Take about 30-1$ bills & band them up in 5's-for Mordidas(for danny's comrades),Don't eat the cheese with the worms in it,I forgot what it's called,just don't eat it!If you can find one,Bigo Burgers are equal to Fatburgers,of which are Very Good!Xmas time-tengo cuidado por Tamales de la calle,pero casera es mas mejor!Don't buy any drinks,ie. Horchata,Tamarindo,etc. that come in Plastic bags!Bring a pack or two of Sherman non-filter cigarettes,& pass them out to the older folks there,they have the Best info for anything&Everything!Hubba-Bubba bubblegum works real well with the kids,Mini-Bic lighters are prized,especially in the bush!Alot of good bushcraft info can be had from the mestizos for the small gesture of a Sherman & mini-bic.Unless it's smoked/dried,don't eat any fish smaller than your hand.Watch out for the Fire Ants/Sand Fleas,the kids especially!Beware of the Box Jellyfish at the beach,in/out of the water,Say ola to Danny & His Comrades!

It's called casu marzu. I like exotic foods, but this one seems too much. I'll give you a nickel if you'd eat it!

DB

+1 on the dollar bills (American).

If you're approached by kids offering to watch your car, pick one of them to do it. Think of it as a one-dollar parking fee.

My long-gone uncle spent a lot of time in Mexico, and he said that if you pay one kid a quarter (1960s) to watch your car, usually no one will bother it. Even if 18-yr-olds are standing around with wrenches in their hands, they leave your car alone, because one of their people (even a kid) is making money on the deal.

Even when the going price was a quarter, my uncle would pay $1. He said he saw enough cars with wheels and other parts missing to think it was cheap insurance!

Cheese with worms... you eat it with the liquor with the worm in it?

Sue

From Wikipedia's entry on casu marzu:

Sounds like a lot of good advice.

But your best source of information is your cousin.
She/he is will have up to date info and advice, and may know others who can help.
General advice is good; advice from someone on the ground is invaluable.

Good luck and have a safe trip.

A lot of good advice in this thread.

I would definitely go to my doctor and ask for prescriptions for antibiotics to have on hand. OTC meds are also a must, especially for gastrointestinal discomfort.

If you don't have an American Express card, get one. If you do, make sure you know how to reach them if you get in a jam. Unlike the US Embassy or Consulate, they are a travel agency and so on. American Express Global Assist can help you solve problems. When I was in Paris (before smartphones and the Internet), I broke my glasses and called them. Within a few minutes they called back giving me the locations of nearby opticians who were open, spoke English and had one-hour service.

While you might not be able to pass as a native, try to blend in and not look like tourists. The more you stand out the more likely you are to be targeted for theft or robbery.

If you EDC a knife or a multitool make very sure that you're following local law.

Look into what it might cost if you accidentally or deliberately use your cellphone for voice, text or data while abroad. You may want to get a local SIM or a local cellphone while you're there.

Unless you regularly use it out of country, call them before you go to let them know. It'll speed things up if you try to use while away, especially on something that's out of the orindary expensive.

Teach your kids how to go potty into bags and into holes dug in the ground. Thanks to that skill we had a much easier time touring China with a 4-yr old than any of the other parents on the trip!

-Blast, serious.