Priscila Eugenia’s Guidebook PVR

* Water doesn't actually help because capsaicin is not water soluble; the cool temp may feel refreshing at first...but it won't slow the burn. * Capsaicin is fat soluble. Reach for dairy. Milk, cheese, and especially whipped cream do wonders. * Alcohol will also help neutralize capsaicin  (but NOT carbonated alcohol because of the bubbles).

¿Dónde está el baño? or ¿Dónde está el sanitario?

For those who are willing to set out on a journey of eating Mexican food, here is a short guide to get you started. 1.- Never walk into an empty restaurant. Usually, tourist restaurants poorly care for hygiene, so if there's a persuasive guy by the entrance, trying to convince you to step inside, DON'T! 2.- Holly beans! Its know that in many Mexican meals you’ll find beans. Some people are more tolerant than others, but If you are intolerant, I suggest you take a BEANO tablet before your meal. It is available in most drug stores or supermarkets. 3.- Tortillas ≠ make a burrito. Tortillas are served with almost everything, but it doesn't mean you should try to turn them into ''burritos''. Their function is like an eating utensil or an eatable napkin. The gist of it is to tear a small piece of tortilla and use it to pick up food from your plate. 4.- One tequila, two tequila, three tequila... FLOOR. Yup! When it comes to tequila, please take it slow, and go with the flow. Tip: Tacos al pastor are the ultimate after-party food; you will find a lot of stands on the street ready to serve your ultimate craving. But these tacos are so tasty that they are eaten at all times of the day. 5.- When it comes to etiquette rules, there are no rules. Yes, our eating culture is more relaxed than others and no-one will tell you how to grab or bite your tacos. 6.- Tamales: They're delicious, but please, don’t try to eat the husk, that would be embarrassing; simply peel them off with your hands. 7.- Be open to try new things: Mexican food sometimes is all about the sauces, so try them out. But careful... don’t put salsa all over your dish without tasting it first. It might be a little bit spicy, it might be hell. If you aren't Mexican, we won't be expecting you to eat chili like one; take it easy on the hot peppers at first and you’ll slowly build up a resistance to them. 8.- Forget about 'Corona'. It’s a local beer true, but if you’re visiting Mexico there are other beers that you will hardly find anywhere else. I recommend Victoria, Indio, Negra Modelo, Noche Buena (during winter season), Bohemia or maybe a Craft Beer like Colimita or Tempus. Above all, relax and enjoy our food, drinks, and people. ¡Welcome home!

Avoid solely carrying large bills or dollars!. You may encounter a situation where a taxi driver is unable—or refusing—to make change. Also, ever assume a taxi accepts a credit or debit cards. Save your wallet, save the environment, save the whales!

Free advice is great, and in a perfect world, taxi drivers would be an incredible resource. But keep in mind that many taxi companies as any seller or promoter of travel-related services, get kick-backs for bringing their customers to certain clubs, bars, hotels, restaurants, etc.

The alcohol at major Mexican open-bars is often watered down, to avoid drinking watery cocktails (or worse) you should ask the waiter which brands they have and specify the brand that you want. A “gin and tonic” order will often result in you being given a watered down, cheap or even adulterated gin. Ask for a 'Bombay and tonic' and you will be given what you order.

Always leave somewhere better than you found it: these days, many eco-friendly travelers are taking the ‘leave no trace’ philosophy even further, ¿but how? When you leave a place, you could leave it better than the way you found it; this could simply mean picking up some trash that wasn’t yours and putting it in the garbage. It is a privilege to travel, so please respect the places you go to. Do not pick up ‘souvenirs’ from any beach, and don’t abandon your garbage: keep it with you until you find a trash can and recycle, when possible. Thank you!