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msteve1014
Senior Nomad
Posts: 943
Registered: 12-2-2006
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I got sick one time on a trip in Baja. I had pupusas in So. Cal the day before. Bad move.
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aburruss
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And plenty of people get sick from random food establishments in the US as well.
I use tap water in baja for brushing teeth, washing dishes, etc. Haven't had any issues (yet). I do drink bottled water, or get gallons refilled from
the local purificada. Gallon jugs of water are easy, so just do that and be done with it?
I've never had any issues with ice either.
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 17332
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
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Mood: Hot n spicy
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Quote: Originally posted by David K  |
I only added the boiling comment because I use tap water (here in San Diego County) to make coffee (Keurig machine), but might use our Sparklets
bottled water for that, too? |
Most bottled water service in San Diego does not have sufficient hardness and alkalinity to make good coffee.
Try making coffee from your sparklets and tap water, and do taste test.
I prefer using tap water or mix of tap and bottled.
Good coffee requires some calcium/magnesium for extraction.
Is Kuerig even coffee? I think it is mostly chemical flavoring, and nescafe, isn’t it?
Woke!
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Prefered gender pronoun: the royal we
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willardguy
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| Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666 | | Quote: Originally posted by David K |
I only added the boiling comment because I use tap water (here in San Diego County) to make coffee (Keurig machine), but might use our Sparklets
bottled water for that, too? |
Most bottled water service in San Diego does not have sufficient hardness and alkalinity to make good coffee.
Try making coffee from your sparklets and tap water, and do taste test.
I prefer using tap water or mix of tap and bottled.
Good coffee requires some calcium/magnesium for extraction.
Is Kuerig even coffee? I think it is mostly chemical flavoring, and nescafe, isn’t it? |
 ..do you really think ANYONE buys into the chit that comes out of your mouth?
whats wrong with you?
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Janix
Junior Nomad
Posts: 36
Registered: 7-13-2021
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| Quote: Originally posted by Alm | David, boiling water from the tap only kills microorganisms, it doesn't get rid of chemicals and other impurities. It needs to be filtered first.
Subj: don't know why Mexicali has suddenly become important. For most people this is a brief stop at the border and/or a night in a hotel and then
you're on your way. Whatever precautions you'll take in Mexicali will make sense for the rest of Mexico as well.
If you can't trust the cooks and don't want to make your own meals - not much can be done. Use RO water or bottled water, avoid public washrooms, go
easy on alcohol and other things that can mess up your metabolism. I would avoid public anything, vaccines apparently protect poorly against Delta.
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Well personally, Mexicali is important to me as it's the meeting point to unite with a mexican friend. I have not visited Mexico in over 20 years so
this forum is helpful.
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Janix
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I agree, we can get sick anywhere. I just think it's a good idea to ask for tips from those who have experience traveling to the country I am going
to.
[Edited on 7-15-2021 by Janix]
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Janix
Junior Nomad
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Registered: 7-13-2021
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| Quote: Originally posted by John M | My advice based on what we found to be happening three weeks ago. You mentioned Calexico but figured you meant to write Mexicali.
Restaurants and bars use purified ice cubes so no worry.
Stay away from tap water for everything except shower & hand washing.
The "better" restaurants won't serve you water nor beverages you cannot drink. Most places will have bottled water as a choice (not free) if you are
worried about it.
Many eating places in Mexicali you'll find the staff wearing masks, some will ask you to wear a mask and use hand sanitizer to enter.
We've not had any issues with other food, like salads.
That wasn't the case many years ago - back "then" we had a few stomach issues we thought was due to salad ingredients not properly cleaned.
Have fun and eat well.
John M
Thanks so much for your helpful reply, I appreciate it. I was definitely planning on taking my own water, not eating out and being careful in all
ways.
[Edited on 7-14-2021 by John M] |
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4x4abc
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so far the advice has been from folks who avoid everything
seems to work
I have been around the world a few times.
and make it a point to drink/eat anything anywhere
works - i have never gotten sick
your immune system likes a little training before fighting something big
the only thing that ever knocked me down hard was Malaria in Senegal
drinking bottled water doesn't prevent that
I now have diarrhea several times a year because of severe air pollution in La Paz
no solution in sight (I don't want to move again)
Harald Pietschmann
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motoged
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6481
Registered: 7-31-2006
Location: Kamloops, BC
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| Quote: Originally posted by Janix |
Well personally, Mexicali is important to me as it's the meeting point to unite with a mexican friend. I have not visited Mexico in over 20 years so
this forum is helpful. |
What advice did your Mexican friend offer?
Don't believe everything you think....
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64489
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666 | | Quote: Originally posted by David K |
I only added the boiling comment because I use tap water (here in San Diego County) to make coffee (Keurig machine), but might use our Sparklets
bottled water for that, too? |
Most bottled water service in San Diego does not have sufficient hardness and alkalinity to make good coffee.
Try making coffee from your sparklets and tap water, and do taste test.
I prefer using tap water or mix of tap and bottled.
Good coffee requires some calcium/magnesium for extraction.
Is Kuerig even coffee? I think it is mostly chemical flavoring, and nescafe, isn’t it? |
Is this just being stupid or do you not know what a Keurig device is?
