Lena Rinn
Status: Single
Employed or Retired: Retired
Where are you living now / where are you from: Walnut Creek, CA, USA
Timeframe for a move: I want to live in PV for one month in December, 2014 to see how I like it. I am excited about doing it. I may need help finding a place to stay.
Where else are you considering: One place at a time. I hope this is it.
Why Vallarta: I love, swimming in the ocean. I swim in an open air olimpic size pool in Walnut Creek 2-3 times a week all year around. But I preferr an ocean. I was born and raised in St’Petersburg, Russia. I used to spend 2 months every summer by the Black Sea and never got tired of it. I have never been in PV, but did travel to other parts of Mexico: Cancun, Cozumel, resorts near Cancun.
I will have more to add after I have actually stayed in PV.
How can ExPats in Vallarta assist you: I would appreciate a help with finding a place to stay for 20 days, because first 10 days I will be in a hotel. Since I am without a car, I would prefer to stay on a walking distance from a beach, restaurants and grocery stores. I would need to get an information about all the legal things necessary for staying in PV for several months in a future. I want to make friends men and women, who are new here and who have been expats for a while. I want to learn about life here and maybe start to learn Spanish.
Lena, we used to be neighbors. I have lived in Oakland, San Leandro,Hayward, Castro Valley. Orinda. Danville and Pleasant Hill. I am a retired Califonia Highway Patrolman served in the San Leandro, Hayward and Martinez offices.
We have lived full time in Puert Vallarta for 11 years. We only return to the US to visit our children, grandchildren a our great grandson every year or so. The most important thing I can tell you is I never thought we would ever leave CA. Now I tell you we would never return to the states to live. As a ex-CHPofficer I can tell you it is by far much safer here than in the states. We have about 50,000 full time expats here. We have some many activities it is difficult to choose.
As for living location, I highly recommend “Old Town” as it is where most of the important activities occur i.e. Theater, restaurants, the Malecon, the bus system good and very affordable. If you are 62 or old and have a Temporante or Permanente Visa you can a senior card to use on buses and also drugs. It only costs 1/2 price on the beautiful mega first classes to Guadalajara etc.
As for help learning Spanish and obtaining the proper visa we have a wonderful Spanish teacher and she is excellent with visa’s, legalization on cars and other beaucracy. And she is honest, reliable and worth her weight in gold. I can be reached at fstphoen@juno.com
Thanks for the comment.
I have sent the letter to your email address.
Thanks again,
Lena