Yes, we have all heard that phrase, and yes, it is generally true. However, the water used in the restaurants in Playa del Carmen is safe bottled water. The last thing the restaurants here want is a bunch of tourists getting sick because of the water in a particular restaurant, expecially in this day and age of fast communication via the Internet. A few of the restaurants have their own water purification systems, but water you drink in restaurants and the ice that is in your drink is safe. You can also eat fruits and salads. They have been washed in a bacteria fighting solution with bottled or purified water.
You should not drink the water from the faucet unless you have a filtering system in your condo or hotel room. The same, of course, is true if you move to Mexico. Okay, I hear you asking, “But, why?” Although tap water in Mexico is notorious worldwide for not being entirely drinkable for travellers, the people who live here often do drink it with no ill effects. This is mainly because they have built up a tolerance to it from drinking it all their lives. However, a visitor here can become violently sick for 24-48 hours if they drink it. The reason is that the water is home to many and various single-celled organisms. Approximately 80% of cases are caused by bacterial infection. The notorious consequences (diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, dizziness and fever) have become known as ‘Montezuma’s Revenge’ in honour of the Aztec king whose hospitality to visitors from Spain was so rudely repaid. We tell our friends and relatives who come to visit us here that they should not even rinse their mouths after brushing with it. Just keep a bottle of water in the bathroom for that purpose. Also, contact lens wearers should use bottled water to clean their lenses. Wash your hands before you eat, or if this is not feasible, use a hand sanitizer. Most cases are mild and are best treated by Pepto Bismal, and drinking liquids to replace fluid loss, combined with a light diet as soon as possible. In the event that the worst happens, and a member of your family becomes seriously ill, Playa del Carmen has good medical facilities, and hotels and pharmacies (farmacias) can direct you to reputable doctors.
There are other things that one should be aware of when visiting or moving to Mexico. This is not the United States. Things are different here. This is a different culture where almost everything is written or spoken in Spanish. Simple tasks like buying food, special medicines, shoes (sizes are very different) or snacks you are used to may become almost impossible. When we first moved here, I remember we stood staring at the different meats in the deli trying to figure out which one was turkey. We could have asked the person behind the counter if we had known how to ask in Spanish. We soon found out that pavo is the word for turkey and pecho is the word for breast. We also soon found out that everything you store in your kitchen should be in sealed containers or they will get weevils in them.
The tastes, smells and sensations are different here. Mexican food is not TexMex or what you find in a Mexican restaurant in the U.S., but we think the food here is absolutely delicious, and with the European influence here, one can find wonderful Italian, German and Argentinian food, as well. If you are a little finicky, stick to familiar meats, fruits and vegetables, and explore as you become more accustomed to the new environment. Even the sunshine can be brutal and cause a terrific sunburn because we much closer to the Equator here, so sunscreen is a must! However, if you forget to bring some, you can find it all over town, including in our local WalMart.
I guess the main point I am trying to make here, is just don’t expect things to be what you are used to. Mexicans are much more “laid back” than most people in the U.S. They don’t get in a hurry and the typical answer you get if you ask when you can expect something to happen, is mañana, which may mean tomorrow or may mean sometime next week. If you can “roll with the flow”, you’ll be much happier here. You will soon get used to the differences, and that’s when you begin to feel “at home.”
