Well, I’ve been in Mexico just shy of a week now! It feels like so much longer!
Now that I’m settling into my home here and cooking for myself, I’ve had to decide about my stance on the water and produce here. Am I going to be super careful, avoid the tap water at all cost, soak produce in iodine, and peel and cook the heck out of everything, or am I going to relax a little?
First, I did a little research on the Mexican water system. As it turns out, water is purified at a treatment facility. Contamination occurs between the facility and the tap because of old pipes, leaks, and other issues. In some places, notably Mexico City, the officials swear that the tap water is as potable and drinkable as water found in the average Canadian or US tap and that there is no need for bottled water.
You know what? I have more reason to trust the water in Mexico than I do to trust the water that comes out of my tap at Haven! Even though I would never drink the tap water at Haven, brush my teeth with it, or wash fruits and veggies, I don’t think twice about rinsing out dishes with it, washing my hands and then touching food, and more. Why should it be any different here?
This morning, I rinsed my French press and coffee mug out with tap water and then made my coffee, same as I do at home. Let’s see if anything happens…
I’ve also been warned that produce is essentially a dirty bomb waiting to give me the runs and that I should peel all fruit and cook all vegetables.
So far, I’ve had no trouble with produce at any of the restaurants I’ve eaten at. I’m not convinced that I would want to eat lettuce from a taco stand if I ever get around to getting lunch from a taco stand (and if they even offer lettuce), but I’m in a gringo area and not worried about produce in restaurants. My tacos the other morning were buried under most of a head of iceberg lettuce and it was just so crisp and wonderful and fresh!
Between San Carlos and here at home on Isla, I’ve had three bananas, two apples (rinsed in bottled water only WITH SKIN ON), one clementine, one tomato (cooked), and half an onion (peeled and cooked) and so far I’ve been fine.
Without getting into any details, I don’t have the best digestion to start with, so it would take something really significant for me to know for sure that there’s something in the water and food here that’s making me ill.
So far, everything is normal for me and I really hope that dang veggie truck makes its way here eventually! Dale has been practicing ‘casa blanca en Cholita a la izquierda’, so I’m hoping it’s just a matter of time! 🙂
Sometimes you can’t help from getting sick down there. A lot of times it would happen with too much eating (everything in site), too much drinking & too much partying. Your system gets runs down & isn’t able to ward it off.
Vinegar is also great to wash your veggies.
Thinking ahead always helps.
Have a GREAT day & have fun!
I got very ill my first week in the UK. I was drinking the tap water and eating the local food and my system just wasn’t used to the buggies over there. It all got sorted out. I wouldn’t expect anything less in MX. I’m trying to stick to as close to my home diet as I can, but, really, I eat such a good variety of stuff that it’s hard for me to find something that is really truly unknown to my system. I have had tummy upsets since I got here, but I ALWAYS have tummy upsets when I have a change of routine, diet, sleep patterns, etc. that I can’t say it’s Mexico’s fault. And it’s nothing that’s stopped me from living!
In my humble opinion, “Montezuma’s revenge” is caused by too much booze and not enough sleep. I wouldn’t worry too much about food bugs. Just use common sense. Enjoy!
I agree, Peter!
We never drink the water, just use the bottled. However we brush our teeth with the tap water and rinse fruit and veggies in it. I stopped cleaning my veggies in microdyne as that gave me the runs. We have used the tap water in these aspects for years with no issues.
As to the veggie truck you might have to hang out at the RV Park between 9 & 10 AM to catch Israel and direct him to you and your casa, or find out from Dale what time he comes and then go as he is fairly prompt. I believe he takes Wed, offf.
You rinse fruits and veggies in the water here?! OMG, I wouldn’t dare do that with the water at Haven!
Dale promised to send the veggie guy my way. I can’t believe I saw him yesterday and didn’t just approach. What was I thinking?!
Oops…I use the water that comes out of our RV tap but it actually runs thru 2 filters. Sorry, I forgot that part. But for sure no microdyne.
There are 2 veggie guys, one younger that the other, Miguel, his produce is a tad better.
