| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Spector
Joined: 23 Oct 2009
Posts: 66
|
 Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 3:43 pm Post subject: Going to GDL- Couple of questions |
 |
|
Hi
I'm going to Guadalajara in two weeks and I have a couple of things to ask:
Is the milk safe for visitors to drink? I was told by a doctor over here that the pasteurising standards are much lower in Mexico, and taking milk in cornflakes for example could be risky.
How reliable is the power supply? If I plug in a laptop, am I risking it being spiked by a power surge, and if so, what can I do to prevent it?
Thanks. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Isla Guapa
Joined: 19 Apr 2010
Posts: 1520
Location: Mexico City o sea La Gran Manzana Mexicana
|
| Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 4:08 pm Post subject: Re: Going to GDL- Couple of questions |
|
|
| Spector wrote: |
Is the milk safe for visitors to drink? I was told by a doctor over here that the pasteurising standards are much lower in Mexico, and taking milk in cornflakes for example could be risky.
|
Well, that's a new wrinkle on the old saw that living in Mexico is bad for your health. Of course, the milk is safe to drink, though my experience has been with Cheerios rather than with cornflakes! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
notamiss
Joined: 20 Jun 2007
Posts: 908
Location: El 5o pino del la CDMX
|
| Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 4:12 pm Post subject: Re: Going to GDL- Couple of questions |
|
|
| Spector wrote: |
Is the milk safe for visitors to drink? I was told by a doctor over here that the pasteurising standards are much lower in Mexico, and taking milk in cornflakes for example could be risky. |
Where is "over here"?
How does the doctor know?
Never heard that one before. I can only imagine that the doctor was thinking of the sellers who stand on the sidewalk outside the market with milk-cans of raw milk from their own cow, and you can buy by the dipper-full. Never tried that.
In the supermarket, you can get about twenty different kinds of UHT milk in every combination of whole/partlyskimmed/nofat, normal/delactosed, added vitamins for men or women, fat replaced by vegetable oils, etc. and I've never heard of any problem with supermarket milk. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Spector
Joined: 23 Oct 2009
Posts: 66
|
| Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 4:51 pm Post subject: Re: Going to GDL- Couple of questions |
|
|
| Isla Guapa wrote: |
| Spector wrote: |
Is the milk safe for visitors to drink? I was told by a doctor over here that the pasteurising standards are much lower in Mexico, and taking milk in cornflakes for example could be risky.
|
Well, that's a new wrinkle on the old saw that living in Mexico is bad for your health. Of course, the milk is safe to drink, though my experience has been with Cheerios rather than with cornflakes! |
Thanks for the concise answer. The doctor told me that when you ask for milk in Mexico, they take you into a room with a large cow, and the shopkeeper milks it for you into a plastic bucket. So that doesn't happen then?  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Enchilada Potosina
Joined: 03 Aug 2010
Posts: 344
Location: Mexico
|
| Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 5:12 pm Post subject: Re: Going to GDL- Couple of questions |
|
|
| Spector wrote: |
| Is the milk safe for visitors to drink? I was told by a doctor over here that the pasteurising standards are much lower in Mexico, and taking milk in cornflakes for example could be risky. |
Well, I've been risking my life most mornings for the past six years and I'm still here to type this so the milk can't be that bad.
I think it's a misconception that the food in Mexico is somehow unsafe as what probably makes you sick is the freshness of it. If you're used to chem-drenched, GM barely real food from the US, Canada or the UK, it's a shock to the system to eat something approaching real food again.
Yes, some places are dirty but it's the same everywhere. Common sense tells you where (not) to eat. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Phil_K
Joined: 25 Jan 2007
Posts: 2041
Location: A World of my Own
|
| Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 5:43 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| I think it's a misconception that the food in Mexico is somehow unsafe as what probably makes you sick is the freshness of it. If you're used to chem-drenched, GM barely real food from the US, Canada or the UK, it's a shock to the system to eat something approaching real food again. |
What an indictment of 1st world lifestyle that is! As I spent my life eating unpasturized Somerset brie and never washing fruit and vegetables I guess I have a very healthy immune system.
I would add one thing. It is common in Mexico to hear such things as: Don't drink tap water, don't eat pork because they feed the pigs trash, sterilize the lettuce because it's watered with dirty water, etc. As if all these things are unique to Mexico.
I don't follow any of this advice, and I've lasted longer than EP in perfect health! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Guy Courchesne
Joined: 10 Mar 2003
Posts: 9650
Location: Mexico City
|
| Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 7:30 pm Post subject: |
|
|
So none of you ever suffer a bout of turista? 
I was surprised to learn from a food industry equipment manufacturer that lives and works in Mexico (he is Canadian and has worked in all three NAFTA countries) that Mexico has higher food safety standards at the processing level than Canada, which in turn is higher than the US. That applies to commercially processed and distributed foods and not your local tianguis of course. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Isla Guapa
Joined: 19 Apr 2010
Posts: 1520
Location: Mexico City o sea La Gran Manzana Mexicana
|
| Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 7:36 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| I remember a bout of turista I suffered through when I was still a turista here. Despite the warnings of a friend who has lived here for many years, I insisted on eating the lettuce that came with some tacos we were eating at a definitely downscale eatery. Having turista on the plane flying home is nothing to joke about! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
notamiss
Joined: 20 Jun 2007
Posts: 908
Location: El 5o pino del la CDMX
|
| Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 8:21 pm Post subject: Re: Going to GDL- Couple of questions |
|
|
| Spector wrote: |
Is the milk safe for visitors to drink? I was told by a doctor over here that the pasteurising standards are much lower in Mexico, and taking milk in cornflakes for example could be risky.
|
| Isla Guapa wrote: |
| Well, that's a new wrinkle on the old saw that living in Mexico is bad for your health. Of course, the milk is safe to drink, though my experience has been with Cheerios rather than with cornflakes! |
| Spector wrote: |
| Thanks for the concise answer. The doctor told me that when you ask for milk in Mexico, they take you into a room with a large cow, and the shopkeeper milks it for you into a plastic bucket. So that doesn't happen then? |
No, like I said in my post, they bring it to the market and you can buy it there out in the open on the sidewalk. I am not making this up. But here in Mexico City, it's a miniscule volume of milk compared to supermarket and corner store sales of UHT and pasteurized cartoned milk.