I asked Google if you were correct:
>>>The short answer is no, K-cups are not made with instant coffee. K-Cups contain finely-ground coffee with a filter inside, sealed by
tinfoil to keep the coffee inside even after use. Most regular coffee in the K-cup pods is made with Arabica beans, which is the most popular coffee
bean on the market.<<<
Also, in order to lesson the impact on our land fills, I do not use the disposable K-cups. Instead, I have a reusable K-cup 'basket' that I put my
ground Kona (Hawaiian) or Blue Mountain (Jamaican) coffee in.
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Janix
Junior Nomad
Posts: 36
Registered: 7-13-2021
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| Quote: Originally posted by motoged | | Quote: Originally posted by Janix |
Well personally, Mexicali is important to me as it's the meeting point to unite with a mexican friend. I have not visited Mexico in over 20 years so
this forum is helpful. |
What advice did your Mexican friend offer? |
I'm still trying to navigate the format of this forum, so be nice to me :-)
The Mexican friend who I'm meeting has very little experience travelling. She just suggested I do what feels most comfortable so that I feel good. It
felt more helpful for me to speak with others who don't actually live there, but travel there, as that's my situation.
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Janix
Junior Nomad
Posts: 36
Registered: 7-13-2021
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| Quote: Originally posted by 4x4abc | so far the advice has been from folks who avoid everything
seems to work
I have been around the world a few times.
and make it a point to drink/eat anything anywhere
works - i have never gotten sick
your immune system likes a little training before fighting something big
the only thing that ever knocked me down hard was Malaria in Senegal
drinking bottled water doesn't prevent that
I now have diarrhea several times a year because of severe air pollution in La Paz
no solution in sight (I don't want to move again)
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Your response is very inspiring, thank you. I tend to be an anxious traveler as I have not done much of it since staying home to raise kids on my own.
I'm just starting to see the glimmer of some freedom on the horizon so I'm starting to take short road trips until I have more freedom. Thanks!
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motoged
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6481
Registered: 7-31-2006
Location: Kamloops, BC
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Mood: Gettin' Better
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| Quote: Originally posted by Janix |
I'm still trying to navigate the format of this forum, so be nice to me :-)
The Mexican friend who I'm meeting has very little experience travelling. She just suggested I do what feels most comfortable so that I feel good. It
felt more helpful for me to speak with others who don't actually live there, but travel there, as that's my situation. |
Trying to be nice 
Starting to adventure out in the world beyond the comforts and constraints of "home" is so good for the soul. Many of us have our unique styles of
anxiety ... and I believe adventuring and travelling tend to make for good medicine as we conquer those challenges.
"Trust your gut" is often good advice.....but having the squirts in a foreign place takes the charm out of that saying. 
Over the years, my travels in Mexico and Central America have given me about a half-dozen experiences of really bad intestinal experiences: poorly
cooked hamburger once, bad coleslaw at a roasted chicken place, carnitas at the end of the day, and a liter of fresh orange juice that sat in a hot
car for a day. I tend to enjoy street food stands/carts whenever I can....
Drugs such as Lomotil should only be taken if the squirts last for more than 2 days as they stop the peristaltic intestinal movement and keeps the
bad bacteria inside (as was mentioned previously)....
Eat at restaurants that tend to be preferred by locals... and carry a full roll of toilet paper in your purse/bag as it may not exist in public
washrooms
Some say "It's a crap shoot" 
Don't believe everything you think....
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 17332
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
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Mood: Hot n spicy
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Only got the hershey squirts twice in baja. First time was from eating at El Palomar in Santo Tomas. Second time was in La Paz (could not figure out
what restaurant gave me that one).
I have got hershey squirts at a number of restaurants in San Diego.
Does not matter the country, loose chit happens!
Woke!
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Prefered gender pronoun: the royal we
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SFandH
Elite Nomad
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I always have some Imodium AD (loperamide) with me. Works for me.
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AKgringo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5816
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Janix, welcome to the forum!
And congratulations...Your very first post is going to run for pages of replies!
I'll bet you weren't expecting this turn toward a fecal forum? 
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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pauldavidmena
Super Nomad
Posts: 1689
Registered: 5-23-2013
Location: Centerville, MA, USA
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My only experience with food poisoning happened at my workplace - specifically a DOE lab in Schenectady, NY. I usually brown-bagged a sandwich for
lunch, but I decided to "treat" myself to crab salad at the cafeteria. It didn't taste half bad, but the following day I was doubled over in pain.
Dozens of co-workers had the same meal without issues. Maybe their long-term exposure to on-site nukes provided them with some sort of immunity. 
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BajaMama
Super Nomad
Posts: 1106
Registered: 10-4-2015
Location: Pleasanton/Punta Chivato
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Mood: Got Baja fever!!
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Cooked food should be okay, when I was younger the old adage regarding produce was "if you can't peel it, don't eat it." I don't have trouble with
anything anymore in Mexico but if you have a sensitive tummy you may want to be careful. Maybe get some local yogurt to balance your gut bacteria.
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Janix
Junior Nomad
Posts: 36
Registered: 7-13-2021
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Thanks everyone for your responses! I kind of did expect it to turn in that direction :-)
I'm taking mostly my own foods as I'm too scared to get food poisoning.
I researched which items you can and can't take into Mexico 
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motoged
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6481
Registered: 7-31-2006
Location: Kamloops, BC
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Mood: Gettin' Better
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Maybe staying home would be less stressful. You seem to be over-reacting to your fear.
Don't believe everything you think....
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