I arrived in Chapala on Sunday, on Tuesday I bought a Samsung Smart phone for $3800 pesos and a monthly plan for $600 pesos with unlimited internet and phone calls. I use the Hotspot app to connect to the internet with my laptop, yesterday read the news from my phone while in a restaurant. I go to the San Francisco Telcel store in Ajijic as they speak English and are helpful every time I go. I have never wanted a Smart phone, have 2 flip phones, but Sandra talked me into buying the Samsung. My initial outlay was a bit more than I wanted to pay but with the monthly plan I am saving and don't have to watch my usage. I used to buy a Telcel USB drive for internet service and it was $400 for 4G, which lasted about 2 ยฝ to 3 weeks. I would buy a new SIMS card and add $500 to my flip phone on the pay as you go plan. Another reason I bought it as sooner or later I would have had to buy one, all my friends in the US ridicule me for having a flip phone. I have the Verizon pay as you go plan and spend around $120 yearly and had it for years. I use Google Voice to make many of my phone calls and use the internet at Starbucks, etc or libraries. I can use the Samsung in the US when I return but will be paying a lot more for monthly service. It is nice to get up in the morning and read the news with my morning coffee. The past year I find I am wanting more conveniences, been boondocking for 15 years now and itโs becoming a problem to get out and do things like I used to. I prefer staying โhomeโ instead of being out and about. I had to buy a Honda scooter while in South Dakota this past summer, I can't lift my leg to get on my bike and after falling over the 3rd time trying to get off I had to give it up. Now I just step on and off the scooter. I wanted to bring it to Mexico but the hassle of it, and, riding on cobblestone streets was too much. I stored it in Tucson and will pick it up when I return. Ron
