Playa FAQ 1
I have been really losing interest in writing lately, maybe its the weather or something. I just can’t seem to take the time to sit down and write, I don’t know why.
I am going to start a frequently asked questions series. People come to Playa Del Carmen from parts unknown and often think that things are going to be mostly the same as they were in their country of origin. Not so.
I get questions from friends all the time about living here and how I deal with the little dilemmas that are presented to me in my life here in the Caribbean, so I figured I would share them with my blog-audience.
1. Utilities Bills - Where do I pay them and what is the easiest way?
The easiest way I have found to pay my utilities bills is at OXXO. When the bill shows up on your front-door/gate/mailbox/under-the-rock-out-front, put on your chanclas(flip-flops) and get enough money in your pocket to pay it. Walk to OXXO. Do it now. Pay it that day, at OXXO, because otherwise it will probably be late and then you will have to go to the respective utilities commission and stand in line.
You don’t want to do that. The line is twenty-five people and they all have three bills to pay. Paying at OXXO costs $5 pesos more, its is well worth my time. Oh, on time at OXXO means the day before the cutoff date on the bill. Really, trust me.
Late electric bills and cable bills are a big deal. They will shut off your utilities. Probably the day it becomes late. I don’t know how they manage to do this, they must have an army of shutoff technicians because they are very prompt with cutting service.
Pay your utility bill in a timely fashion to ensure that you have continuous service.
2. What is my address? Can I get something sent to me from home?
You don’t have a real address. Not one that you will recognize at least. If you need something shipped, it should be sent to the DHL or FedEx office, at least if you think its important. You can be fairly assured that it will arrive there.
Your address looks something like this:
CALLE 4 ENTRE 10 Y 15 (4th Street between 10th and 15th)
COLONIA CENTRO (Neighborhood: Downtown)
SOLIDARIDAD, PLAYA DEL CARMEN, (Municipality, City)
QUINTANA ROO, MEXICO
CODIGO POSTAL 77710
There are no known street numbers, like 123 Duff Lane. Sometimes you can find out your block and lot number, that can be helpful, but often people that live in a place don’t know that stuff either. I lived in an apartment downtown for a year before I found out the block/lot.
Even if your mail gets to your place, you might have a hard time getting to it. My electric bill gets stuck between the gate and the frame, if a hard wind comes it blows away. I know people that have received their bills under rocks. Mailboxes work sometimes, the mail got into it about half the time. It rusted and fell off its hinges, I never bothered to put it back up.
If I want to receive something important, I get it sent to FedEx or DHL. With the internet being such an important part of everyday life, nothing that I want to recieve gets sent to me via terrestrial mail unless it is REALLY important, I don’t risk the mail service.
More to come…