You will see his signs on all the nicest homes in Mazatlan, but his friends call him Chago. He has been married to his wife, Maria Carmen for longer than either would care to admit, and has two daughters and a son, who is just entering the business with his father. He was born in Mazatlan and educated in Mexico City, but returned home and has been building quality homes for the last 25 years. If there is one thing that makes Chago different, it is his attention to details. It is easy to tell a Chago house, because in addition to a pleasing visual design, there is an absence of the "little problems" that drive homeowners crazy. He also stands behind his work and will fix problems that crop up months after the owner has moved into the property. He has built two homes for us, and I would never use anyone else. You can contact him at his office at 916-5552, fax: 916-6666 email leonlorda@prodigy.net.mx, or his home at 913-8942.

Carol and her husband Walfre have been in the real estate business here in Mazatlan for 10 years. They have two of the best behaved preteen daughters I have ever met. Carol was born in Canada, and chose to make Mazatlan her home after visiting a friend here and finding it difficult to leave. Before I proceed I should warn you that real estate agents in Mexico, unlike their counterparts in the US, are unlicensed, and in many cases a little shady. Also, the "title search" process here isn't as accurate as it is in the US, so it is not uncommon for the owner of a property to have hidden liens and obligations that he does not necessarily disclose. Often the agents participate in such deceptions just to get their commissions. Well, Carol is a truly honest person, who goes out of her way to make sure that her clients are happy and protected. If you are interested in buying or renting a property in Mazatlan, I wouldn't use anyone else. She can be contacted at her office at 983-0011 or her home at 914-0154. You can also reach Carol online at urbanexdemexico@prodigy.net.mx They now have their own website that lists a sample of their current properties.

Dr. Huerta just (Spring 2004) opened his new office, right next door to BanNorte, across from the Sharp Hospital. The address is Rafael Buelna #300. He practices internal medicine, and had a great and caring bedside manner. Recently, during a routine medical checkup, he found a brain tumor in a friend of ours, that currently had no symptoms. He caught it so early, that the treatment turned out to me of an inconvenience rather than a life threatening procedure. He also runs a small hospital called Cruz Oro, with much lower prices than Sharp Hospital, but still good quality care. You can contact him at his office at 984-1507 or 986-5631, or via his cell phone at 044-669-918-1926.

Anna and her husband Enrique are both doctors at the new Sharp hospital here in Mazatlan. She is a plastic surgeon and he is a radiologist. Her surgical training was at the Hospital Angeles del Pedregal, at the University of La Salle in Mexico City, where she received an excellence in vascular surgery. We have several friends who have used her services, and who are very happy with their result. This isn't surprising, since when it comes to her work, Anna is a perfectionist. Unlike many other doctors here, she refuses to do a "second rate" job on patients who can't afford the full cost of the treatment. She has changed the lives of many children who would have been permanently disfigured had it not been for Anna. If you have ever considered cosmetic surgery, you could probably save a lot of money and get the best treatment if you consult with her. She can be reached at work at 983-0214 and at home at 913-9984. She also has a fax number at 982-6848. Finally, she has gotten around to going online. Her new email address is drachang@yahoo.com.mx

Rafael and Mina Aguilar are the owners of La Jungla, and are two people who truly love animals. Mina has opened her own grooming shop in the golden zone, located right next door to Citibank. She provides professional dog grooming, flea and tick treatment, boarding, pet food and supplies, including Science Diet, and Royal Canine. She also provides Health Certificates, for those of you who want to bring your babies back to the USA or Canada. She also sells puppies, and has contacts with many local dog owners who occasionally have puppies available. If she doesn't have what you are looking for, just ask her and perhaps she can track it down. You can call her at 913-1631 or send her an email at hawah@prodigy.net.mx. We have known Mina, her husband, Rafael, and their children since we moved to Mazatlan in 1992, and the more we hang out with them, the more we love and respect all of them. You won't regret leaving your precious Fido or Fluffly in their care.

