Living here in the Yucatan Peninsula is heaven. I have no hesitations about saying that. It’s so peaceful and the people here, where I live in particular, are so kind and thoughtful. I live in the small fishing village of Progresso, in the state of Yucatan, about 45 minutes away from Merida by car.
Even if the people here simply suspect you might be having problems or issues, they come to you with open arms to try and help. Everybody is so helpful. If they have one tortilla and one bean, they’re going to split it right down the middle and give you half.
And they’re very eager to share their culture with you and to learn about yours. A lot of people here, especially down here in Progreso where I live and in Merida, really go out of their way to practice speaking English because they want to communicate. They want to learn about you and about where you’re from and the differences in culture. They get the same TV programs we do more or less but it’s all dubbed over in Spanish.
When my granddaughter was 7, she moved down here to live with me. When she first got here, she was a little nervous. We put her in the public school right down the block from where I live. We did not want to put her in one of the American or Canadian academies. She didn’t like it at first, but within three months she was speaking, writing, and reading Spanish fluently, and she didn’t want to go back to the States.
It’s the people who make this place what it is. They are so laidback and not in a hurry. As expats we call it “Yucateco Time.” Back in the States, everybody runs on a timetable. Everybody is on a schedule. Here, when somebody plans a celebration or invites you for a barbecue and they tell you we’re going to start about 3 o’clock, at about 6 o’clock people start showing up.
This is in contrast with other parts of Mexico. For example, up in northern Mexico, where Monterrey is located (about 3 and a half hours from Loreto, Texas), you tell somebody that you’re going to be there at 1 o’clock and people are generally there 10 to 20 minutes early.
But down here in the Yucatan, oh goodness, no. You might wait three days on a plumber. But it’s all good. Once he shows up he does his thing and it’s over and done with. Personally, I have learned not to stress. I don’t find myself sitting around and banging my nails on my desk waiting. “Where is this guy? Where is this guy? I’ve got things to do. I’ve got places to go. I have to do this. I got to do that.” No, I just do what I have to do and come back home and the plumber just shows up.
It’s the same in Merida. I can’t say about the state of Quintana Roo (also in the Yucatan Peninsula, and containing the very popular expat destinations of Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum) or any of the other places because I haven’t lived there. But, one thing that I do know is Progreso and the state of Yucatan.
is only 5 minutes from downtown Pedasi in the province of Los Santos. It has 3 flights a week on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays to Pedasi from Panama City via Air PANAMA. 
The voltage here in Portugal is the same as you have in the States, and unlike England where you have 3 plugs. You can take the hair drier you use in the US and plug it right into the wall in Portugal and it will work, whereas, if you take your hair drier from the US to Portugal, you will need an adapter.