Ocean Breeze

** Just a note towards safety..... While spending the winters in Rincon de Guayabitos is a privilege few get to experience, there are also some risks to staying in a two story hacienda with tiled floors, a winding staircase and tiled patio with a pool, not to mention cobble stone streets and an ecological park across the street. We have never had any injuries or accidents so far but, just like at home, it is always good to be aware of possible hazards around you. 

Of course, there will be some strange creatures roaming around the area that we may not be accustom to, living in Canada, and probably some of those creatures will not be so pleasant such as spiders, scorpions, ants, wasps and mosquitoes.  We do spray for bugs many times a year, but some always seem to pop up and we have to take appropriate measures to protect ourselves.  I always check around the bed and tables before laying or sitting down or getting up just to ensure I don't step on anything I shouldn't be stepping on.  Wasps and mosquitoes are not that bad especially compared to back home, but depending on the time of year and being near the park, some like to have some mosquito spray with them.  Personally, I have never been bitten and love the nearly bug-free evenings by the pool.  Mexico is also notorious for fleas and the odd tick.  These species don't like us so much but they do plague the dogs that are down there.  So if you are accompanied by your canine, I suggest you get good flea and tick treatments to ensure they stay flea free.  On a brighter note, we have lots of little lizards scurrying along the walls and ceiling, but they are the good guys, they eat the bad bugs, we don't like, so please treat them with kindness.  They will not hurt us.  We also will have crabs and frogs visit us from time to time, I wouldn't recommend playing with them, but just help them find their way out or leave them and they will leave on their own.  The larger wildlife we encounter, like the iguanas, seem to ignore us as long as we ignore them, but leaving the doors open (even on the terrace) is just an invitation for them to come on in.  And believe me, they will.  They are magnificent creatures, but no one wants to sleep with one!  We have also had a few stray cats find their way into the pool side casita and hacienda, they are harmless, but we don't want them trapped in the house if we leave so we always try to be aware of what is left open and what may be lurking around the premises.

Now when it comes to the structure of the house and materials used to finish it, Mexico is the land of brick and concrete buildings with many stories and decorative tiles. Ocean breeze is no different.  Not only are there structures such as inside and outside terraces and the roof tops that one could potentially fall from, there is also a tiled winding staircase and crazy cobblestone streets and holes in sidewalks that we must always take care in navigating.  Having a pool that is quite large leaves narrow walking surfaces around it that could lead to an unexpected bath.  It is a nice feature to cool off in on a warm day, but something that must be respected.  It is also a deep pool so drowning is a real possibility.   However  we have made sure we have a well lit patio and pool area to avoid an unintentional dip.  Of course, then there is the finishing material of tile. The tiled surfaces always seem to be slippery, no matter how clean or dry they are kept.  The humidity and the dust in Mexico lends to that .  Slips and falls are a real possibility and so we like to wear something with grip when walking around the house or pool area.  We also always leave a light on in the main entrance or in the stairwell so we can see if we are up during the night or coming in late.  Friends and family with children must take extra care when they are visiting Ocean Breeze. They need to watch their children closely and ensure they follow some common sense rules that will reduce their chances of injury.

While living or vacationing in any location, we must also be aware of the possibility of theft.  Mexico is no different than Canada.  Don't take any chances or present an opportunity to see something worth taking.  We lock all gates and doors when we are taking a siesta, alone upstairs, going out or turning in for the night.  If we are out by the pool, many times we will make sure the front gate is locked so no one can enter the house through the front door unnoticed.  We have actually had people walk into the house, thinking it is a small hotel - awkward!  And then if we are in the house we will make sure the back gate is locked so no one can enter the premises or pool house through the back.  Everyone should have a key or make arrangements so they can get int the house whenever they need to. We never leave doors or gates open if we are gone.  Ceesar has a key so we never have to worry that he will not be able to get in when he needs to.  We also don't leave our valuables out in plain sight unless you are with them.  Leaving cell phones, laptops, tablets, purchases, umbrellas, beach mats and chairs, alcohol, keys, or purses out on the patio will only attract those who seek an opportunity.  The place is certainly not impenetrable.   Whenever we are in Mexico we always have important documentation and identification with us (we need it to leave the country) so we store those things in the safe.  We keep our cell phones, debit and credit cards and excess cash in the safe as well.  We have had friends hide their passports, etc in strange places in the house and then either forget them or can't find the things they hid when it was time to leave.  Now that's a panic situation.  It is just so much easier to leave the important stuff in one secured place.  When we are leaving the house or going to bed, we will take laptops, tablets, cell phones, purses, etc up to our room and tuck them away in a drawer out of sight.  This way anyone walking by, looking in the windows or glass doors won't be tempted.  There are also individual keys to rooms, so you may lock your room door for added safety if you feel you need to.  I guess if we have a house full of family or friends all it takes is one person to leave a gate or patio door open and everyone staying in the hacienda and/or casita could be exposed to robbery.  With such a big house, it is hard sometimes to make sure patio doors in the rooms, outside doors and gates are secured, but we make it a ritual to always double check if we are not sure.  This practice will ensure that we did everything possible to prevent a possible break in.  Always better safe than sorry.