In addition to treating sick animals, Mina is always on the lookout for strays that she can rescue. Our best friends once had a very sick Chihuahua puppy, which desperately needed an IV inserted into one of its veins. They were unable to get ahold of Rafael initially, and brought the puppy to another vet. He tried was unable to insert the needle because the dogs veins were simply too small. He sent it home with them to die. Shortly thereafter, Rafael called and told them to bring the puppy right over. It took him several attempts, but he managed to insert the IV into the puppy without collapsing the vein. Our friends considered it a miracle. In addition to treating animals at his clinic, he and Mina will make house calls, and either treat or pick up and deliver your animals. We would never take our "family" anywhere else. They can be reached at the clinic at 981-6197 and at home at 914-5695. They are also online at hawah@megared.net.mx

I know the last thing on your mind while you are on vacation is to see a dentist, but maybe you should think about it. If you have a lot of pending dental work, (and who doesn't?) you could save enough money to have it taken care of here to pay for your trip. Dr. Chong has been practicing dentistry for over 30 years. For the first 25 years he was in Mexico City, and for the last 5 years he has been in Mazatlan. He is very gentle, and according to my dentist in the USA, does excellant work. In fact, the last time I visited my dentist in California, he told me I should have 2 teeth filled, but that I might as well wait until I got to Mexico, because it would cost less and my dentist there does such a good job. Unlike the USA, the dentist himself does the cleaning and scaling. Also, Dr. Chong spends time with you, and doesn't just see you for five minutes while he is on his way to a different patient. A typical one surface filling costs 200 pesos, less than $25 at current prices. He is located upstairs above and toward the street from Kelly's bike shop, across from Citibank. He can be reached at 913-6068, and for emergencies at his home at 983-2098. His email address is morelos@mzt.megared.net.mx

Jewelry can be quite expensive in Mexico, especially in the tourist shops. The way to get a real bargain is to bring down the raw materials, and then hire Gustavo to make you the trinket of your dreams. He is not just a craftsman, but an artist, and has always exceeded our expectations. He is also totally honest, and will verify the gold content and weight of whatever you bring down before your eyes. His shop is a little hard to find. It is called El Arte, and is near the Banamex branch in the Zona Dorada. It is just behind the Elysse store that sells tennis outfits. Search him out, and you'll be glad you did. His phone number is 914-8411

We've known Chrissy for many years now, through good times and bad, and yet we've never seen her lose her cheerful outlook on life. Along the way she used to come over to our house to cut our hair, just as a favor, but eventually decided that she should go into business for herself. She started her own little beauty salon last year (1997), and has been giving great haircuts ever since. She is a Brit, and was trained in London, so you may have to bring an English-English dictionary to understand her, but it is always fun to listen to her talk. She has just opened (Feb. 1999) a new shop in the Golden Zone. The address is 4480 Plaza Balboa #12, right next door to the Balboa Towers. She is in the back, behind Noroeste Net and a swimming pool equipment store. Her new shop, called Christine's European Salon, also provides manicures, petticures, and a relaxing massage therapist. She is open from 10am to 7pm and you can call her at 916-7077. She also has a coupon good for 10% off all services. Try her, and you'll get the best haircut you ever had.

Let me start by saying that in general, I don't like insurance agents. I especially don't like insurance agents who say "no problem" whenever I ask for something. In this particular case, I wanted the insurance company to agree to the value of our furnishings in advance of filing a claim. After all, our art and oriental carpets look a lot better now than they would after a fire or flood. Well, I went through at least four or five meetings with Carlos, where I presented him with what receipts and aprraisals I could come up with, and a list of the "special items" that I wanted covered. He came back with policy specifying each item, and a customized contract saying that the company agrees to the amounts that I presented. He never said, "no problem," but then again he didn't need to, because it wasn't. I was floored, and needless to say, whenever I want insurance I give Carlos a call. (We live on the beach, and a hurricane could really mess things up here.) Carlos was born in Mazatlan, and has been an insurance agent here in Mexico for almost 8 years, and represents Seguros Comercial America, one of the largest companies in Mexico. You can reach him at 914-3711, 914-1222 and 914-0065, or by email at carglz@aseguresehoy.com His company has a web page at http://www.segcoam.com.mx I just hope none of us ever need to collect on a claim.

