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How To Survive A Crazy Mexican Winter
Hey, amigos. I’m sorry for my lack of enthusiasm, but I am freezing my butt off in the middle of a Mexican winter. How is that possible? I’m in Mexico! Well, if you think it’s always sunny and warm here, you are dead wrong. In fact, I have quite a few good reasons to hate the wintertime. Fortunately I’ve also come up with some great ways to cope with this dreary season!
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As I type this, it’s the middle of winter in the heart of Mexico, and I am sitting in a room freezing my butt off. Yes, you read that right. It’s cold! Perhaps you picture sunny beaches when you think of Mexico, but obviously, the country is not one huge beach. Yes, it’s sunny and warm in Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta, and Cancun, but unfortunately, I do not live there. Yes, I know. I wish I was there right now.
Mexican Winter Blues
I live in the Mexico City area, which lies in a high valley surrounded by snow-capped mountains. During the winter, the city is routinely hit by numerous cold fronts, which turn the weather windy, cloudy, cold, and generally miserable. I admit it doesn’t get as cold as it does in other places, but it does get miserable. You see, the freezing weather brings several annoying problems to my daily routine, and I’ve had to come up with some clever solutions.
1. The weather gets crazy
This is my top pet peeve. During the evening, at night, and early in the morning, temperatures can go down to 30 degrees. Then, during the day, it can get somewhat warm, maybe 60 degrees. On crazy days, it can even go up to 70 degrees. But as soon as it gets dark, it drops back down to freezing. Worse, sometimes a cold wind will blow all day long so it will remain chilly even though it’s sunny outside. Or perhaps we’ll have a couple of days when it will be cloudy with a freezing rain all day long. Then, it’ll get back to 70 degrees. It’s crazy, I tell you!
My Solution
Grin and bear it. Obviously, you can’t do anything about the weather, but it helps to enjoy whatever the day brings you. Sunshine? Great! Rain? Bring it on!
Also, the best part about living in Mexico City is that, although we don’t get any snow, we are only a short drive away from places like these.
2. Sniffle Season
It’s only logical that with all this crazy weather, people will get sick. Everyone gets sick! And I mean everyone. Wherever you go, there’s always someone coughing, sniffling, or sneezing. And it’s hard to fight it! Yes, we all start taking more vitamin C. And we bundle up (until it gets to 70 degrees again). But honestly, the sniffles are everywhere. I am sure at least one person in every Mexican household will catch a cold this season. Yes, I’m serious!
My Solution
I’ve taken on the habit of drinking warm lemon water every morning, and I haven’t caught a cold in two years! Now, if I could just get my husband and my kids to follow suit!
3. A Test Of Endurance
The main reason why Mexican people get sick so much during the winter is that we are always exposed to the cold. I know the weather is not that bad, but the problem is that there is no heating in homes. No heating. So, we have to ride out the winter with just one crummy electric heater. It may not sound like such a big deal since it doesn’t snow during the winter, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t chilly. To give you an idea, I’ve accidentally left milk out at night, and it doesn’t go bad. In fact, it’s still cold! Sometimes, it’s just as chilly indoors as it is outdoors. FYI, I am typing with cold, stiff hands.
My Solution
Wear sweaters or jackets indoors, sleep with two blankets, cook plenty of hot meals, drink hot beverages, and keep moving. Personally, I never miss a workout. That’s how I beat the cold!
4. Freezing Chores
My other biggest pet peeve is that I have to do my chores in the cold weather. It’s a real downer! In this part of Mexico, dryers and dishwashers are not easily found. They are hard to find, expensive to buy, and even more costly to maintain. Therefore, I have to hang-dry the laundry and wash the dishes by hand. Sounds bad, right? Now, try to hang-dry laundry when it’s been cloudy and raining for days, or try to do the dishes by hand when the water is freezing cold. It’s pretty hellish.
My Solution
Wear rubber gloves when doing chores. As for drying the laundry, I make the most of sunny, windy days. But sometimes, when it’s been raining for days, I just have to turn an entire room into an indoor hang-dry space. Laundry as decor!
5. Wardrobe Issues
This looney weather drives me crazy because I never know what to wear. Like I said, the temperature can go from freezing to warm in a heartbeat. Or perhaps it will be raining one minute and sunny the next. But it can get even trickier. Some days, I need to wear thermals to go out in the morning, but by midday, I am sweating like a pig. Then, there’s also the issue of having to carry a coat everywhere in case you need it. My kids lose a jacket every season. It’s a nightmare!
My Solution
I find that it’s best to wear layers, so I put on a shirt, then a sweater, then a coat, and maybe a scarf and gloves. Then, I can just strip down or bundle up depending on how cold or warm it is. As for the kids losing their jackets, I have not found a solution to this. I am open to suggestions!
If you’re thinking about wintering in Mexico, make sure you pick a place that has a nice, sunny beach. Oh, and please take me there with you. I can’t wait for the winter to be over! Just six more dreary weeks to go.
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