it would have cost around $20,000 for the work in the States. Even if I had insurance, they only pay half on major stuff like my bridgework. Instead I paid $2,500 for the dentist, $1,200 for the ticket and a couple hundred for living expenses. The dentist is excellent. He doesn't speak English, so I had a friend come along with me the first day just to tell Dr Antonio that I liked his previous work and that he should do whatever was necessary. By filling prescriptions down there (a year's worth of my thyroid meds is about $100) and getting other non-prescriptions items, I end up saving even more.
I am very happy with the work and would be happy to give his name to anyone who wants it. He is, however, in a small town 50 miles north of Puerto Vallarta and not a border town, so of less use to those in southern states.
While I was in Mexico, I stayed with friends, an Alaskan and her Mexican husband, who are musicians. They treated me wonderfully, simply and wonderfully. I didn't have a lot of time to play or much money to shop for non-essentials with. I went to the market and got some dried fruit products of papaya, quince (membrillo), guava (guyaba), and a wonderful fruity yellow coconut (shredded) that is also used for oil. One of the things I always do when I travel is eat something I don't recognize!
I also went to the market and saw lots of wonderful things. I got a pair of seed bead earrings in a pattern I've never seen before and hope to get the bracelet similar next time I visit. In the bracelet, the basic five petal flower is more dimensional, with another set of petals, and stamens on top, and a woven back of green/leaf. And for myself I got the tooth of a prehistoric camel. For Pete I got an armadillo paw in a silver cuff, with a star obsidian in a bezel on the cuff. I figure that would be a great protective amulet to put in a necklace for Pete to wear in Arizona in Sept.
I've never seen Star Obsidian before, and I don't see anything useful even in Google Images or on eBay. It's really cool. Has the kind of fibrous light change of cat's eye -- Chatoyance, it's called -- like a star sapphire. I already have rainbow obsidian. Has similar properties and structure as labradorite. I also got a "golden obsidian" that has a grainier dichro-like color change/flash -- a gold glimmer in the black glass.
The obsidian and the armadillo I paid for. But I also got some stones etc in exchange for some stuff I brought with me. Seeds and stuff. Including a "Cat's claw" seed bracelet. I had brought some things to make "favors" for my daughter's wedding. Pendants to put on phone charm things or key chains, using beads that were not favourites and pewter.
Fortunately, the weather was bad. That is to say, it was too cool. Not great for swimming, but comfortable for me! Only problem I had was a miscalculation because of the time change. I missed my plane on the way back and had to make changes in my plans.
I had a great time.
Tina