Notarys here, are not like notaries in the USA. Here a Notary is a certified government agent, who must first complete a law degree before applying for the title of Notary. If you verbally promise something in front of Notary, it is considered a binding contract, and his testimony in court is considered as proof. Let me tell you a story about how we got involved with Jorge. Back in 1991, when we built our first house in Mazatlan, we were referred by our best friends to a well known notary to handle the paperwork for our house. He was considered the best notary in Mazatlan at the time. What we didn't know, however is that he was in the process of running for mayor of the city. Well, we paid all of the fees, and provided him with all of the information that he required, and then we waited. We waited some more, and after returning back to Mazatlan after a trip during the summer, we dismayed to discover that the campaign for mayor had taken its toll, and that the suffered an massive heart attack and died. Also, as it turned out, he had spent all of the money he had been paid on his political campaign. We were basically stuck, until we discovered that Jorge Buenrostro had agreed to take over all of the dead notary's pending projects. Since then he completed the trust agreements for the original house that we built back in 1991, as well as at least 5 or 6 other legal transactions that we have been involved with. Jorge can always be counted on to greet you with a smile, entertain you with his wicked sense of humor, and do a good job on your all of your real-estate transactions. He has since become a family friend, and I'm sure your experiences with him and his office will be as pleasant as ours have been. In addition to handling real estate trusts and promissary notes, he can also help you set up your own Mexicoan corporation, and any other legal matters you are worried about. You can contact Jorge at his office at 981-5083 or 981-0707, or via email at buenrostro@mzt.megared.net.mx.

One of the great things about living in Mexico is that you can visit a pharmacy and buy whatever medication you might need, without having to go through an office visit with a doctor. Nadine and I find that ninety percent of the time, we know what is wrong with us, and the last thing we need is to wait two weeks for a doctor's appointment just so he can collect his fee and write us a prescription. Over the years we have tried just about every pharmacy in the area, and the we can honestly say that none has been as helpful and professional as the Belmar Pharmacy right across the street from the Balboa Club. It is owned and operated by Linda Ramirez, who has been in the business for more than twenty five years. She has travelled a lot around the world, and knows what it is like to be in a foreign country and in need of medication. She will go out of her way to answer your questions and track down whatever drugs you might need. She will deliver to your home or your hotel, and her English is as good as it gets. You can even order your drugs online, before you leave the USA or Canada, and have them waiting for you when you get here. You can contact her by phone at 914-3199 or 913-7475, or via email at belmar_mercado@hotmail.com. Linda has been kind enough to put together a table of the most commonly prescribed drugs and their prices here in Mexico, in case you are interested.

Stressed out from too much bargaining with the beach vendors? Timeshare come-ons got you down? Had one too many margaritas at your local watering hole? Maybe you've earned the right to be truly and deeply relaxed! There is no better place to achieve this state of Nirvana than at International Massage, located just up the street from Heather's Place and across the street from Oceano Palace. Just follow the footsteps up the few stairs to their front door, you'll be glad you did. They are located at Ave. Camaron Sabalo, #2601-5, just underneath the El Patio Restaurant. It wouldn't be a bad idea to call them at 913-1696 and make an appointment, to make sure they aren't already booked. Tell them Nadine and Henry sent you, and they may even give you the local's discount!

