CARNIVAL AT BACALAR
We had a great time last night at Carnival. Floats of many kinds, people just having fun, lots of people dressed up to celebrate and smiles on everyone's faces.
Mike and Gayle’s Family in Mexico or
We Didn’t Get to Belize
We’re certainly having a great time with Mike, Gayle, Calin and Marley first in Rio Indio (El Placer) and now in Bacalar which is a town to the southwest.
We were going to visit Belize for three days. But the Mexican government apparently has a new law since January, 2011
A TALE of WOE!!
We had made 2 copies of all our passports, permission of the rental car to enter Belize, two copies of the paper inserted into our passport, knew to ask for double stamp, etc. We had read scores of tales of how to pass into Belize from Chetumal on line...WE WERE READY...WE WERE READY!!!
First as we just approached leaving Mexico, a sort of official looking man told us we had to immediately get Belize auto Insurance...."nope...I said we were buying it in Belize.." "No," he said. "Here (in Mexico);" "No," I said "In Belize".....He gave up on that. We knew better than to believe him.
Then we were pulled over and we approached the iron barred concrete building “they” informed us of a new law...since Jan, 2012....that we would have to pay a departure tax from Mexico...well, we paid the departure tax with our airplane ticket. We showed them the paper work. NOPE...not detailed enough. We would have to spend 295 pesos times 6 (even have to pay for the 3 and 5 year old)...that is almost 180 pesos....that is just to leave Mexico. Approximately $160 American dollars)
So then this same man who tried to get us to immediately buy Belize insurance in Mexico said he would show us the bank where we were to spend the 295 times 6 just to get out of Mexico...”Pay the money, they will give you a receipt, and then you bring the receipt to us.”
.WE HADN’T EVEN GOTTEN OUT OF MEXICO!!
So let’s see. We STILL have to pay to get INTO Belize, then Belize Auto Insurance, then the spraying of the car. ($5 American Dollars each).
THEN we’ve have to pay ourselves out of Belize and into Mexico for just three days....
Were any of the NEW rules written in English nope...all in Spanish. I speak pretty fluent Spanish and the written explanations were not even suitable for a lawyer.
I kept the paper that I WAS to take to the bank and pay. The official wanted it back. I NEVER gave it to him because I need it to show everyone that is ever thinking of going into Belize how much it is going to cost them.
WE WERE SO angry, we all decided to BAG BELIZE. We have have 3 great dinners just on the money we were to pay LEAVING Mexico, not to mention all the rest YET to come. Now we’re in Bacalar having a great time. Great Decision...