When my sisters-in-law were children (1960�70s), the family bought milk from a neighbour with a cow, and it was their daily chore to go to with a pail and pick up the day's milk. (This is in Mexico City.) They reminisce now about how you could always tell what the cow had been feeding on by the flavour of the milk, but if it was disagreeable, too bad, they had to drink it anyway because that's all there was. I guess this is familiar stuff to anyone who grew up on a family farm, but to a city person like me, it's exotic. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
notamiss
Joined: 20 Jun 2007
Posts: 908
Location: El 5o pino del la CDMX
|
| Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 8:31 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Oh, I see that we got so enthused about setting the milk question straight that we neglected your other question.
You will want to get a UPS (called a �no-break� in Spanish�I am not making this up, either) for your computer because of frequent power outages ranging from off�on blinks to hours-long outages. Not to mention surges and brownouts. Or someone might steal the cable from down the street for its copper content, cutting power to your whole block for a couple days. How do I know this?
Again I speak from my Mexico City experience, but no reason to think it's any different in Guadalajara. You can get a no-break at many computer or electronic shops, or in the electronics department at the supermarket or department store. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
mejms
Joined: 04 Jan 2010
Posts: 390
|
| Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 10:15 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| notamiss wrote: |
Oh, I see that we got so enthused about setting the milk question straight that we neglected your other question.
You will want to get a UPS (called a �no-break� in Spanish�I am not making this up, either) for your computer because of frequent power outages ranging from off�on blinks to hours-long outages. Not to mention surges and brownouts. Or someone might steal the cable from down the street for its copper content, cutting power to your whole block for a couple days. How do I know this?
Again I speak from my Mexico City experience, but no reason to think it's any different in Guadalajara. You can get a no-break at many computer or electronic shops, or in the electronics department at the supermarket or department store. |
Isn't it called a regulador? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
gregd75
Joined: 14 Mar 2007
Posts: 360
Location: Tlaquepaque, Jalisco
|
| Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 11:28 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Hey! I live in Guadalajara and I have never ever had any problems with electricity surges.
I guess you could buy a circuit breaker but I personally don't think it's necessary. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Spector
Joined: 23 Oct 2009
Posts: 66
|
| Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 11:54 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| gregd75 wrote: |
Hey! I live in Guadalajara and I have never ever had any problems with electricity surges.
I guess you could buy a circuit breaker but I personally don't think it's necessary. |
Mr Davies I presume? I've seen your facebook page 
How's things going down over in Tlaquepaque then? How do you feel about the recent attacks and firebombs in the city, allegedly a response to the arrest of two drugs barons? Do you feel threatened now? When it gets dark, should I hide under the table? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
gregd75
Joined: 14 Mar 2007
Posts: 360
Location: Tlaquepaque, Jalisco
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2011 12:27 am Post subject: |
|
|
I am Greg Davies and the pleasure, I'm certain is mine! Tlaquepaque is doing very well indeed and I'd suggest to you not to believe everything you read in the news. I have never felt in danger here in GDL (Tlaquepaque is a lovely suburb) and I think the newsworthiness of the attackes was actually much more newsworthy than the event itself.
If and or when you come to Guadalajara- my advice is to make your trip what you want of it. Hide under the table if you want. Go out and live without fear if you want!
Living in London before coming here - I was much more aware of the dangers of the IRA/extremist bombings than I have ever felt aware of any problems here.
BUT be cautioned! Many people here on Daves believe that I view life through rose-tinted glasses.
by the way- I'd suggest joining MEXTESOL www.jaliscomextesol.org it'd be a good way to network (and I'm president and want to expand) |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Dragonlady
Joined: 10 May 2004
Posts: 720
Location: Chillinfernow, Canada
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2011 2:25 am Post subject: |
|
|
Got milk?
Some funny comments here but scroll down to Don J's post http://www.travelexpertguide.org/forum/Mexico/Why-isn-39-t-there-real-milk-in-Mexico-325766.htm
My choice is Alpura.
Surge protectors are easily found in Mexico, but from personal experience avoid a cheap one from street vendors and markets. I'd recommend buying one from a computer or electronics store.
You're more likely to run into the problem that where you're living (if an older building/house) won't have 3-prong electric outlets. The 3rd (round) is the ground.
Also beware of self-renos where the owner has installed 3-prong outlets but hasn't tied a ground wire into them. How can you tell? You can't without the help of an electrician. 
BTW my comments are for Veracruz where we do have some doozy lightning storms and heavy rain. Rain is my nemesis - the plastic conduits (containing the wiring in the house) somehow fill up with water - that in turn blows the electrical fixture leaving it useless until the water evaporates. I've had 3 glass light fixtures fill up with water and drop from the ceiling. 2 wall plugs and my telephone line are also down as of the last big downpour (5 months ago). 
Regards,
DL |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
