Not really, I had to pop back to get my Mexican permanent residency. Now I can travel to and from Mexico for the rest of my life without the need for a visa. I can live here, work here, own land etc.
I’m very pleased to have my residents card and grateful to Mexico for letting me in.
A quick flight from London to Mexico City, then onto La Paz, where I had an apartment booked for two weeks. The residency application could have hit several problems, but in fact I went in on Monday morning to Immigration at 09:00, spent 30 minutes there, returned at 12:30 and picked up my residents card. I now have a second home, but this may very soon become my first home.
La Paz was hot, really hot, high 30s every day, but felt more like low 40s, I know it’s been hot in England, but at night the temp in La Paz dropped to what was around the highest temps in the UK.
After a week, I bailed out. I was hiding under the aircon for most of the day in a tiny room, I jumped onto a flight back to the big city, just in time for the world cup final.
Mexico City is a lot cooler, mid 20s which is a bit cool for me, but what a releif.
I checked into the Uliv apartments and was given the room next to the one I had last visit.
I absolutely love it hear in Roma Sur/Norte and Condesa. These areas are so interesting, million dollar apartments, mingled with run down buildings, old churches, no end of small tiendas and street vendors. The area is rapidly being gentrified, just as happens in so many cities, causing a lot of resentment from the poorer locals who get priced out of their neighbourhoods. There have been marches and demands to the government to kick out the gringos. However I have received nothing but very warm welcomes wherever I go. I’m making more effort to speak Spaish now, and that does go down well.
I just returned from a fantastic fish restaurant, sitting outside with Mariarchis, strolling guitarists and fiddle players, while I munched my way through 3 fantastic Marlin and Shrimp tacos. The waiter helped me with my Spanish and we really seemed to hit it off, despite the fact he spoke no English.
I’m heading back in a few days, will really miss Mexico, but it will be great to be back with Kathy and we plan to make the most of the school holidays.
I’ll just dump some pictures below with comments where needed.
Here on the Malecón I had to kill a couple of hours while they got my apartment ready, mustn’t grumble
Above, I went to my favourite nevería for a Trolebús de Mango
Below a few exhibits from the Art gallery
More beach fun, even though it’s off season and very quiet here.
Now for those who know La Paz, but haven’t been for more than a year, shock horror, the cow shop is now a Chedraui, however the cow remains thankfullty.
Off to CDMX, I just loved this hat
I walked around the downtown old part of the city looking for some IT bits for some work I was doing, sim cards, memory cards and power adapters, and found myself in the centre of a lot of football. The city had put up giant TVs and sound systems all over the show for the world cup final. The atmosphere was fantastic, and I have to agree, it’s way more exciting with a excitable latino screeming out the commentry.
I love the way the trees dont give a hoot for the pavements here
Today (Tue 21st July 2026) I wandered to a little park that’s enclosed in a fenced off area in Roma Sur, It’s a recycling drop off point, but more than that a bunch of artisans / hippies / oddballs / some lovely people have setup shop there with different whacky stores, all related to ‘green’ activities. The entrance is through the blueish structure in the middle of the pic below.
I had a mango Smoothie, made with very fresh mangoes, just lovely
The structure below is made from old water bottles, they are called Garrafons here and hold 20 litres of Water, we have a few on the boat.
Below is my favourite Fish bar in Mexico.
Paul Collister
21st July 2026 CDMX