Job Discussion Forums

yankeechemist · Joined: 27 Apr 2007 Posts: 50

SCORPIONS Let's hear your stories

geaaronson · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 948 Location: Mexico City

I was in Merida three years ago attending a concert in a park and what should scuttle by but the biggest black scorpion I had ever seen in my life. With some fast footwork, I put it out of its pleasure, leaving a big slop of goo on the cement walkway. I turned to several people and said in a loud voice, Alacran, alacran, pointed to its flattened body only to be ignored by the passerbys. Only later did I learn the black ones are harmless.

Exactly the same thing happened to me in the Bahamas when I spotted a basking shark.

Phil_K · Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 2041 Location: A World of my Own

Been here 8 years and never seen one! But then I live in Mexico City

yankeechemist · Joined: 27 Apr 2007 Posts: 50

[quote="Phil_K"]Been here 8 years and never seen one! But then I live in Mexico City[/quote]

Nice! What does it cost to live there (nice but small apartment, going out on weekends and busing)

Phil_K · Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 2041 Location: A World of my Own

I'm not really the person to answer that question, as I assume you will want to rent an apartment. As we (my wife and I) own our apartment 100%, I have no idea what rents are right now, and of course it varies a lot from place to place in this enormous city. Regarding public transport it's ridiculously cheap - $2 - $4 (PESOS!) depending on what you take - but it's awful, unless you like being transported like a pig to market. Going out? What do you like? Restaurants, even good ones, are cheap by international standards and general entertaining yourself doesn't break the bank.

Prof.Gringo · Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2009 5:54 am Post subject:

geaaronson · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 948 Location: Mexico City

If you are looking for a basic efficiency with a bath and tiny kitchen, generally these are available in the center of town for about 3,000 to 4,500 pesos a month.
A cuartro goes for about a thousand less.
If you are looking for something larger, a kitchen, dining room, bedroom, living room, you need to go to Ixtapalapa to get something for less than 2,000-otherwise you will be paying 4-6,000 for, let�s say behind the Am. embassy.

aroha · Joined: 08 Oct 2004 Posts: 66 Location: Mexico

I work in the south of Mexico City about 10 minutes from the center of Coyoacan, and saw my first scorpion ever about 3 months ago. Somebody had already found it before me and squashed it, so it was lying in the garbage bin on a pile of used tissues. It was black and about an inch long. If I had a camera I would've taken a photo since it was such a novelty for me! My boyfriend has been stung by a scorpion that was hiding in his shoe, and he said it really hurt and the poison made him feel sleepy.

About apartment prices in Mexico City... In Colonia del Valle we pay 7000 pesos p/month for a 2 bedroom apartment with a carpark. A one bedroom with no carpark would go for about 5000 pesos in this area. Of course, there are cheaper areas, but as Phil said, the public transport can make you feel like pig off to market, so it's a good idea to rent a place within 10km of your work, IMHO. You can look at maps of the city on guiaroji.com.mx. I catch the pesero almost every day to work and still find it a bit of an adventure. Last week I was "politely" kicked off the pesero as I refused to pay the extra peso that the driver was demanding - that was a first!

Phil_K · Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 2041 Location: A World of my Own

Aroha, if you can afford to live in Del Valle, you can afford to buy a car Very Happy

It's the only way to go!

TheLongWayHome · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Posts: 1016 Location: San Luis Piojosi

If you're looking for scorpions, try Durango.

hlamb · Joined: 09 Dec 2003 Posts: 431 Location: Canada

I was stung by a scorpion in Cuernavaca. I'd been away for two weeks and it got me in the middle of the night, my first night back. Lesson to self (and all others out there) shake out bedclothes, shoes and clothes before you get in or put them on. I immediately woke up a friend because I didn't know what was going to happen, but we only decided to go to the hospital when my tongue and all over my face started to feel numb. They gave me some intravenous drugs and an oral anti-histamine (I think...it was a while ago) and sent me home. The doctor basically laughed and said I was wasting their time, but I would go again, just to be sure. I couldn't walk for about 48 hours because my legs were alternatively numb and pins and needles and drinking water felt odd because everything tasted/felt carbonated, so I got a bit dehydrated. I had two hard lumps on my leg where it got me, which lasted for a month or so and then disappeared.

Scary event but no lasting harm done.

Dancing Monkey · Joined: 23 Aug 2009 Posts: 79

God Damn!

I was once bitten by a red ant in Florida. My ankle swelled up and I felt dizzy for a bit, but, it definitely wasn't the same.

Mexico City is looking pretty good now!