I’ll stick to the bottled water, then. 🙂
If I was RVing here, I’d stick a ceramic filter under my sink, similar to my field pump, and I’d be good to go to use the tap water for absolutely everything, including drinking. That’s what my neighbours do at Haven and I use my pump to make potable water when I run out of bottled.
If I do this again, renting an apartment, I’m going to bring what I need to install an inline filter. I do have my pump filter, but it’s a lot of work.
A ceramic filter is NOT like a Brita or the standard Camco inline filter. Those are charcoal filters that deal mostly with taste issues. Ceramic filters get the microbes out of the water. I hope to never be desperate enough to test this, but they could in theory turn black RV water into potable water…
The bottled water is cheap, just not as convenient as running a tap.
I look forward to the veggie guys. 🙂
Hello Rae
Its your neighbor Terry, the hermit. 🙂
I found your web site and have enjoyed your posts on Mexico. I’m looking at your RV now as the first snow fall of the year is in progress. It looks okay from what I can tell. No worries, not like my new neighbors to the north of me and their damned barking dogs. Five dogs and two cats that make my cat, Hai Wei (Highway) very upset and puts her in a fighting mood, like me I suppose. I don’t want her hurt fighting but she is a cat. She also broke a canine tooth which needed surgery. Costly. I don’t know how she broke it but Hai Wei only lives one way. She just goes for it.
I have been brushing my teeth and making coffee with our water here for fourteen years and nothing bad has happened to me, unless insanity counts, but I don’t drink it. Anyway, just thought I’d let you know I’m enjoying reading about your adventures in Old Mexico.
Now that winter has arrived the days are shortened and the darkness is long. And so long for now. Take care.
Terry
Terry?! Hi! What a surprise! Thank you for keeping an additional eye on my RV. M&B down the street are looking after it, too, but you’ve got almost a clear view. Sorry to hear the new neighbours aren’t working out. I was worried when I saw their kennel. Sorry to hear about Hai Wei (cute spelling), but dang is she lucky that you found her and are taking such good care of her.
I got so sick from our water that first week I had access to it in 2013 that I am terrified of it! 🙂
The days here are super short, it’s pitch dark by 6PM. At least it’s super sunny and hot during the day to make up for it. 🙂
Thank you for checking in and take care.
Glad your settling in ok. I am enjoying the Mexican differences that you portray, it seems a little like life in the 50’s. (not that I was alive then)
trusting, non immediate communications, no cable tv, talk to your neighbors etc,
I screamed out at the computer, YOU put money on the street and nobody takes it! Astounding!! LOL
I hated the ugly Americans at the restaurant you went to. I hope they at least tipped the waiter for his hassles.
Just curious, there is a lot of media play right now on the 42 Mexican college kids that were murdered, what is the media coverage in Mexico?
Gina:
-Glad your settling in ok.
I think that except for THE ROOSTERS, I am doing better than okay. 😉
– I am enjoying the Mexican differences that you portray, it seems a little like life in the 50’s. (not that I was alive then) trusting, non immediate communications, no cable tv, talk to your neighbors etc,
Yes and no. There is very good cell coverage over most of Isla, so you see people on dirt roads chatting, and there is DSL coverage throughout. Also, there are satellite dishes on a lot of houses, which I assume are for TV reception. My TV has rabbit ears and I haven’t tried it to know what I can get.
-I screamed out at the computer, YOU put money on the street and nobody takes it! Astounding!! LOL
I know! 12 pesos is very little to me, just $1, but it’s quite a bit here!
-I hated the ugly Americans at the restaurant you went to. I hope they at least tipped the waiter for his hassles.
I hope so, too!
-Just curious, there is a lot of media play right now on the 42 Mexican college kids that were murdered, what is the media coverage in Mexico?
I haven’t been watching television or had much access to newspapers, so I’m not certain. I’ve been reading up on it a little when I come across something online. It’s a horrible event, but only a tiny part of Mexico, just as Canada’s two recent terrorist attacks were, and should not reflect on the country as a whole.