The town part of the tour involved some sight seeing and talk about the tour guide's home town of Ixtapa. At first I thought the social commentary was a bit heavy but after listening to the whole talk I changed my mind.
He started the conversation asking the tour guests what they thought about seeing American companies like Walmart, Burger King, Home Depot in a Mexican resort town. Opinions were mixed.
He and other residents liked it because it reduced the cost of living. He used the example of milk at $3.60 from a local grocer and compared it to the $2.50 at Walmart.
Agricultural work in the area is experiencing a downturn because on a farm or ranch where workers are paid $6.00 - $8.00 a day, those same workers are paid at least that much an hour working in a store or hotel. Work in the states pays more than that.
There is a big problem with fatherless homes, gangs and drugs. Men go to work in the states and send money home to support their families. After several years of living in the states, they tend to forget they have families at home and the flow of money stops.
The guide is hoping the influx of US businesses bringing with them better paying jobs, will keep more of the male population at home.
Potable water in the home is a relatively new luxury where the city provides water filtered by reverse osmosis.
Sewer and sanitation is spottier.
Tip: Bring Your Own TP
Toilets may be available, but that doesn't necessarily mean there is toilet paper.
Taxation on homes is interesting. If you are in the construction phase, you are charged a government tax of 4%. Once construction is completed, the tax rates go to 10%. The bulk of commercial homes are in a perpetually unfinished state because of this. The unfinished state consists of rebar sticking out of the first story roofs, waiting for the addition of a second story which will never be completed.
We walked by a school and were informed that in Ixtapa, the children will begin learning English starting in first grade. The guide made the observation that English is the language of commerce so it makes sense for children to be fluent in the language. It woud help improve the future of their kids and their kid's kids.
Makes total sense to me. Kind of makes you wonder why in this country we seem to go to great extents to accommodate everyone in their own native language. Are we actually doing these people any favors? I don't think so. Handicapping a portion of the immigrant population at the outset by not requiring assimilation into American culture is not doing anyone any favors.
We also stopped by an old Catholic church and had a look around.
The brickwork on the ceiling was most impressive.
A view from the outside.
A glimpse of the ocean
Next stop, a Tequila distillery.