In 1993, at the age of 14, Bruno began what turned out to be his career as an assistant to a local dog trainer. At that point he decided to dedicate is life to training dogs. In 1998 he moved to Culiacan and then to Mexico City to improve his training education. In 1999, his training repertoire included, obediance training, protection training, and sport training. In 2000, he won first place in a competition of dogs trained for protection. He has also trained dogs that are in use at the Mexico City Airport, for detection and protection. In 2002, he returned to his home town of Mazatlan, and began obediance and security training for private citizens and businesses. You can reach him at brunovega79@msn.com or via cell phone at 044-669-147-0551. From outside Mexico, call 011-521-669-147-0551,

Now let me tell you what he has done for us. In March, 2006, Nadine and I were trying to get a picture framed, but after it was framed it was too large to fit in our car. We walked around the corner to Mina's La Jungla grooming center (since her daughter was the one who painted it) and ask her to bring it to our house in her SUV. While we were there, we saw a scrawny and very unhappy dog in a cage, that looked just like Aphrodite, only it was a boy. Mina told us that it was very unlikely to be bought by a local Mexican, since "they only buy puppies." So we decided that Aphrodite should have a brother, and took him home. Well, he was an unneutered male, who was now injected into a family of three female dogs, and a male and female cat. His testosterone flooded brain had only one thing on its mind, and he started humping everything in sight, the dogs, the cats, our legs, our arms, the dog toys; you name it, he humped it. We immediately called Rafael and had him neutered the next morning. He warned us that his behaviour wouldn't change for between 5 and 10 days, since it takes that long for the testosterone levels to come down. Fortunately, the next day he was too sore to continue his humping hysteria, and a couple of days later his drive to spread his DNA subsided.

His next misadventure was to establish his position in our dog society, and he decided he needed to mark (pee on) items of value, including our beds, pillows, clothes, pretty much everything. This behaviour had to stop, or his days were numbered. So we called in the expert, Bruno. Within a few days, he went from a wild child to a well adjusted pack member, thanks to Bruno's patience, kindness, and persistance. He hasn't marked anything inside the house since, and has even caught up with his sisters in sit, down, stay, sit pretty, roll over, etc. We were very close to sending Adonis to a new home, but thanks to Bruno, he is now one of our most loving, happy, and best behaved children. So, before you give up on your little devil dog, give Bruno a call and see if he can't turn your wild child into a good citizen. You, and your little friend, will be glad you did.

First the disclaimers. I don't have any direct personal experience with using Jim on a project, however I have spoken with him and several of his past clients, all of whom were happy with his services. I found him knowledgable, and friendly, and wouldn't hesitate to use his services if I needed them.

Jim has lived in Mazatlan full time since 2003, and worked in construction and as a licensed general contractor in Denver for over 30 years. He writes this about himself:

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My experience as a general contractor, working with my structural, electrical, plumbing, mechanical and finish subcontractors, has educated me in the elements necessary to construct and maintain a home or commercial building. I would like to share my knowledge with those planning to purchase property here. I am happy to spend an hour with you to tell you what I see. I don't charge for this service and I don't offer a written report and honestly, I am hoping for the opportunity to bid and build your project.

Here are some general observations:

1. Older homes may be rough around the edges and still be structurally sound. You should plan to replace the electrical and plumbing systems.
2. Wood windows, doors and beams are beautiful, however if they are constantly exposed to sun and rain, will require a lot of maintenance. Consider using aluminum for windows, concrete for beams and protect your wood doors with roof projections.
3. In my opinion flat roof areas should be recoated with a good quality impermeabilizante every 2 to 3 years. You want to keep our salty atmosphere from penetrating roof decks and reaching the reinforcing elements.
4. Remember that our construction style is generally solid masonry, with no hollow walls, attics or crawlspaces. Once things are covered they are hidden, so find a contractor and architect that you can trust. Sometimes even the pros have to guess based on past experience what will be found when a home is remodeled.

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If you are planning to build a house here and can't be present to personally supervise the construction, I (Henry) strongly suggest you hire Jim to be your eyes and ears. He will visit the construction site daily, and report back to you any anomalies that he discovers. Believe me, catching mistakes early makes a huge difference in the bottom line, especially when you are dealing with concrete! You can reach Jim by phone locally at 914-0457, or in the USA at (720) 249-2678, and via email at j12g345@yahoo.com He also has a www site.