The weather in Mexico
Firstly, i must apologise on my lack of entry on my blog, unfortunatley due to work and a copious amount of "Kit off...sun cream on" weather has hampered the blog progress. Since I arrived in November, the weather has been of mixed variety. However I am happy to say that majority of the time, it's been quite warm (for some one who is English and from Yorkshire). There has been days when it rained and damn did it rain. Not even ducks survive the vicious onslaught of the rain and considering I live surrounded by mountains, when it does rain the water runs from the mountains into the valley below I.E my home!!. Everything gets a taste of "wet through-ness".
Like I said before though, most of the time the sun has been out in full force, which for me always manages to make me smile and gives me a fantastic chance to get some well earned Vitamin A (and a sun tan). The temperature average has been around 25oC which for a Yorkshire lad is "clothes off, sun cream on". Not so much for the locals, who when I was walking round in shorts and t-shirt in December looked at me like I had a chicken on my head. As they were still wrapped up in "winter" jackets, jeans and a wooly hat for good measure!. Apart from automatically making me look like a "gringo" I stay cool, but not sweat free!!!!!.
The strange thing here is, it can be close to as hot as its going to get at 6am in the morning. Many a times I've woken up to get ready for work at 5.30am and its been 25-28oC !!!!. the temperature then only rises maybe a few degrees during the day.
Living in technically a desert, surrounded by mountains has its pro's and con's. Depending if your glass is half full or not, theres hardly or no breeze as the mountains act as a wind blocker. So while you're sat reading the thermometer and it says 24oC, it will feel a hell of a lot warmer!!. The downside is in the "official" winter the temperature will and can drop rapidly in the evening. This so far has played havoc with my health and well being. The rapid change in temperature has caused me constant cold and flu like symptoms. I am glad to say that the "winter" is almost behind me and the days are getting warmer. A few days ago, I was treated to a very outrageous 37oC, (which apparently according to my local friends is a pretty standard day) bearing in mind so far I've only been exposed to 27oC ish. Believe me when I say just an extra ten degrees will make you want to hide in a fridge. Just for good measure recently the air con in the car I use to get to and from work has broken. (Brilliant!!!)
The houses here are obviously and thankfully are built to deal with the heat. So the houses apparently stay very cool during the summer. However, many a times I've had a near death expirience, rolling around on the cooler tiled room floor, screaming to the sun god to have mercy!!!. Another thing is exactly that, it certainly gets some getting used to having tiled floors and stairs. Many a time after sweeping and mopping the floor, i walked down stairs clinging to the handrail like a demented ninja worried about slipping and falling the rest of the way... which, I may point out I have done plenty of times. I will also mention I have no Air conditioning in my house only high powered fans which do nothing but waft warm air around.
All is not lost though. A very good point to living here is that due to the amazingly warm weather is I've had lots of practise making fires to get "my barbecue on". With all learning processes it has its share of ups and downs, ranging from bathroom vists from both ends of my anatomy to partial paraylsis of limbs and my face. Not to be out done soon as I was fit again I had the tongues and forks out ready to go again. However if that has put you off there is another option. Here in the north of Mexico, you can go to the butches, buy some meat and have them cook it out side for you on the open fire BBQ if you so wish. Which at first, I found very amusing.
Now I'm in April and the weather has certainly changed, in the last month most days hitting mid thirties with daily accuracy. Which has caused my sleeping pattern to change, when I say change I mean I just don't get much at all. Waking up at 2-3am sweating like a lunatic. Most evenings now are around 30oC and with the afore mentioned lack of Air con this is an issue. The arrid nature of the desert plus high humidty will lead to sleepness nights. Slowly but surely I am getting used to this but not by much. A few hours sleep followed by a cold shower, sorts the problem out if only for a few more hours.
After the mentioned sleepness nights it gets better. The sun beans through my curtains smashing into my face with annoying reliability. Staying alseep or in bed isn't an option as the morning sun is very hot so out of bed and into a cold/luke warm shower is a god send. After watching sesame street and other various cartoons in spanish I head out for my daily commute to work in the crazy hot sun. Normally my day consists of around an hour on buses only to have to walk for maybe 15 minutes to get to my final destination. During the 15 minutes is a mixture of beautiful scenes varied wildlife and diving inbetween cool tree shadows to keep from sweating profusely. Thankfully for me the office has air con which has become more than just a novelty given the Bonkers heat and crazy humidity.
Missing the midday heat I finish around 4pm and walk out again into the un-relentling arrid heat. A quick utter of "dios mio, es caliente no?!!!" Roughly translated as "Oh my god, it's hot isn't it?!!!!" and I run for the nearest shade. This brings a small smile to the faces of security at the door seeing a european struggling with the savage heat. The usual reply is a low chuckle and "eso es nada werito!!" ("this is nothing blondie"). Blonde or blondie is the standard name for some one who isn't mexican and has light skin. Well another month or so and the Summer will be on its way and it will certainly, bring some very warm weather. The day will certainly be hitting 40-45oC most days and for this resides for 40 days, it has no repect for Yorkshire folk or even mexicans and they call this beast Canicula.
All is not lost though. A very good point to living here is that due to the amazingly warm weather is I've had lots of practise making fires to get "my barbecue on". With all learning processes it has its share of ups and downs, ranging from bathroom vists from both ends of my anatomy to partial paraylsis of limbs and my face. Not to be out done soon as I was fit again I had the tongues and forks out ready to go again. However if that has put you off there is another option. Here in the north of Mexico, you can go to the butches, buy some meat and have them cook it out side for you on the open fire BBQ if you so wish. Which at first, I found very amusing.
Now I'm in April and the weather has certainly changed, in the last month most days hitting mid thirties with daily accuracy. Which has caused my sleeping pattern to change, when I say change I mean I just don't get much at all. Waking up at 2-3am sweating like a lunatic. Most evenings now are around 30oC and with the afore mentioned lack of Air con this is an issue. The arrid nature of the desert plus high humidty will lead to sleepness nights. Slowly but surely I am getting used to this but not by much. A few hours sleep followed by a cold shower, sorts the problem out if only for a few more hours.
After the mentioned sleepness nights it gets better. The sun beans through my curtains smashing into my face with annoying reliability. Staying alseep or in bed isn't an option as the morning sun is very hot so out of bed and into a cold/luke warm shower is a god send. After watching sesame street and other various cartoons in spanish I head out for my daily commute to work in the crazy hot sun. Normally my day consists of around an hour on buses only to have to walk for maybe 15 minutes to get to my final destination. During the 15 minutes is a mixture of beautiful scenes varied wildlife and diving inbetween cool tree shadows to keep from sweating profusely. Thankfully for me the office has air con which has become more than just a novelty given the Bonkers heat and crazy humidity.
Missing the midday heat I finish around 4pm and walk out again into the un-relentling arrid heat. A quick utter of "dios mio, es caliente no?!!!" Roughly translated as "Oh my god, it's hot isn't it?!!!!" and I run for the nearest shade. This brings a small smile to the faces of security at the door seeing a european struggling with the savage heat. The usual reply is a low chuckle and "eso es nada werito!!" ("this is nothing blondie"). Blonde or blondie is the standard name for some one who isn't mexican and has light skin. Well another month or so and the Summer will be on its way and it will certainly, bring some very warm weather. The day will certainly be hitting 40-45oC most days and for this resides for 40 days, it has no repect for Yorkshire folk or even mexicans and they call this beast Canicula.
