MEXICO: Movies vs Reality

Mexico Movies vs Reality

When I was a kid, I knew exactly what Mexico looked like. Hollywood taught me. It was all dusty pueblos with pastel casitas, adobe (not the software) walls, and that one tumbleweed rolling across the horizon while a guy named “El Diablo” smoked under his sombrero, waiting for a nice, white hero to come and shoot him. Every house had a cactus, every woman wore a shawl, and every car was rusted out, wheel-less and used for tying the actual transportation to – a donkey.

Then I grew up, crossed the border into Tijuana, and realized my cinematic education was, shall we say, Gringo-Challenged. 

Turns out, Mexico wasn’t all horses and haciendas, it was corrugated metal roofs housing haggling tiendas, tequila tourists, and the occasional “Señor Frog’s.” Movies had taught me that everyone was either fabulously rich (with bowling alleys, bodyguards, Bentleys, and bad intentions) or tragically poor (toiling in fields, begging for pesos, or being “recruited” by the local cartel). Subtlety wasn’t in the script.

Do as Much or as Little, Traditional Mexico as You Want!

The truth? You can make Mexico as traditional or as modern as you please. Sure, some towns still look like they were built for a Clint Eastwood movie, and that’s part of the charm.

We LOVE small traditional restaurants!

But the cities? They’re cosmopolitan, clean, and often more advanced than parts of the U.S. I would take San Luis Potosi or Monterrey over Birmingham or Memphis, any day.

Yes, you can eat tacos under twinkle lights while a Mariachi band serenades your salsa. But you can also grab sushi, sip espresso, or have French pastries delivered to your door while scrolling through Netflix and wondering why you didn’t move here sooner!

It’s More Like When I Lived in L.A.

Think less “Once Upon a Time in Mexico,” more “La La Land.” Like L.A., Paris, Rome or any big city, there are parts you avoid after dark unless you enjoy muggings as a cardio workout. When I lived in West L.A., I didn’t stroll through “Ghost Town” or “The Projects” at night. Common sense beats political borders every time.

Now we live in a penthouse in Lomas del Tecnológico in San Luis Potosí - a name so sophisticated it sounds like it should come with a solar charger for your Tesla. It’s clean, quiet, and so secure that the agents of Pablo Escobar would need to get by multiple guards, facial recognition and fingerprint scanning, just to reach our floor. The nearby homes are luxurious, the air is clear, and the neighbors don’t blast corridos at 3 a.m. (well okay, that’s not always true).

The Neighborhoods, Malls & Clubs

Look any different than a US mall?

The local malls look like Beverly Center with cheaper parking and free chargers for your EV or hybrid. You’ll find Zara, Apple, Gucci, and a sushi place that somehow knows your order after two visits. Tangamanga Park (say it out loud—it’s impossible not to smile) makes Central Park look like a playground – and it’s bigger! It’s an urban Eden with forests, flea markets, and more tennis courts than an ATP event.

Sports Clubs: The Social Sanctuaries

Ah, the clubs. Imagine your local country club, but tropical, tasteful, and not run by men named Chad. Our club has immaculate tennis courts (our natural habitat), a sprawling gym that could swallow 24 Hour Fitness whole, and a list of classes so long it sounds like an infomercial: 20+ stores and restaurants, a full Spa, Yoga, Spin, CrossFit, Boxing, Tai Chi, Parkour, Bungee Aerobics (because apparently gravity is optional), The American School of Ballet, Zumba, Break Dancing and of course, liposuction and Botox medical spas.

No initiation fee. Three hundred and fifty bucks a month. And when friends visit, they can use everything for a few pesos. Try doing that in California without needing a cosigner!

We joined three days ago and already have tennis partners four days a week. In L.A., it took me longer to make friends at work!

So yes, the tv and movies lie. Mexico isn’t all dirt roads, desperados, and drug lords. It’s modern, magical, and magnificently misunderstood. It’s not just where we live, it’s where we leveled up.

Don’t get me wrong, there’s downsides to every place! I’ll cover some of those in future posts! Cheers, Fred

The Sports Club is Gorgeous!!!